His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh (1921 – 2021)
Ranger of Windsor Great Park (1952 – 2021)
This morning, we received news that His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh had passed away, at the age of 99.
As Ranger of the Great Park since 1952, His Royal Highness had a long association with Cumberland Lodge. Her Majesty the Queen has been Patron of Cumberland Lodge since 2003. Her mother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, was instrumental in the establishment of the educational foundation here in 1947, and was our Patron until her death in 2002, and her late sister, Princess Margaret, was our Visitor from 1984 until her death in 2002.
Our Chief Executive, Canon Dr Edmund Newell, said: ‘All of us at Cumberland Lodge extend our sincerest condolences on the news of the passing of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, and all members of the Royal Family, at this most difficult of times. We are immensely grateful for the support His Royal Highness gave us, as Ranger of the Great Park, over so many years.’
The Duke of Edinburgh last visited Cumberland Lodge with Her Majesty The Queen in June 2017, and met our staff, trustees and Cumberland Lodge Fellows, to help mark our 70th anniversary year.