PHIL’S WILL
Prince Philip ‘leaves granddaughter Lady Louise, 17, his beloved ponies and carriage’
PRINCE Philip has left his beloved ponies and carriage to granddaughter Lady Louise, 17.
The Duke of Edinburgh had taught the young royal, who is the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, how to do carriage driving before his recent death.
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Prince Philip took up carriage driving in the 1970s after switching from polo.
A royal source told the that Lady Louise will regularly exercise Philip’s black ponies - Balmoral Nevis and Notlaw Storm – at Windsor.
Lady Louise is said to have emerged as the Queen’s favourite grandchild following a lengthy stay at the monarch’s Scottish retreat, Balmoral, over the summer of 2019.
Louise is 14th in line to the throne, behind her younger brother James, as they were both born before the 2013 Succession to the Crown Act, which officially ended the centuries-old rule that male offspring take precedence over females.
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A royal insider said: “The Queen loves the fact that Louise and James relish their time at Balmoral, and she has become particularly close to Louise, who seems to have become her favourite grandchild, closely followed by James.”
Ingrid Seward previously told Fabulous Digital that the Queen likes "ordinary people more than she does those that pander to her".
Philip’s ponies played a central role in his funeral on Saturday, as they pulled his custom-made four-wheeled carriage.
Philip started using his dark green carriage in the 90s and would ride on it in Windsor.
During the poignant funeral, his cap, whip and brown gloves were laid on a folded blanket on the seat - alongside a small red pot that Philip used to store sugar lumps for the ponies.
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The Duke was an expert carriage driver and represented Great Britain in three European Championships and six World Championships.
He turned to the sport after giving up polo at the age of 50 in 1971 due to what he called his "dodgy" arthritic wrist.
In a book the Duke wrote: "I am getting old, my reactions are getting slower, and my memory is unreliable, but I have never lost the sheer pleasure of driving a team through the British countryside."
In his role as President of FEI Global, Philip was responsible for the organisation of all equestrian sporting events at five Olympics Games.
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Covid restrictions meant the monarch, 95, on Saturday could not be comforted inside St George’s Chapel at Windsor as she paid a final farewell to Prince Philip.
Philip's immediate family - including the Queen, Princess Anne, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward - were top the list of mourners.
All of the duke's grandchildren and their spouses - including William, Harry, Eugenie and Beatrice - also attended.
Three of Philip's German relatives - Bernhard, the Hereditary Prince of Baden; Donatus, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse; and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg - were among the attendees.
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In more Royal Family news, Princes William & Harry 'relaxed in moment of unity' as they chatted at Philip's funeral, a body language expert said.
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And this is the adorable nickname Prince Philip’s mum used in loving letters to the Duke revealed – and it will melt your heart.
Plus the Royal Family paid heartwarming tribute to Prince Philip as they revealed the ‘unique touches’ Duke planned for his funeral.
Prince Philip funeral - Duke of Edinburgh’s Land Rover hearse and horse carriage arrive at St George’s Chapel
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