Nicola Sturgeon pays tribute to Prince Philip for being a devoted 'husband of a powerful woman'


Nicola Sturgeon pays tribute to ‘thoughtful and deeply intelligent’ Prince Philip for being a devoted ‘husband of a powerful woman’ as home nations officially mark the Duke of Edinburgh’s death at the age of 99

Nicola Sturgeon praised Prince Philip for his devotion to the Queen as ‘the husband of a powerful woman’ today as the home nations commemorated his death.

Scotland’s First Minister told a specially called session of the Scottish Parliament that he had been ‘a thoughtful man, deeply interesting and fiercely intelligent’ with whom she had bonded over a love of books.

Holyrood and the Welsh Assembly today sat for sessions allowing politicians to pay their respects to the Duke, who passed away aged 99 on Friday.

Putting forward a motion of condolence this morning, Mr Sturgeon said that the monarch and her late husband were ‘a true partnership’.

‘He faced the additional challenge of being the husband of a powerful woman at a time when that was even more of an exception than it is today,’ Ms Sturgeon said.

‘That reversal of the more traditional dynamic was highly unusual in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, and even now isn’t as common as it might be.

‘Yet, the Duke of Edinburgh was devoted to supporting the Queen – they were a true partnership.’

The First Minister also said the role of consort to the Queen ‘cannot be an easy one, particularly for someone who is spirited and energetic by temperament’.   

Putting forward a motion of condolence this morning, Mr Sturgeon said that the monarch and her late husband were 'a true partnership'.

Putting forward a motion of condolence this morning, Mr Sturgeon said that the monarch and her late husband were ‘a true partnership’.

Scotland's First Minister told a specially called session of the Scottish Parliament that he had been 'a thoughtful man, deeply interesting and fiercely intelligent' with whom she had bonded over a love of books. They are pictured in Tweedbank in 2015.

Scotland’s First Minister told a specially called session of the Scottish Parliament that he had been ‘a thoughtful man, deeply interesting and fiercely intelligent’ with whom she had bonded over a love of books. They are pictured in Tweedbank in 2015.

The First Minister (pictured with the royals in 2017) also said the role of consort to the Queen 'cannot be an easy one, particularly for someone who is spirited and energetic by temperament'.

The First Minister (pictured with the royals in 2017) also said the role of consort to the Queen ‘cannot be an easy one, particularly for someone who is spirited and energetic by temperament’.

In a more personal passage, the First Minister added: ‘I was struck by how different he was in private to the way he was sometimes characterised in public. 

‘He was a thoughtful man, deeply interesting and fiercely intelligent. He was also a serious bookworm, which I am too so talking about the books we were reading was often, for me, a highlight of our conversations.’    

The Scottish Parliament has sent its ‘deepest sympathies’ to the Queen following the death of Prince Philip.

Leading a motion of condolence in Holyrood, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘It is right that our parliament pays tribute to him today.

‘In doing so, we mourn his passing and we extend our deepest sympathy to Her Majesty the Queen and her family.

‘We reflect on his distinguished war-time record, his love and support for the Queen and his decades of public service to Scotland, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

‘Above all, we celebrate and we honour an extraordinary life.’

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