The Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner, Danny Kinahan has expressed his sadness at the death of His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
He said: “On behalf of the veteran community here in Northern Ireland, I would like to convey our deepest sympathies to Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family.
“Prince Philip joined the Royal Navy ahead of the outbreak of the Second World War and by 1942 was one of its youngest first lieutenants. He left the Navy in 1951 to take on more Royal duties, following his marriage in 1947 to the then Princess Elizabeth and the worsening health of King George VI.
“We know the Royal Navy was incredibly important to him. A perfect example of his passion for the senior service was on the 50th anniversary of VJ Day in 1995, when he joined many other veterans of the Far East campaign to march past the Queen on The Mall in London.
“Prince Philip’s life was one of service and I know that veterans here in Northern Ireland – whether they served in the RAF, the Army or like him, in the Royal Navy, will be deeply saddened to learn of his passing.
“We owe him, and so many who followed his example of service, so much.”