'You could hear a pin drop': The dramatic moment stunned Palace staff were told of Duke of Edinburgh's retirement during top-secret meeting - as Prince catches train out of London to stay with friends

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It was announced yesterday that Prince Philip is set to retire from public duties this autumn

As he contemplated retiring from royal duties after seven decades of public service, the Duke of Edinburgh told one of his oldest friends: ‘I’m past my sell-by date!’

The joke was indicative of Philip’s train of thought, which came to a conclusion yesterday after long discussions with the Queen and other members of the family, including his grandchildren, who told him: ‘Go for it, Grandpa!’

As Philip, 95, retired from royal duties after 22,191 solo public engagements and 637 solo overseas visits to 143 countries, his lifelong friend and relative, Lady Myra Butter, 92, told the Mail: ‘He always used to say, quite openly, “I’m past my sell-by date”.

‘He was never going to do it before the Queen’s 90th birthday last year – he was always going to be there for her for that. [But] we all felt that this was the moment.’

The announcement that the much-loved duke, who will celebrate 70 years of marriage to the Queen in November, will stop carrying out public engagements from this autumn came as aides insisted there were no concerns about his health. Palace sources said Philip’s decision was a personal one, made by him alone. One aide said: ‘He is almost 96, you can see he is in good form and good spirits, but ultimately only he knows how he feels.

‘It is very much his personal choice to step back now.’ On a momentous day for the Royal Family, sources told the Mail:

• The Queen’s public schedule will continue as normal and her dedication to duty remained ‘undiminished’;
• Senior royals including Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew will undertake more duties with their mother in a new strategy dubbed ‘Team Windsor’. 
• Younger members of the Royal Family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, will be expected to ‘step up to the mark’;
• Philip will remain as patron, president or member of the 785 organisations he has links to – for as long as he is wanted;
• The duke quietly slipped out of London yesterday afternoon, catching a train from London’s Euston station to stay with friends in the North.

Royal household staff looked stunned as they left Buckingham Palace yesterday following the shock announcement that Prince Philip was retiring from public duties

The laughing cheerleader: If anyone can see the funny side of a player having a calamity, it is the Duke of Edinburgh. Here he loses his royal reserve at the Highland Games at Braemar in 2003 — while the Queen restricts herself to a rather more regal wry smile

Speculation about an announcement regarding the duke began when the Mail revealed, in later editions of the newspaper yesterday and online, that members of the Queen’s household had been summoned to Buckingham Palace for an emergency staff meeting at 10am. About 550 staff were summoned by email, but three coachloads from Windsor got stuck in traffic and missed the briefing.

Official: The communique from Buckingham Palace

As television crews from around the world gathered outside the palace gates, several hundred long-standing members of staff congregated inside. In the historic red and gold Victorian ballroom they were addressed by the Queen’s private secretary, Sir Christopher Geidt.

According to a source, you could have heard a pin drop – but there was no great surprise at the news.

A palace spokesman said Philip will attend all the engagements he committed to between now and August, both individually and alongside the Queen. There are 15 in his diary for this month alone. Palace insiders stressed the decision was not being taken on medical grounds. ‘That was the first question asked and the clear answer was “no”,’ a source said. ‘This really is down to his age. The Duke is still working 30 years beyond when most people retire.’

Senior courtiers told the Mail that Philip had been ruminating over his decision for several months after a particularly busy couple of years.

It is not in his nature to ‘quit’, but last year saw a busy programme of engagements to mark his wife’s 90th birthday, and the year before that the marking of her becoming the longest-serving British sovereign. 

The polo umpire: Matinee idol suave as he enjoys a break during a polo match at Ham Common in 1961

The celebrity meeter and greeter: Gwyneth Paltrow’s in killer heels, but the Prince still looks her in the eye in this 2011 photo at the Mayfair Arts Club

In 2012, the country celebrated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, during which Philip was admitted to hospital with a urinary infection after being forced to stand in the rain for several hours. 

‘It is something he has been thinking about for several months after a busy year,’ said one palace insider. 

‘He has finally had time to draw breath and think about it.’

After long conversations with the Queen and other members of the family – including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who agreed to move down to London this autumn to take on more royal duties as a result – Philip made up his mind.

Aides say there will be ‘absolutely no change’ to the Queen’s schedule.

The consort on coronation day: The Royal couple are all smiles as the tension lifts on Coronation Day on June 2, 1953, when they return to Buckingham Palace after the pomp and ceremony of the service at Westminster Abbey

The garden party joker: A nifty Fred Astaire impression

Sources say the monarch, who turned 91 last month, will continue to undertake solo public engagements. But Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and the Earl and Countess of Wessex will accompany her to more official events. Palace insiders are referring to the new set-up as ‘Team Windsor’.

The news will also increase pressure on the younger members of the Royal Family – William, Kate and Harry – to do more. Philip carried out more days of public engagements last year – 110 – than Harry (86) or William (80). Bottom of the list was Kate, with just 63.

A source said: ‘The Queen is well used to doing engagements on her own. Equally, however, there is quite a bit of recent precedent with her doing engagements with family members, who aren’t the Duke of Edinburgh, and you will see more of that. It is also fair to say you will see other members of the Royal Family supporting and reinforcing the Queen’s official work.

‘We are going to see a kind of Team Windsor supporting the Queen.’

Shock and dismay of Palace staff

Royal household staff looked stunned as they left Buckingham Palace yesterday following the shock announcement that Prince Philip was retiring from public duties.

Workers could be seen walking across the gravelled forecourt deep in thought following a ‘top secret’ morning meeting.

Around 550 employees had been summoned by email to the Queen’s official residence by the most senior member of her household, the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Peel.

Along with Buckingham Palace workers, many employees had travelled from Sandringham in Norfolk, Windsor Castle and even the Queen’s Scottish residence, Balmoral, for the meeting

The meeting started promptly at 10am in the impressive red and gold-hued Victorian ballroom, which is usually reserved for state banquets and investitures.

Many staff at yesterday’s gathering would have waited on tables in the same room during visits by foreign dignitaries to the monarch and her husband.

Along with Buckingham Palace workers, many employees had travelled from Sandringham in Norfolk, Windsor Castle and even the Queen’s Scottish residence, Balmoral.

The monarch’s long-serving private secretary Sir Christopher Geidt was also present.

Standing on the dais on which the Queen normally conducts investitures, Sir Christopher addressed the crowd – many of whom had already guessed what he was about to say.

Despite that, it was clear from their expressions that many were shocked to learn the news.

He made the decision after the death of his close friend

Prince Philip made his historic decision to retire from royal duties following the death of one of his closest friends.

He was devastated by the loss of Sir Brian McGrath, known as his ‘gatekeeper’, who died aged 90 last year, just before the Duke’s 95th birthday.

Prince Philip was devastated by the loss of Sir Brian McGrath, known as his ‘gatekeeper’, who died aged 90 last year, just before the Duke’s 95th birthday

Friends say that while his decision to step down from public life is very much a personal one, there is little doubt that Philip was ‘deeply affected’ by the loss of the man who had been by his side for 15 years. The pair became great friends after Sir Brian joined the Duke as an assistant private secretary in 1982 and quickly rose to become the head of his household.

The one who always breaks the ice: Philip finds time for a laugh with a war veteran (out of picture) in 2006 following the opening of the Field of Remembrance in the grounds of Westminster Abbey

When he decided to retire in 1995, Philip immediately appointed him as an ‘extra equerry’ and the distinguished former Army officer was at his side almost every day until shortly before his death. His closeness to both Philip and the Queen was emphasised by the fact that he was the only member of the household allowed to bring his pet dog into work.

When Sir Brian lost his wife he told Philip he might have to give up work as he needed to look after his black Labrador, Robert.

Philip secured special permission from the Queen allowing him to bring the dog into the palace with him.

 A senior royal aide said: ‘He is the only person who has ever been allowed to bring their dog to work.’

His death was a shock to Philip. ‘The Duke was immensely fond of Sir Brian and was deeply upset about his death,’ one long-serving courtier told the Mail.

‘Sadly, because they have lived so long, the Queen and the Duke have had to say goodbye to so many friends over the years.

‘It’s the price of living to such a ripe old age, but Sir Brian’s death was a blow.’