Queen ‘needs Duke by her side’ Prince Harry tells broadcaster

Prince Harry has said he does not believe the Queen can carry out her public duties without the Duke of Edinburgh at her side.

Speaking to broadcaster Andrew Marr in the latest edition of the Radio Times magazine – which features the Queen as its cover star – Harry suggested his 85-year-old grandmother needs to have Philip, 90, physically with her at royal engagements.

Philip suffered a heart scare before Christmas and spent four nights in hospital, but has remained the Queen’s constant companion throughout her reign – which reaches its 60-year milestone next week.

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Harry, interviewed before the Duke’s heart scare, said: “Regardless of whether my grandfather seems to be doing his own thing, sort of wandering off like a fish down the river, the fact that he’s there... personally, I don’t think that she could do it without him, especially when they’re both at this age.”

Marr has made a three-part documentary on the Queen for the BBC which will run next week, to coincide with the 600th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

It will feature interviews with other senior Royals including the Duke of Cambridge.

In another interview excerpt featured in this week’s Radio Times, William told Marr: “I think she doesn’t care for celebrity... and she really minds about having privacy in general.”