Prince Philip was ‘charming’ and had a ‘twinkle in his eye right to the end’

A former palace aide to Prince Philip has spoken fondly how the Duke of Edinburgh always had a “twinkle in his eye” and made those around him feel incredibly special.

Ailsa Anderson, who was a spokesperson for the Queen and Buckingham Palace for over a decade, heaped praise on the prince for his humbleness and attentiveness, reports People.

“Oh gosh, he was charming! He still had a twinkle in his eye right to the end,” the former aide declared.

“When he spoke to you, you thought you were the only person who mattered in the world. It was like a lighthouse beacon shining onto you, and you feel like the only person he wanted to talk to.”

Echoing many people’s thoughts about Prince Philip Anderson confirmed that he was never one to talk about himself and always focused on others instead.

She said: “He would always ask people what they were reading. He never talked about his life. You had to prompt the stories out of him.”

And it seems that even the Queen was not immune to Prince Philip’s charms and she softened from the moment she first met him.

Meeting the Prince when she was only 13 years old, the reserved and shy future Queen was smitten with the adventurous Philip.

Biographer Sally Bedell Smith said: “She fell in love, and she never looked at anyone else.”

And more adulation for the Duke of Edinburgh arrived on Thursday from his granddaughter Princess Eugenie who paid a personal heartfelt tribute to her grandfather.

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In a post on her Instagram, Princess Eugenie told Prince Philip that he would have been “touched” by all the tributes over the last few days.

She wrote: “I remember learning how to cook, how to paint, what to read. I remember laughing at your jokes and asking about your spectacular life and service in the navy. ⁣

“I remember incinerating the sausages and you swooping in to save the day.⁣ I remember your hands and your laugh and your favourite beer. ⁣

“I will remember you in your children, your grandchildren and great-grandchildren. ⁣

⁣”Thank you for your dedication and love for us all and especially Granny, who we will look after for you. With all my love ⁣Eugenie” ⁣