Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness pays tribute to Duke of Edinburgh's 'long and productive life'
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The Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness has said the Duke of Edinburgh will be remembered for everything he achieved in "a long and productive life dedicated to service and the good of the nation".
Lord Thurso offered the condolences and sympathy of the people of the county to the Queen after Prince Philip died at the age of 99. Buckingham Palace said in a statement that His Royal Highness had passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.
Lord Thurso said Prince Philip's visits to Caithness would be recalled with "great affection and gratitude".
In a letter to the Queen's private secretary, the Lord-Lieutenant wrote: "On behalf of Her Majesty's loyal subjects in Caithness I write to express our deep sorrow at the sad news that HRH The Duke of Edinburgh has died and would be grateful if you would convey to Her Majesty and the royal family our deepest condolences and sympathy at this difficult time.
"The nation will remember with gratitude His Royal Highness's long years of support to Her Majesty and service to the nation, his dedication to the many causes which he championed, and in particular his tireless encouragement for young people throughout the Commonwealth through the Duke of Edinburgh's award scheme.
"Here in Caithness people remember His Royal Highness's many visits to the county both visiting the Castle of Mey and on other occasions with great affection and gratitude and in this time of sadness celebrate all that His Royal Highness achieved in a long and productive life dedicated to service and the good of the nation."
Lord Thurso told the John O'Groat Journal that he had met the Duke of Edinburgh on a number of occasions through their mutual involvement in the Institute of Management Services.
“He was very intelligent, and he was intensely interested in how things worked,” the Lord-Lieutenant said. “He was hugely interested in innovation and technology and doing things better.
“I think it is well known that he tried to modernise Buckingham Palace and Windsor and everywhere else. You saw that also in many of the things he chose to do, and my personal experience of that was through the Institute of Management Services.
“He gave huge encouragement. He was knowledgeable and interested. He wanted to see how things worked and how they could be made to work better.
“On the occasions I saw him I always enjoyed it enormously and came away from it on a high.”
Prince Philip's interest in technological innovation was apparent to people in Caithness as far back as 1957 when he was given a tour of the Dounreay site. He made a number of other visits to the county alongside the Queen.
An online book of condolence has been opened by Highland Council.
The four biggest political parties in Scotland have all suspended election campaigning with immediate effect as a mark of respect.
In an online message, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I am saddened by news that the Duke of Edinburgh has died. I send my personal and deepest condolences – and those at the Scottish Government and the people of Scotland – to Her Majesty the Queen and her family.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "Prince Philip earned the affection of generations here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world."
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone said: “I was in north-west Sutherland when I heard the news of his death. I can vouch for the fact that my constituents in one of the most remote parts of the UK are much saddened by his passing and would send their sincere condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and her family.”
Maree Todd, the SNP candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, said: “I’m saddened to hear the news of the Duke of Edinburgh’s passing. My thoughts are with Her Majesty the Queen and her family at this very sad time.”
The Duke of Edinburgh was the longest-serving consort in British history. He had returned to Windsor in March after a month in hospital.
