Clare Balding has revealed she was ‘put in her place’ by ‘the absolutely charming’ Prince Philip when she interviewed him in 2010.
The veteran broadcaster, 50, spoke to The Duke of Edinburgh in 2010 as part of the Queen’s birthday celebrations for the BBC’s broadcast of Trooping the Colour.
Speaking to Ranvir Singh this morning on ITV’s Lorraine, Clare paid tribute to the royal, who died last Friday at Windsor Castle aged 99, praising his sharp wit and knowledge.
Clare Balding has revealed she was ‘put in her place’ by ‘the absolutely charming’ Prince Philip when she interviewed him in 2010 (pictured during the interview)
Clare, who is known for her horse racing coverage, said of the Duke: ‘I interviewed him for the BBC in 2010.
‘Huw Edwards was meant to do it, but you’ll remember it was the year of the very, very, close election and the hung parliament, so all of the political journalists had to stay very close to 10 Downing Street, so Huw had to be there.
‘This was ahead of Trooping the Colour and the Queen’s birthday parade. The Grenadier Guards were trooping the colour and I was talking to the Duke about that.
‘He was absolutely charming and very straight-forward and very professional, until I said something.
The veteran broadcaster, 50, spoke to The Duke of Edinburgh (pictured) in 2010 as part of the Queen’s birthday celebrations for the BBC’s broadcast of Trooping the Colour.
Speaking to Ranvir Singh during Lorraine on ITV this morning (pictured), Clare paid tribute to the royal, who died last Friday at Windsor Castle aged 99, praising his sharp wit and knowledge.
‘I was talking about the Grenadier Guards, and I was talking about the way they are and the values they hold and I said “the guardsmen or women” the same way I say “firemen or women”, I always do that, I say “sportsmen or women”.
‘And he looked at me and said “there are no women in the Grenadier Guards” which is not correct now but was correct then.
‘And I just thought “yep, you’ve been put back in your box, know your place Clare”.’
Philip, who was an active member of the military until his wife’s accession to the throne in 1952, served as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards from 1975, and told Clare during the interview that the military ‘turned ordinary people into extraordinary ones’.
Clare also discussed the royal family’s love for all things equestrianism.
‘The Duke of Edinburgh himself wasn’t mad for horse racing if I’m totally honest,’ Clare added to Ranvir.
‘He obviously came to Royal Ascot every year as part of the Royal Procession and he presented the trophy for certain key races including the Queen’s Vase, and the Duke of Edinburgh therefore presented it to the Queen when her horse Ester won the Queen’s vase and then went on to win the Gold Cup in subsequent years.
‘He was a very keen sportsman but much more in the sport of polo and in carriage driving, where he not only took part but also help to create the rules and oversaw the building of the course at Windsor Great Park.
‘He was very keen to open up Windsor for an equestrian club, through the Duke of Edinburgh awards he was really promoted that message of get out there and try new things and take risks.
Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 2010
‘He was really keen that young people should stretch out of their own comfort zone, meet other people and volunteer and always looking outwards,’ she added.
‘He was always looking outward and I think that’s something that will be really remembered as we learn from his life and we reflect on his example I think that’s something learn from his example, and I think that’s the strongest message we can take from him,’.
It comes as it was revealed all senior members of the Royal Family will now wear mourning dress at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on Saturday.
In an unprecedented about-turn, a last minute decision, approved by the Queen, has been made that no royals will wear military uniform in order to present a united family front.
Behind the scenes, courtiers have been racked by concern that Prince Harry, who was forced to give up his honorary military titles after he acrimoniously quit royal duties and moved to the US, would be the only senior royal not in uniform.
Harry, 36, is understood to have wanted to wear the Blues and Royals dress uniform he wore on his wedding day in May 2018.
As a former captain with the Household Cavalry, however, he is entitled only to wear a suit, with any medals he has been awarded in the course of his duties or by the Queen.
By contrast the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Wessex and Princess Royal would have been, by convention for a royal ceremonial funeral, in full military uniform.