Prince William Pays Tribute to 'Extraordinary' Philip and Says 'I'll Miss My Grandpa'

 The Duke of Cambridge has described Prince Philip as “an extraordinary man” in a touching tribute to his late grandfather.

Prince William, 38, shared a sweet photo of his then-toddler son Prince George sitting next to the Duke of Edinburgh at the Cambridges' country home in Norfolk.

The family photo was taken by George's mum Kate Middleton in 2015.

George is pictured sat beside the duke on the box seat of a carriage, as Philip held the reins and a whip.

The future king, dressed in shorts and a knitted jumper, is holding open a picture book.

In his statement, William told how he will miss his "grandpa", but Philip, who died aged 99 on Friday, "would want us to get on with the job".

He said: “My grandfather’s century of life was defined by service – to his country and Commonwealth, to his wife and Queen, and to our family. “I feel lucky to have not just had his example to guide me, but his enduring presence well into my own adult life – both through good times and the hardest days.

"I will always be grateful that my wife had so many years to get to know my grandfather and for the kindness he showed her.

"I will never take for granted the special memories my children will always have of their great-grandpa coming to collect them in his carriage and seeing for themselves his infectious sense of adventure as well as his mischievous sense of humour!

“My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation. Catherine and I will continue to do what he would have wanted and will support The Queen in the years ahead. I will miss my Grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job It came as William prepares to reunite with his brother Prince Harry, who has travelled back to the UK for the funeral, amid a rift between the siblings.

It is thought that Harry, 36, is self-isolating at Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace, just yards from William's home.

It is Harry's first visit to the UK since he and Meghan, 39, quit their roles as senior royals and moved to the US, and since their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey last month.

He wasn't joined by wife Meghan Markle, who is pregnant with a girl, or their one-year-old son Archie.

They remain at home in Montecito, California, after doctors advised the duchess not to make the long journey due to her pregnancy.

Mourners coming from outside England are required to self-isolate for the first full 10 days after they arrive, but are allowed to leave on compassionate grounds to attend a funeral of a close family member.

Harry could be released from a 10-day Covid-19 quarantine if he gets a negative private test on day five under the Test to Release scheme.

William honoured his grandfather a day after his uncles Andrew and Edward paid tribute to Philip as they attended a service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor.

The Queen has described the loss of her beloved husband as "having left a huge void in her life", said Andrew.

The Duke of York, who stepped down from royal duties over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2019, said the monarch was "feeling it more than everybody else" but was remaining "incredibly stoic", as he described his father's death as a "terrible loss".

Honouring his father on Saturday, heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles spoke movingly of his “dear Papa”, who he said had devoted himself to the Queen, his family and the country for some 70 years.

The UK is officially in a period of national mourning for the next week, up to and including Philip’s funeral on Saturday afternoon.

The ceremonial royal funeral in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, will be like no other, with the Queen and her family wearing face masks and socially distancing as they gather to say their final farewell amid corona virus restrictions.

Only 30 people – expected to be the duke's four children and their spouses, eight grandchildren and other close family – will attend as guests.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, is likely to attend the service, though it was unclear if her and William's three children - Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, two - will join them.

It is not yet known whether the Queen will decide to give a televised address in tribute to Philip, her husband of 73 years. The Prince of Wales is expected to deliver the eulogy.

The Queen has given final approval to the funeral plans, codenamed Forth Bridge, and eight days of national mourning, which will end on Saturday.

The Royal Family has entered two weeks of royal mourning, starting from the day of Philip’s death.

On Sunday, Andrew was joined at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor, by his brother Prince Edward, who was with his wife the Countess of Wessex and their 17-year-old daughter Lady Louise Windsor.

The Duke of York, 61, said: "The Queen as you could expect is an incredibly stoic person and she described his passing as a miracle, and she is contemplating is the way I would put it.

"She described it as having left a huge void in her life but we, the family, the ones who are closer, are rallying round to make sure that we are there to support her and I know there is a huge amount of support, not just for her, but for everybody as we go through this enormous change."