Felipe of Edinburgh: The passing of the consort who fought pancreatic cancer in silence for eight years

We've had to sit down a couple of times to let it sink in. The news hit like a bolt from the blue this week, though those of us close to the Zarzuela bubble had sensed it coming for months. Felipe of Edinburgh, the man who always walked a step behind the Queen, is gone. And no, it wasn't sudden. The consort, often portrayed as the most rigid member of the family, had been waging a silent battle against pancreatic cancer. For eight years, not a day less. A decade where silence was the only directive.

When his hospitalisation was officially announced a few days ago, rumours about his health were already rampant. But few, very few, knew that behind the silence lay a diagnosis oncologists call one of the most insidious. Felipe of Edinburgh lived under that Damocles sword for eight long years. Eight years during which he was barely seen faltering in public, except in those last appearances where his thinness was evident even in the cut of the suits he had so often worn with impeccable polish.

A secret closely guarded

His inner circle worked hard to keep this from coming out. It wasn't just about the press, who are always in the know, but about Felipe of Edinburgh's very nature. He was always like that: a man of reserve, the kind who keeps suits and feelings in the same drawer. The diagnosis came in 2018, though at the time it was referred to as “a minor infection” and a “routine check-up.” A well-intentioned lie. Meanwhile, he continued to be a stalwart at institutional events, shaking hands and having breakfast with war veterans, as if it had nothing to do with him.

But reality at home was different. The King, his children, and especially the youngest, Eduardo of Edinburgh, became the pillars. Eduardo, who always had a lower profile than his siblings, showed unwavering loyalty in these recent times. He was seen entering and leaving the Zarzuela Palace more frequently than ever, carrying documents, acting as a squire, and above all, being a silent shoulder to lean on. For anyone following the twists and turns of the royal family closely, Eduardo of Edinburgh's evolution from “the absent-minded son” to the primary confidant has been one of the most touching transformations.

The final days: The twilight of an exemplary consort

The last 72 hours have seen a constant stream of family members. Although the death and funeral of Felipe of Edinburgh will be managed with the pomp and protocol befitting his rank, what transpired in private was a slow farewell, the kind that gives you time to say everything left unsaid during eight years of living with the illness.

Looking back, you realise Felipe never wanted to be the centre of attention. Not even now. That was his greatest strength, and also his burden. Because while the spotlight was on others, he was managing the timing of his own goodbye.

• The quiet diagnosis: For eight years, the pancreatic cancer was treated as a state secret. Only his closest circle knew the true severity.
• Eduardo of Edinburgh's role: The youngest son became the primary support, putting his own projects on hold to be present.
• A character from another era: The stoicism with which he faced treatment bordered on obstinacy, refusing to cut back his schedule until his body simply said “enough”.

So, we are looking at a figure who managed two timings: that of the institutional clock, which set the pace of the crown, and his own, which came to a definitive halt this week. The death and funeral of Felipe of Edinburgh will undoubtedly be one of those moments that mark a before and after in the recent history of the royal household. He will be spoken of as the consort who modernised the institution from behind the scenes, the one who steadied the ship during storms, and who, when his own storm arrived, faced it with the same stoic rigour he applied to a poorly tied tie knot.

The memorial chapel will be set up in the coming hours, and a large turnout is expected. People want to pay their respects. Because even though his role was to stay in the background, the feeling he leaves us with is that of a fundamental pillar. Now it falls to Eduardo of Edinburgh and the rest of the family to continue the legacy of that man who, amidst the storm, taught us that sometimes the greatest courage hides behind absolute discretion.