THE passing of the Duke of Edinburgh, while not totally unexpected, was nevertheless, a sad blow which has touched us all.

Just as the country had started to adopt a spring in its step ahead of Monday’s further relaxation of lockdown restrictions, the awful news once again cast us into gloom.

The great and good of Oxfordshire and the world expressed their sorrow and paid tribute to the Duke’s service to country – and to his unfaltering support to the Queen as consort, companion and soul mate.

Readers were quick to chime in with their tributes, many recalling his years of support for charity – particularly those working with young people. His Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme has given many a teenager a taste of adventure and a chance to develop interests and learn new skills in sport, outdoor survival and leadership.

But rather than simply mourning the famously charismatic and outspoken Prince – which we suspect he would hate – we should also rejoice in his achievements, generosity of spirit, contribution to national life and his heroic wartime duty as a decorated Naval officer.

His was a long life well lived.

Born into a life of duty, with a young life forged by war, he was thrust into the spotlight as one of the highest profile public figures. Yet he remained his own man. His quick humour and cheeky comments – which would certainly be dismissed as ‘inappropriate’ by the dull and humourless – betrayed his mischievous sense of fun, boyish charm and determination not to be taken too seriously.

Truly one of a kind, he was no technocrat or stuffed suit and was refreshingly unconcerned with spin and PR. And that is rare today. He was old fashioned but also a moderniser who worked to make the Royal Family a much-loved institution at a time the country was ditching many other trappings of its imperial past.

Whether future generations of Royals are up to the job of carrying on his impressive work remains to be seen. What is certain is we will never see the like of him again. And that really is a reason to mourn.