As I extend my deepest sympathy to Her Majesty and the whole royal family, I recall with great fondness the official opening of the fourth Assembly in 2011. It was my honour to attend on Prince Philip, introduce him to the guests and host his table for the celebratory lunch, held in the Wales Millennium Centre. Put simply, the Duke was good company and engaging. That was the basis of his extraordinary character. He enjoyed life and found the people placed on this earth at the same time as him fascinating, unique and capable of valuable service to others. 

Those Members in attendance in 2011 will remember that Only Men Aloud sang for us during the lunch. In the introductions before, he asked one of the choir, 'Are you singing hymns? It's always hymns.' At this point, he was mildly reproached by the Queen. 'But they've been asked to sing hymns, Philip.' It was a reminder that above all they were a married couple blessed with a happy marriage. Prince Philip put all the guests at his table at ease and talked to each of them. He also put the waiter at ease after he forgot to bring the Duke his beer, India pale ale, by arrangement. He much preferred beer to wine.

Just before it was time to leave, I asked Prince Philip if he had another engagement that day, 'Yes', he replied, 'a dinner to commemorate the four hundredth anniversary of the King James Bible.' He loved reading the Bible, he said, and thought the King James version inspiring. A little foolishly, for you are advised not to ask too many direct and testing questions, I asked which was his favourite book of the Bible. Prince Philip did not hesitate, 'Ecclesiastes.' Only an avid reader of the Bible would have made this reply. Ecclesiastes is an enigmatic book, the most curious and paradoxical of the wisdom books of the Old Testament. Ecclesiastes is renowned for challenging some cherished beliefs; it speaks of a theology based on experience; it urges one to enter into life with zest; and it calls for a faith that is honest and in touch with reality. Above all, he had faith in the future as long as we innovate,

'Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.'

He was a man of the future, and he served his nation with incredible determination and achievement. May he rest in peace.