The greatest achievement of Prince Philip, the longest-serving royal consort in British history, is likely to reside at the intersection of ecology, biodiversity and inter-religious co-operation. Perhaps it was his peripatetic upbringing. Or the royal family’s vast land holdings. Or a combination of formative experiences and his adult interests.
Prince Philip, who died on Friday at the age of 99, has good claims to have raised the importance of defending the planet, paving the way for the campaigners who fight today so doughtily for change. As a countryman, the Duke of Edinburgh appreciated how good husbandry of animals was rewarded with healthy stock. As a member of the Royal Navy, he saw the world from surf to turf and how it was under threat.
Much has been made of his 73 years as consort to Queen Elizabeth II. Whatever his frustrations at not sharing the British throne as an equal with his wife, his life work has left a legacy that will endure after her reign and those of her immediate heirs.
It may be a paradox that in his time Prince Philip went big game hunting in a quest for tigers and elephants. But sporting pursuits and conservation are not a contradiction. A long life produces a balance of effects and his role should be recognised as pioneering.
If Greta Thunberg is honoured for raising the consciousness of the world to climate peril, Prince Philip did much the same thing half a century ago.
The long association of the Prince, who was born a junior member of the Greek and Danish royal families, with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) formed the primary platform for his concern for Planet Earth.
A major initiative of the WWF, pushed by Prince Philip as its international president, sought recognition that “through their philosophy, actions and influence, faiths can have a major impact on the way their followers view the protection of nature”. A major report in 2005 backed by Prince Philip, which involved the WWF and the Alliance of Religions and Conservation, pointed out the spiritual importance of the fight to keep the earth in good health and how that is informed by religions.
A global summit that the royal helped organise in Italy in 1986 produced declarations from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim leaders. A global pilgrimage network was set up that includes sites in the Middle East.
Efforts such as those by the UAE to champion biodiversity initiatives now fit within a global umbrella of work to save and protect the species. The UN is an important convener and promoter of these efforts. Prince Philip helped drive that aspect of the UN's work with the secretary general as long ago as the 1980s.
Action to bring about change was something that Prince Philip liked to embody. He was an international role model in the way that few others had tried in the middle of the 20th century. Many have since developed or sought to develop this identity. Prince Philip’s impact was ahead of his time.
The Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme for school pupils has programmes in more than 120 countries. Research shows its strong impact on individual lives, social cohesion, lower crime rates and environmental awareness is shared by millions every year.
As Barack Obama noted in his tribute to Prince Philip on Friday, his time in spotlight saw radio succeeded by television and the internet.
Prince Philip was something unusual among the British royals. The instinctively curious modernist wanted to be involved with the new technologies as well as fresh ideas. But he was obviously a traditionalist. He was palpably devoted to the establishment with the monarch at its apex.
That did not mean he could not branch out and seek new interests. It did not preclude his leadership extending into fresh areas, though there were constraints in the end on what he could do and how he framed his contribution.
Soon after the latest series of Netflix series The Crown, conspiracy theorists had a field day when a documentary shot in the 1960s of the royal family at home was leaked on YouTube. Although broadcast nationwide after it was shot, the behind-the-scenes look at the family has never been shown again. This has prompted allegations that the family suppressed the work.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip greet UAE President Sheikh Khalifa, at Windsor Castle in 2013. Getty Images
Sheikh Zayed, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip seated before lunch at the Hilton Hotel in Abu Dhabi, in 1979. Getty Images
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa speaks to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during their visit to Abu Dhabi in 2010. Getty Images
Prince Philip attends a military air display in Abu Dhabi in 2010. Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip together during a visit to Abu Dhabi in 1979, which was part of their tour of the Gulf. Getty Images
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, speaks to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in 2010. Getty Images
Prince Philip visits a souq in Muscat during a state visit to Oman in 1979. Getty Images
Prince Philip looks at a hawk during a visit to Manama, Bahrain, in 1979. Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip disembark the Royal Yacht Britannia in Kuwait, in 1979. Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are presented with a gift by the then-Sultan of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, before a state banquet in Muscat, Oman, in 2010. Getty Images
Prince Philip at a news conference for the World Wide Fund for Nature in Ougney-les-Champs, France. Prince Philip was President of the WWF from 1981 to 1996. AFP
Prince Philip was a traditionalist. That did not mean he could not branch out and seek new interests
Prince Philip pushed the idea of allowing the cameras in and wanted to show that the family was open to changing modern times. Like his work on the environment, youth development and faith it showed he had trust in the future. Appreciation of the powers of change around you is something particularly valuable in a royal family when the pace of advancement is so rapid.
There are plenty of questions that dogged Prince Philip. The comments he would make that pigeon-holed people alienated many. The relationship between the males in Queen Elizabeth’s family are clearly imperfect and often to the detriment of its reputation.
In more recent times, his grandson Prince Harry has likened the oppressive set-up to being trapped in a cage. For Prince Philip there was a lifetime of adaptation. What he saw and thought was only ever in the prism of the institution. His insight was that he could develop leadership roles for the benefit of others in the world.
The natural world is a beneficiary of his long life.
Damien McElroy is the London bureau chief at The National
All matches in Bulawayo Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
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China and the UAE agree comprehensive strategic partnership
China and the UAE forged even closer links between the two countries during the landmark state visit after finalising a ten-point agreement on a range of issues, from international affairs to the economy and trade and renewable energy.
1. Politics: The two countries agreed to support each other on issues of security and to work together on regional and international challenges. The nations also confirmed that the number of high-level state visits between China and the UAE will increase.
2. Economy: The UAE offers its full support to China's Belt and Road Initiative, which will combine a land 'economic belt" and a "maritime silk road" that will link China with the Arabian Gulf as well as Southeast, South and Central China, North Africa and, eventually, Europe.
3. Business and innovation: The two nations are committed to exploring new partnerships in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, energy, the aviation and transport industries and have vowed to build economic co-operation through the UAE-China Business Committee.
4. Education, science and technology: The Partnership Programme between Arab countries in Science and Technology will encourage young Emirati scientists to conduct research in China, while the nations will work together on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, renewable energy and space projects.
5. Renewable energy and water: The two countries will partner to develop renewable energy schemes and work to reduce climate change. The nations have also reiterated their support for the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency.
6. Oil and gas: The UAE and China will work in partnership in the crude oil trade and the exploration and development of oil and natural gas resources.
7. Military and law enforcement and security fields: Joint training will take place between the Chinese and UAE armed forces, while the two nations will step up efforts to combat terrorism and organised crime.
8. Culture and humanitarian issues: Joint cultural projects will be developed and partnerships will be cultivated on the preservation of heritage, contemporary art and tourism.
9. Movement between countries: China and the UAE made clear their intent to encourage travel between the countries through a wide-ranging visa waiver agreement.
10. Implementing the strategic partnership: The Intergovernmental Co-operation Committee, established last year, will be used to ensure the objectives of the partnership are implemented.
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
