Prince Charles' emotional Easter message pays tribute to Prince Philip

Prince Charles' emotional Easter message pays tribute to his father Prince Philip and remembers the victims of war in Ukraine.

• Prince Charles has paid tribute to his late father in his recent Easter message.
• The Prince reflected on a story from the Bible and spoke about the victims of war and the 'sufferings of the innocent victims of conflict.'
• In other royal news, Buckingham Palace gets £90k makeover ahead of Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

In an emotional statement marking the Easter weekend, Prince Charles spoke about the Christian holiday and paid tribute to his late father.

A statement from the Prince of Wales read, "This year I had the enormous privilege of representing Her Majesty The Queen at the Service for Maundy Thursday, when Christians remember that humility and sacrifice are at the heart of our faith."

The Prince then reflected on his late father's life as he said recalled a gospel story that the late Duke of Edinburgh would often discuss.

"At that service, which he attended with my mother so many times over the years, my father, The Duke of Edinburgh, always used to read the Gospel which tells how on the night of the Last Supper, Jesus knelt before his disciples and washed their travel-weary feet," said the Prince.

"Our Lord told them that he was doing this to give them an example of how to look after and to serve one another. It is a message they never forgot, and it is as challenging today as it was then."

The Prince of Wales then related that bible verse to the current humanitarian crisis that is taking place in Ukraine. "Today, millions of people find themselves displaced, wearied by their journey from troubled places, wounded by the past, fearful of the future – and in need of a welcome, of rest, and of kindness."

"Over the past years, I have found myself heartbroken at the sufferings of the innocent victims of conflict, or persecution, some of whom I have met and who have told me stories of unutterable tragedy as they have been forced to flee their country and seek shelter far from home."

The Prince then discussed the kindness that can come from such heartbreak and discussed the goodness of those able to help others during such trying times.

"But amidst all this sadness and inhumanity, it has been profoundly moving to see how so many people are ready to open their homes to those in need, and how they have offered their time and their resources to help those facing such soul-destroying sorrow and hardship," said the Prince.

As the Prince's place in the royal line of succession indicates that he will one day be the head of the Church of England, his message about Christianity during this festive holiday is unsurprising and he concluded his statement with a message of hope and prayer.

"This Easter, as always, we are reminded of Our Lord’s timeless example of goodness in the face of suffering, of courage in the face of fear, of faith in the face of despair. His light triumphed in that dark time. I pray with all my heart that his inspiring example might help us all dispel the darkness of the world…" concluded the Prince of Wales.

The Queen is expected to miss the Easter Sunday service at Windsor as she was unable to attend the Maundy Thursday service and Prince Charles was forced to step in. It is thought that Prince Charles will celebrate Easter Sunday in his Scottish home, Birkhall, with his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall.