The alarm ceased. Buckingham Palace has announced that Prince Philip will withdraw from all public engagements from next autumn. The Queen's commitments were instead fully confirmed. She will continue on her own. The crowd of cameramen, photographers and cinematographers who had immediately gathered outside the royal palace were thus convinced that the situation, presented as alarming given the unusualness of calling the meeting, is instead under control. In truth, Buckingham Palace has downsized everything, specifying that the meeting was instead part of a normal practice of interviews and staff updates.
No abdication for Elizabeth of England. Rumors of her withdrawal had circulated early on indiscretions published by the tabloid Daily Mail regarding the urgent meeting convened at Buckingham Palace with all the staff of the royal house.
The Warner Stand at Lord's @HomeOfCricket is officially opened by The Duke of Edinburgh ?? pic.twitter.com/9tMKvIAYLm
- The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) 3 May 2017
Prince Philip, who will turn 96 in June, a good age to retire, will therefore step down from official duties. The latest was the inauguration of a cricket ground. Just the indiscretions of the Daily Mail had given rise to uncontrolled rumors about the health of the Duke of Edinburgh, even going so far as to hypothesize his death, as well as the possibility that the Queen would abdicate. None of this then happened.
