Queen Rania of Jordan joins royals around the world in honoring Prince Philip, and says he was a 'constant anchor' for the Queen

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Queen Rania of Jordan joins royals around the world in honoring Prince Philip, and says he was a 'constant anchor' for the Queen
Queen Rania of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in a carriage with Prince Philip at Windsor Castle at the start of a state visit.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
  • Queen Rania of Jordan called Prince Philip a "constant anchor" for the queen in an ITV tribute.
  • Queen Rania said the duke, who died aged 99, handled a life of public service "very graciously."
  • She also touched on the duties and pressures of being a consort, the partner of a monarch.
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Queen Rania of Jordan joined royals and leaders around the world in paying tribute to the late Prince Philip, and described the late Duke of Edinburgh as a "constant anchor" for the Queen.

Buckingham Palace announced that the 99-year-old died on Friday, April 9 at Windsor Castle, which led to many people sharing their personal views and memories of him.

In "A Royal Salute," a special ITV News program dedicated to the duke that aired in the UK on Saturday, Rania, the wife and consort to King Abdullah since 1993, said that "he really managed to strike that balance" between his personal interests and his public service and did so "very graciously."

Speaking to presenter Mary Nightingale at Raghadan Palace in Jordan, the queen said: "I'm sure there were times when it couldn't have been easy for him. Of course, he's human at the end of the day and he has his passions and his interests but he managed to find a way to pursue those things and at the same time just be there, a constant anchor for her majesty."

"I think she probably wouldn't have been able to carry on her journey the way she did without him by her side," she added.

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Rania and Philip had previously met during state visits to the UK in 1999 and 2001, and she told ITV that she felt there were parallels between their two households. "We share the same love for our children and concern for the future," she said.

"Being a partner, there is the private role you play to support your spouse who is under the limelight, who is held accountable for everything. Providing that moral and emotional support is absolutely vital and probably the most important role you play," Rania told Nightingale, highlighting the unique role of a consort.

Prince Philip was the UK's longest serving consort and had been married to the Queen since November 1947.

Other royal families across Europe have also made tributes to the duke, with the Spanish King Felipe and Queen Letizia writing a letter to the Queen in which they refer to her by the nickname "Aunt Lilibet," to express their condolences.

As reported by Harpers Bazaar, King Harald of Norway, a second cousin of the queen, said: "Our thoughts are with Queen Elizabeth and the rest of her family. We also send our condolences to the British people."

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King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and Princess Beatrix of the Royal House of the Netherlands used Twitter to issue a statement, writing: "It is with great respect that we remember His Royal Highness Prince Philip. Throughout his long life, he committed himself with dedication to the British people and to his many duties and responsibilities. His lively personality never ceased to leave an unforgettable impression. Our deepest and most heartfelt sympathy goes out to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and all the members of the Royal Family."

Prince Philip's funeral will take place on Saturday at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Members of the public will not be able to attend or pay their respects but it will be widely televised and there will be a national minute's silence at 3 p.m. to hon0r his life, according to Sky News.

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