Joanna Lumley says Prince Philip made young people believe in themselves
ACTRESS Joanna Lumley said Prince Philip made young people believe in themselves.
Joanna, 74, had the “great pleasure” of having sat beside the Duke at dinners or attending events for charities with which he was associated.
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His legacy “would be how he changed the minds of young people” through his Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.
She said it helped them “see the best of themselves and he did that when talking to people as well”.
Joanna told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show he was someone who “didn’t like whingers and moaners” — but was “kind” with people who were nervous or frail.
The actress said: "I think he liked vigour, he liked get up and go.
"He didn't like whingers and moaners, he liked people who challenged themselves.
"And then for the very humble and the very frail and the very nervous, I think he was kind.
"The whole of the Duke of Edinburgh award is to make people better, see the best of themselves, and I think he did that when talking to people as well."
Joanna recalled one occasion when she felt Philip had subtly changed a topic of conversation out of respect for her vegetarianism.
She said: "I was sitting next door to him, a man on his right had suddenly started to talk about hunting and shooting and fishing and things like this.
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"I think Prince Philip had noticed that I was having a vegetarian meal beside him, and in some extraordinarily subtle way he turned the conversation quietly, without being rude to the man, right away from that.
"He was very kind you know. I think that's quite often overlooked.
"He was very funny and very sharp, but very kind."
