Prince Philip announces his retirement aged 95
Prince Philip has today Thursday May 04,2017 revealed he is to retire from all public royal duties at the age of 95 - after 70 years dedicated to Britain and the Queen who has given him her 'full support' to step down.
The Duke of Edinburgh's well-earned retirement this autumn was announced at a top secret emergency meeting called by Buckingham Palace and attended by other royals including his daughter Princess Anne.
The difficult decision was made by Philip himself and he will step back just before he and the Queen reach their 70 year platinum wedding anniversary in November.
Last night the Mail revealed staff from the royal household across Britain were called to London today, which caused fevered speculation around the world about the health of the Queen and her husband.
However, Philip - Britain's longest serving consort in history - is 'fine' but has decided to end his formal royal duties having supported his wife in public on thousands of occasions since 1947.
The Queen will continue her public engagements as she has always vowed to serve her country for as long as she lives.
In a statement Buckingham palace said this morning: 'His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has decided that he will no longer carry out public engagements from the autumn of this year. In taking this decision, The Duke has the full support of The Queen.
'The Duke of Edinburgh is Patron, President or a member of over 780 organisations, with which he will continue to be associated, although he will no longer play an active role by attending engagements'.
In typical style the Duke and the Queen were back at work an hour after the announcement, attending an Order of Merit service at St James's Palace.
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