Prince Philip: World media reacts to death of Queen's 'steadfast companion'

Watch: The Duke of Edinburgh dies aged 99

The death of Prince Philip age 99 prompted an outpouring of tributes not just in Britain, but also overseas.

As Buckingham Palace announced the sad news about Queen Elizabeth's dutiful husband and longest-serving consort, global news outlets were just as quick to lead with the breaking story as UK publishers.

The Royal family - referred to by CNN as 'the most famous family on Earth' - have lost one of the Queen's 'closest confidants and advisors', following his passing three weeks after a 28-day hospital stay.

Read more: The Duke of Edinburgh: A man who spoke his mind

US networks and publishers, whose audience are well-known for having a fascination with the UK Royals, paid tribute to Prince Philip as the Queen's 'steadfast companion' who 'helped keep the Royal family together'.

The Australian reported on the story by referring to how the UK is 'still in a state of COVID lockdown', before publishing details on the Duke's funeral, which they said would have 'low key arragements'.

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Many publishers were quick to highlight the length of Prince Philip's service in the Royal family, with CNN saying the royals had 'lost their patriarch' who had been the Queen's 'steadfast companion for seven decades'.

French news outlet Le Monde, meanwhile, highlighted the Duke's often outspoken views by referring to his 'very complex personality'.

The New York Times said the duke “brought the monarchy into the 20th century, but his occasional frank comments hurt his image”.

The newspaper added: “As ‘the first gentleman in the land’, Philip tried to shepherd into the 20th century a monarchy encrusted with the trappings of the 19th.

“But as pageantry was upstaged by scandal, as regal weddings were followed by sensational divorces, his mission, as he saw it, changed.

“Now it was to help preserve the crown itself.”

The Times of India also reported Philip’s death as one of its lead stories.

The newspaper said the duke “earned a reputation for a tough, no-nonsense attitude and a propensity for occasional gaffes”.

The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper said in an obituary of Philip that Australians appreciated the duke’s “irreverent directness”.

The newspaper also reports Australia’s governor-general David Hurley describing Philip’s death as a “sad and historic day”.