Prince Charles received the devastating news his father had died on the day he was due to mark his wedding anniversary to Camilla.
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall married back in 2005 so would have been celebrating 16 years together.
Instead they will be mourning the loss of Royal Family patriarch Phillip, who died this morning aged 99.
His and Camilla’s portion of their website was unavailable, with a tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh instead in its place.
Just two weeks ago they had been in Greece on a two-day visit celebrating the 100th anniversary since the start of the Greek war of independence against the Ottoman Empire.
At the time Charles had mentioned his father, telling an official state dinner: ‘My wife and I could not be more delighted to be back in Greece, which has long held the most special place in my heart.
‘After all, Greece is the land of my grandfather; and of my father’s birth, nearly one hundred years ago, in the centenary year of Greek Independence.
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after they took part in the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony in London in June 2007
Prince Philip with Prince Charles at the unveiling of a statue of the Queen Mother, Poundbury, Dorset, back in October 2016
Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh holding their first child Prince Charles, aged just six months old, in April 1949
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at a parade in Athens on a visit to mark 100 years of Greek Independence
‘Later, it was in Athens that my dear grandmother, Princess Alice, during the dark years of Nazi occupation, sheltered a Jewish family – an act for which in Israel she is counted as ‘Righteous Among The Nations’.’
Phillip had been at Windsor Castle after returning following weeks in hospital. It is not yet clear which other members of the family other than the Queen were there.
Charles was pictured teary-eyed in February as he arrived at King Edward VII’s hospital in London to visit his father as he was admitted for treatment.
The Prince of Wales went in at the back of the London hospital at around 3.30pm on February 20 where Philip had been staying.
It had been a 200-mile round trip to make the visit, was pictured wearing a face mask as he walked from his car into the hospital.
Philip was the longest-serving consort in British history.
The duke and the Queen were married for more than 70 years and Philip dedicated decades of his life to royal duty, serving the nation at the monarch’s side.
He officially retired from public engagements in the summer of 2017.
The Prince of Wales arrived at King Edward VII’s hospital in London to visit his father Philip in February as he got treatment
Prince Charles was said to be teary-eyed at his 99-year-old father the Duke of Edinburgh’s bedside in February. He made a 200-mile round trip to sped half an hour at Philip’s side
The Palace said in a statement: ‘It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
‘His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.
‘Further announcements will made in due course.
‘The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.’
The death of the duke comes in the midst of the worst public health crisis for generations as the UK and countries around the globe reel from the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
It has also taken place in the aftermath of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s bombshell Oprah interview which left the monarchy in crisis after Meghan accused an unnamed royal of racism and the institution of failing to help her when she was suicidal.
Philip had returned to Windsor Castle on March 16 to be reunited with the Queen after spending a month in hospital – his longest ever stay.
He initially received care for an infection but then underwent heart surgery for a pre-existing condition.
The duke had looked gaunt as he was driven away from King Edward VII’s Hospital in central London, having been pushed in a wheelchair to the waiting car.
Philip – father to the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex – was just two months away from his 100th birthday in June.
He spent much of the Covid-19 crisis staying with the Queen at Windsor in HMS Bubble – the nickname given to the couple’s reduced household of devoted staff during lockdown.