Description
The life and service of HRH Prince Philip, remembered on a £100 sovereign
On 17th April 2021, the nation paused to remember the life and service of Prince Philip as he was laid to rest at St George’s Chapel. As the longest-serving consort in British history, Prince Philip deliberately stepped away from the limelight to support his wife Queen Elizabeth II at every step whilst energetically shaping a meaningful role for himself to better serve his adopted country of Great Britain.
Prince Philip was due to celebrate his 100th birthday on the 10th of June 2021. He sadly passed away just two months before this milestone birthday. However, a gold £100 sovereign that was originally proposed to mark that birthday has been approved, and takes on new significance as it is being released as a tribute to the life and service of the Duke of Edinburgh .
Most often acknowledged for his unflinching support of the Queen, Prince Philip’s individual accomplishments reveal much about his strength of character. An exceptional naval officer, he relinquished an active military career upon the death of King George VI but continued to maintain strong ties with the armed forces. A committed conservationist and a champion of engineering innovation, one of his most enduring legacies is the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the world’s leading youth achievement award, which he founded in 1956. He oversaw the modernisation of Buckingham Palace and embraced technology, becoming the first in the royal household to own a computer. Fluent in French and German, he travelled extensively at Her Majesty’s side as well as undertaking more than 22,000 solo engagements throughout his lifetime. Already well into his nineties when he retired from royal duties in 2017, his enthusiasm for charitable enterprise led to his involvement with more than 780 organisations overall.
This lifetime of public service, of dedication to his roles as consort, husband and father, deserves to be recognised, and this new gold coin – the first ever to feature Prince Philip’s Royal Arms as the main motif – are a way for us all to do just that.
This £100 sovereign features Prince Philip’s Royal Arms, and significantly this is the first time they have appeared as the main motif on gold sovereign coins. With the sad passing of the Duke of Edinburgh it is now likely that never again will such a design receive approval from Buckingham Palace for use on a gold sovereign in the future, making these the first – and only – sovereign coins of their kind.
This design, which was originally meant to mark his 100th birthday, now creates a poignant memorial to Prince Philip.
Authorised by Tristan da Cunha, and approved by both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Buckingham Palace.
