Prince Philip’s thoughtful gesture that guided Prince William through a difficult time

Prince Philip was well known for his gruff exterior and no-nonsense attitude, but one royal expert claims it was the late royal’s thoughtful gesture that helped Prince William through a difficult period in his life.

Writing in People magazine, royal historian Robert Lacey claims William was emotionally vulnerable when he started at Eton College after both his parents divorced.

It was then that the Queen invited the young prince to weekly lunches with her at Windsor Castle, as the prestigious boarding school is located close to the royal grounds.

However, it was Prince Philip’s idea to set up the weekly tete-a-tetes between Monarch and the then second-in-line to the throne, according to Lacey.

“The 13-year-old was in a fragile place, alone and just starting boarding at the elite Eton College across the river from Windsor,” he wrote.

“Concerned for her grandson’s emotional state, the Queen invited William up to join her when Eton boys went home for the weekend.

“It was Philip’s idea to set up the lunches between William and his grandmother.”

According to Lacey, the late Duke of Edinburgh was also an important mentor to the young prince and even helped prepare him to take over the crown.

“Philip was crucial in helping coach William as a future King,” Lacey wrote.

“When the time came for the Queen to talk business with William, Philip would quietly excuse himself because he didn’t feel that the constitutional side of the Queen’s job was something he wanted to interfere in.”

This revelation comes after another young royal revealed a softer side to Philip that many outside the royal circle would be unaware of.

In a heartwarming revelation during the BBC documentary, Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers, Princess Eugenie opened up about the extraordinary bond she shared with her late grandfather.

The Princess delved into the connection she had with the Duke of Edinburgh, shedding light on two poignant moments that showcased the depth of their relationship.

Eugenie recalled a touching moment when she introduced her newborn son, August, to Prince Philip.

“We named August, August Philip because grandpa had been such a huge, inspiring character in my life,” she said.

“I brought little August to come and meet him and told him that we’d named him after him and it was such a lovely moment. We were very lucky to do that.”

Beyond the name, Princess Eugenie reminisced about a thoughtful wedding gift bestowed upon her by her grandfather on her special day in 2018. Prince Philip, known for his various hobbies, including a lesser-known love for painting, gifted Eugenie a handmade painting of flowers.

“It was so nice, it’s now sitting in my house in London and I’m so proud of it, you know?” she said.

While Philip was widely recognised for his dedication to public service, military achievements, and love for carriage driving, his artistic side was a more private aspect of his life.