King Charles recalls final talk with Prince Philip
King Charles has spoken about the last conversation he had with his father, Prince Philip, in a recollection shared as the Royal Family continues to reflect on the late Duke of Edinburgh’s life and legacy. The King’s remarks were made in a BBC documentary broadcast after Philip’s death, offering a personal account of their final exchange the day before the duke died in 2021.
Hello Magazine reported that King Charles recalled discussing Prince Philip’s forthcoming 100th birthday and the possibility of a reception, prompting Philip to quip: “Well I’ve got to be alive for it, haven’t I?”
In the documentary, Charles described the moment as “a happy memory” and said he had been speaking loudly because Philip had become “a bit deaf”. The exchange was featured in Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers, which was originally conceived as part of plans to mark Philip’s centenary before being reshaped following his death on 9 April 2021, aged 99.
The programme included contributions from all four of the Queen and Philip’s children and several grandchildren, with family members sharing anecdotes about Philip’s humour and interests. In separate recent royal tributes, King Charles mourned the death of friend Alec Cobbe, highlighting how personal losses continue to shape the King’s public reflections.
The documentary’s recollections remain a rare glimpse into private family moments, underlining the affection and wit that characterised Charles and Philip’s relationship in its final years.
