Prince Philip, husband and trusted friend of Queen Elizabeth II, dies at 99

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Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. reign / reɪn / (n.) – the period of rule of a king, queen, emperor, etc.
    Example:

    Louis XIV’s reign lasted for 72 years.


  2. no-nonsense / ˈnoʊˈnɒn sɛns / (adj.) – having a serious attitude and a direct and efficient way of doing things
    Example:

    My boss is a no-nonsense woman; she doesn’t like it when people joke around at work.


  3. propensity for (something) / prəˈpɛn sɪ ti fɔr / (n.) – a natural tendency to behave in a certain way
    Example:

    He has a propensity for violence.


  4. gaffe / gæf / (n.) – an embarrassing or impolite mistake made in public
    Example:

    Did you hear about the gaffe Mike made? He tried to speak Spanish to someone and said something really rude!


  5. sorrow / ˈsɒr oʊ / (n.) – a feeling of great sadness caused by loss, disappointment, etc.
    Example:

    The man wrote a poem to express his sorrow over the loss of his dog.


Article

Read the text below.

Prince Philip, who was Queen Elizabeth’s husband for more than seven decades and helped to modernize the British monarchy and steer the royal family through repeated crises, died on April 9. He was 99.


The Duke of Edinburgh, as he was officially known, had been by his wife’s side throughout her 69-year reign, the longest in British history. During that time he earned a reputation for a tough, no-nonsense attitude and a propensity for occasional gaffes.


“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,” the palace said in a statement.


A Greek prince, Philip married Elizabeth in 1947. He went on to play a key role helping the monarchy adapt to a changing world in the post-World War II period, and behind the walls of Buckingham Palace was the one key figure the queen could trust and turn to.


A ceremonial funeral was scheduled to take place on April 17 at Windsor Castle. (Reuters)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Prince Philip had a propensity for occasional gaffes. Do you know any other people who are famous for making gaffes? If so, how do you feel about their gaffes (ex. no big deal, a little offensive)? Why? Discuss.
  • Prince Philip was known for his no-nonsense attitude. Would you describe yourself or any of your friends as no-nonsense people? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Prince Philip’s ceremonial funeral was televised around the world and watched by more than 13.6 million people. Why do you think so many people watched it? Discuss.
  • The BBC received over 100,000 complaints from viewers who felt that it focused too much on Prince Philip’s death and funeral. What do you think about that (ex. reasonable, coldhearted)? Why? Discuss.