Barack Obama, former presidents, extend condolences to Royal Family after passing of Prince Philip

Last week it was announced that the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, passed away at the age of 99. Many world leaders, both past and present, came to extend their condolences, including former president Barack Obama among other living US presidents.

Obama extended his condolences to the Royal Family after the Duke’s passing on both Twitter and Facebook. The former president shared a photo of his meeting the Queen and the Duke during his time as the sitting US leader on Twitter, which former first lady Michelle Obama retweeted. Obama recalled his experience meeting Prince Philip in a longer statement on Facebook.

“Through his extraordinary example, His Royal Highness Prince Philip proved that true partnership has room for both ambition and selflessness -- all in service of something greater. Our thoughts are with Her Majesty the Queen, the Royal Family, and the British people,” tweeted Obama.

President Joe Biden also issued a statement extending his condolences to the Royal Family that same day. Biden’s and Obama’s predecessors Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush also released tributes of their own to the late Duke through their presidential library accounts. Former President Donald Trump also issued his message of condolence to the Royal Family.

Carter’s presidential library also shared a throwback photo of the former president along with other world leaders with the Royals at the G7 summit back in 1977. “We are sorry to hear that Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has passed away,” they tweeted.

Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of the Queen announcing the Duke’s death. Prince Philip died peacefully in Windsor Castle.

In other news, former Republican House Speaker John Boehner rated all the presidents he has known from Richard Nixon to Trump. When it came to Obama, Boehner said that while the Democratic former president was a good person, he was not good as the country’s Commander-in-Chief. Boehner cited Obama’s failure to close the sweeping budget accord as a reason why he did not think of the Democrat as a good leader.

“The deal was done, and he walked away from it,” said Boehner, who cited that Obama was facing pressure by members of his own party, to make a last-minute change that would shelf the accord altogether.