The booksellers of Hatchards are deeply saddened by the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

Renowned for his intellectual curiosity and eclectic reading, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh had long been a patron of Hatchards and we have been honoured to hold his Royal Warrant, alongside that of HM The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales, for many years.

Indeed, in our archive, we have a magnificent photograph of him from 1982 when he attended the Authors of the Year party at the Martini Terrace, New Zealand House. This was his second time at the famous party, but a first for Her Majesty The Queen. Together they met authors including Margaret Drabble, Jilly Cooper and Philip Roth. It must have been quite a night: Prince Philip’s charm was notorious, a true conversationalist as has been captured in a number of books and biographies.

As the nation mourns his death, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh will be missed by many personally. We extend our deepest sympathy to the Royal Family.