Birthday tributes to His Royal Highness Duke of Edinburgh
9 June 2011
The House of Lords paid tribute on Wednesday 8 June to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh on the occasion of his forthcoming 90th birthday. Lord Strathclyde, the Leader of the House, moved what is known as a ‘humble address.’
- Watch on Parliament TV: His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh – motion for a humble address
- Lords Hansard: Read a transcript
The humble address, to be presented to Her Majesty the Queen, was as follows:
"Most Gracious Sovereign,
We, Your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, beg leave
To assure Your Majesty that this House looks forward to the ninetieth birthday of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh;
To convey to Your Majesty the admiration that is felt by this House for His Royal Highness; and
To express the hope that His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh may long continue to enjoy good health and happiness."
Lord Strathclyde led the tributes. Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, Leader of the Opposition in the Lords; Lord Dholakia, Convenor of the Liberal Democrats in the Lords; Baroness D’Souza, Convenor of the Crossbenches; and the Archbishop of York then also paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh.
The motion was agreed in Latin ‘nemine dissentiente’, which means none dissenting, and the Lord Chamberlain was ordered to present the Address to Her Majesty.
A motion was then moved for the following message to be conveyed to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh:
"Your Royal Highness,
We, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, warmly congratulate Your Royal Highness on Your Royal Highness’s forthcoming ninetieth birthday;
We express our gratitude for Your Royal Highness’s outstanding service to the nation, not only in supporting Her Majesty The Queen throughout Her Majesty’s reign but also in making Your Royal Highness’s own deep contribution to national life, in particular in Your Royal Highness’s distinguished naval service in the second world war and in Your Royal Highness’s creation of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award which has done so much to encourage the development of young people;
We wish Your Royal Highness many happy returns."
Motion agreed nemine dissentiente and it was ordered that the Message be conveyed to His Royal Highness by the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Speaker, the Leader of the House (Lord Strathclyde), Lord Brabazon of Tara, Baroness D'Souza, Lord McNally and Baroness Royall of Blaisdon.
Further information
The Duke of Edinburgh, consort to Her Majesty The Queen, is 90 on Friday 10 June.