Prince Philip’s death was ‘gentle’ and ‘like someone took him by the hand’

The Duke of Edinburgh’s death was so peaceful “it was like someone took him by the hand and off he went”, the Countess of Wessex said.

Sophie told well-wishers outside the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge in Windsor on Sunday that Philip’s passing was “right for him”.

The Duke’s daughter-in-law spoke to mourners when leaving a church service at the Windsor chapel.

She said: “It’s such a shock but at the same time you know it’s going to happen but when it happens it’s just this massive, massive hole.

“It was right for him and it was so gentle, it was just like someone took him by the hand and off he went.”

The Countess, who is the wife of the Queen and Prince Philip’s youngest son Prince Edward, said the manner of her father-in-law’s passing was all that the family could have hoped for.

She continued: “It was very, very peaceful and that’s all you want for somebody, isn’t it?

“So I think it is so much easier for the person that goes than the people who are left behind. We are all sitting here looking at each other going ‘this is awful’.

“But equally, look at all the tributes. It’s just amazing.”

She was accompanied to the service by the Earl of Wessex and their daughter Lady Louise Windsor.

The couple told reporters the Queen is “thinking of others” before herself as she comes to terms with the loss of her husband of 73 years, the Countess of Wessex said.

Edward added that his mum was “bearing up” and the royal family appreciated “the wave of affection” for the Duke of Edinburgh from the public since his death was announced on Friday.

The Earl said: “That wave of affection for him and just those lovely stories.

“They just mean so much and the tributes have been just fantastic. That’s really, really important and we really do appreciate it.”

Referring to the warm wishes that have poured in from around the world, Sophie said it had been “so lovely for so many people to learn about what he did”.

She added: “I just think quite a lot of things that have come out will have surprised some people and how intrinsic he was to every element of society, if you look at it.”

Edward said his dad’s death had been “a terrible shock” but had revealed how much the duke meant “to so many other people”.

“It’s been a bit of a shock. However much one tries to prepare oneself for something like this it’s still a dreadful shock,” he said.

“And we’re still trying to come to terms with that. And it’s very, very sad.

“But I have to say that the extraordinary tribute and the memories that everybody has had and been willing to share has been so fantastic.

“And it just goes to show, he might have been our father, grandfather, father-in-law, but he meant so much to so many other people.

“That outpouring from all over the world (is) very much appreciated, so thank you.”