Council leader, Cllr Rosemary Harris pays tribute to Prince Philip
Tributes have been paid by Powys County Council to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II’s husband who died last Friday, April 9, aged 99 years old.
At the start of a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, April 13, Council leader, Cllr Rosemarie Harris paused to reflect on his long life of public service.
Cllr Harris said: “I wanted to begin today’s meeting by expressing our sincere condolences from myself, cabinet members and all the senior officers of Powys County Council to Her Majesty the Queen on the very sad loss of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.
“The Duke as many of us will know had many connections to Wales through the various presidencies and patronages he had taken on.”
Cllr Harris added that many young people in Powys had taken part and “gained” from the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme and that he had visited the Royal Welsh Show, held at Llanelwedd in Powys, on several occasions.
Cllr Harris said: “He was very much a husband, father, grandfather and a great grandfather, and we think of all of the family at this particularly sad time for them.”
A moment’s silence was held before councillors carried on with the rest of the meeting’s business.
Council chairman, Cllr Gwynfor Thomas has written to Her Majesty the Queen, expressing the county’s great sadness and extending the deepest sympathies on behalf of members, staff and residents.
As a mark of respect, flags have been lowered to half-mast at County Hall, in Llandrindod Wells, Neuadd Maldwyn in Welshpool, Ladywell House in Newtown and Neuadd Brycheiniog in Brecon.
Funeral preparations are under way for Prince Philip who also held the title, Earl of Merioneth.
The ceremonial royal funeral will be held at St George’s Chapel, in the grounds of Windsor Castle, at 3pm on Saturday, 17 April.
Until then he will lie at rest in the private chapel at Windsor Castle until the day of the funeral.
