DPA

LONDON BRITAIN’s Queen Elizabeth II, who marks the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne next week, could not carry out her considerable workload without the support of her 90-year-old husband, Prince Philip, their grandson has said.

Confirming the long-held assumption that the Duke of Edinburgh, to whom the queen has been married for 64 years, is her “rock” when it comes to fulfilling her official duties, Prince Harry said: “I don’t think that she could do without him, especially when they’re both at this age.” The queen turns 86 in April.

Harry’s remarks, published by the BBC on Tuesday, came ahead of the screening next week of a three-part TV series to mark the queen’s Diamond Jubilee on February 6
Harry, 27, the younger son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, also seemed to allude to temporary difficulties in the royal marriage when he said: “Regardless of whether my grandfather seems to be doing his own thing, sort of wandering off like a fish down the river, the fact is he’s there.” Prince Philip suffered a heart scare over the Christmas holiday when he had a stent fitted to clear a blocked artery. He has since resumed his public duties.

The royal couple are set to embark on a round trip of Britain in April, to mark the anniversary, as well as being at the centre of a weekend of lavish Jubilee celebrations planned for early June.