On April 9, I was saddened to learn of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. From his first visit to Manitoba in 1951 to his last in 2010, Manitobans have had a special relationship with The Duke of Edinburgh.
In 10 separate royal visits and tours, The Duke of Edinburgh visited communities across Manitoba. From officially opening the Pan Am Games in 1967 and celebrating Manitoba’s Centennial in 1970, to presenting the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards in Thompson in 1984, visiting Churchill in 1992 and touring flood-ravaged communities in southern Manitoba in 1997, The Duke of Edinburgh connected directly with thousands of Manitobans.
We will remember his bravery during active service in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and his long association with the military, his dedication and commitment to supporting Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth as the longest-serving royal consort in British history, his keen interest in conservation, his generosity of time and hard work for the many charities and organizations he acted as patron for, and his vision in creating the Duke of Edinburgh Awards to help young people explore their interests and give back to their communities.
On behalf of all Manitobans, I extend our sympathies to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of York, The Earl of Essex, The Princess Royal, His Royal Highness’ grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other members of the Royal Family. I encourage all Manitobans to visit www.manitobalg.ca where the virtual book of condolence will be posted later today, and share their memories of His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh with other Canadians and the Royal Family.
