Prince Philip death: Piers Morgan and Lord Alan Sugar lead tributes to the Duke of Edinburgh

Elaine Page, Carol Vorderman and Eamonn Holmes were among those who expressed their condolences

At one year old, Prince Philip of Greece shows an interest in things floral, July 1922. Getty Images

King Michael of Romania, right, rides with his cousin Prince Philip of Greece on the sands at Constanza, August 1928. Reuters

Prince Philip of Greece dressed for the Gordonstoun School's production of 'MacBeth', in Scotland, July 1935. Getty Images

A rare picture of Prince Philip of Greece at the public school of Gordonstoun, Elgin, Scotland, December 1939. Reuters

Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, prior to his marriage to Princess Elizabeth, working at his desk after returning to his Royal Navy duties at the Petty Officers Training Centre in Corsham, Wiltshire, August 1, 1947. Getty Images

Princess Elizabeth, heiress presumptive to the throne, pictured in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace with her husband to be, Lt Philip Mountbatten, and her sister Princess Margaret, September 1947. Reuters

King George VI, Princess Margaret, Lady Mary Cambridge, Princess Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary on the balcony at Buckingham Palace after the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten, London, on November 20, 1947. Getty Images

Undated picture showing the future Queen Elizabeth II of England and Prince Philip of Edinburgh posing with their son Prince Charles, 1949. AFP

His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, enjoys an old-fashioned hoedown held in the honour of the Royal Couple at Rideau Hall, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, October 11, 1951. Getty Images

Undated picture showing the Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, with their two children, Charles, Prince of Wales and Princess Anne in 1952. AFP

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip pose after the Queen's Coronation on June 2, 1953, at Buckingham Palace. AFP

The Duke of Edinburgh disembarks from a Harvard Trainer aircraft after a flight, at RAF White Waltham, Berkshire, where he had been training for his 'wings', on May 4, 1953. Getty Images

Prince Charles of Wales with his father Prince Philip of Edinburgh aboard a boat in 1955. AFP

In February 1979, Founding Father Sheikh Zayed and President Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, joined Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, aboard the royal yacht 'Britannia' during the British royals' state visit to the UAE. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh entertain Sultan Qaboos on board the royal yacht Britannia during a state visit to Oman on February 29, 1979 in Muscat, Oman. Getty Images

Prince Charles and Princess Diana on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day, accompanied by Prince Philip, 29 July, 1981. Getty Images

Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi greets the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, on November 2, 1989 in New Dehli. Gandhi, who was about to launch his campaign in the country's upcoming parliamentary elections, inaugurated an exhibition on the world's environment, at which Prince Philip was chief guest as president of the WWF. AFP

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, bursts out in laughter during a conversation with Second World War veterans after a wreath-laying ceremony at the main Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Ramle, Israel, October 30, 1994. AFP

Former South African president Nelson Mandela shares a light moment with the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip at Drakenstein Prison, Paarl, about 50 kilometres from Cape Town, on November 5, 2000. AFP

Queen Elizabeth II walks through the Royal Gallery accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh for the State Opening of Parliament on June 20, 2001. AFP

Queen Rania of Jordan and the Duke of Edinburgh at a state banquet at Windsor Castle on November 6, 2001. AFP

A Clarence House official handout photo shows the Prince of Wales and his new bride Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, with their families Prince Harry, Prince William, Tom and Laura Parker Bowles, Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Camilla's father Major Bruce Shand, in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle after their wedding ceremony on April 9, 2005 in Windsor, England. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh greet the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, as he arrives at a lunch for Sovereign Monarchs held in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, at Windsor Castle, on May 18, 2012. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, greet the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Windsor Castle on April 30, 2013. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh react as they bid farewell to Irish President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina at the end of their official visit at Windsor Castle on April 11, 2014. Getty Images

Prince Harry and Prince Phillip enjoy the atmosphere during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham on October 31, 2015, in London. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and US actress Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19, 2018. AFP

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh smiles as he talks to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex as they leave St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, west of London, on May 18, 2019, after the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston. AFP

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh flanked by Assistant Colonel Commandant, Major General Tom Copinger-Symes, inspects buglers during the transfer of the Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles at Windsor Castle, July 22, 2020. AFP

The Duke of Edinburgh has died in Windsor Castle at the age of 99, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.

Prince Philip was recently in hospital for more than a month after being admitted as a precautionary measure and was discharged after treatment for an infection and successful surgery for a pre-existing heart condition.

He would have turned 100 in June.

"It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh," the statement, which was shared on Twitter, said.

"His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will be made in due course.

"The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."

'A very sad day for our country'

Fans, friends and family members were quick to pay tribute to the Greek prince who married Elizabeth in 1947 and played a key role in modernising the British monarchy in the post-Second World War period.

Former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan took to Twitter to express his sadness.

"A truly great Briton who dedicated his life to selfless public duty & was an absolute rock of devoted support to Her Majesty, The Queen, as the longest-serving royal consort to any British sovereign," he wrote.

"A very sad day for our country. Thank you, Sir."

Bucks Fizz star Cheryl Baker recalled the "many times" she met the duke, adding "99 is a fabulous age to reach".

Irish broadcaster Eamonn Holmes kept it simple, writing: "HRH Prince Philip has died. #RIP"

Carol Vorderman, best known for co-hosting the game show Countdown for 26 years, expressed her condolences to the queen.

"I went for a private lunch with The Queen at Buckingham Palace quite a few years ago. They were both in their eighties and Prince Philip and she were flirting with each other madly and laughing. Theirs was a love and a marriage of more than 73 years. Deepest condolences Ma'am."

British business magnate and The Apprentice star Lord Alan Sugar added: "Very sad to hear that the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip has passed away. My thoughts are with HRH & the Royal family. R.I.P."

Former Spice Girl Geri Horner, nee Halliwell, wrote: "Thinking of Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family at this time."

The multi-hyphenate Floella Benjamin said she was sad to hear Prince Philip died "just short of his 100th birthday". She added: "He was always kind and supportive to me on many occasions."

Singer and actress Elaine Page said it was "terribly sad news for Great Britain, the Commonwealth and the world", expressing her "deepest condolences" to the queen, "who has lost her husband, confidant and life partner".

TV presenter Charlotte Hawkins said it was "the end of an era with the death of the Duke of Edinburgh".

People paid tribute in person, too, with many laying flowers at the gate of Buckingham Palace in central London after the announcement.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Philip has made few public appearances.

He was last seen at a staged appearance at a military ceremony at Windsor Castle in July, days after attending the wedding ceremony of his granddaughter Princess Beatrice.

In November, he and the queen marked their wedding anniversary by releasing a photograph of them together at Windsor.