Why Black Cab Drivers Lined the Mall in Honour of Prince Philip
Following the announcement of HRH Prince Philips death, black cab drivers in London lined the Mall in a show of respect. The Mall, which links Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace, saw columns of black cabs park up, some adorned with flags, to mark his passing. For those not local to London, or unfamiliar with the quirks of the Royal Family, this may seem strange, but the Duke was a bit of a legend in the taxi industry.
For many years, Prince Philip owned a gas-powered eco-friendly Metrocab, which he took delivery of in 1999. Modelled on the contemporary black cab, it was the only one of its kind in the world at the point of delivery. Famously down to earth, the Duke used this cab to drive himself to events and appointments whilst remaining incognito. Prince Philip gave up his Metrocab back in 2017 and it is now on display in the Sandringham museum's Royal Garages.
Anecdotal evidence would suggest that this was not the first time he owned a cab for the purpose of avoiding the public eye. In a 1979 visit to the Taxi Charity in Worthingham, an audience member recalls him commenting on owning an old metro Taxi, which he drove around the capital. With his usual irreverence, the Duke went on to joke that ‘you bloody taxi drivers keep cutting me up’.
Comments such as this were typical of the Duke. In his later years, Prince Philip was often lambasted in the media due to his very public ‘gaffes’. Some even going so far as to call him a ‘gilded Victor Meldrew’ But, despite some of his more controversial statements, he was also a passionate advocate for a range of charities and non-profits.
Arguably his most famous and lasting contribution to society has been the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE). Created in 1956, the DofE is a programme aimed at providing skills and confidence to 14–24-year-olds. The three levels of award, bronze, silver and gold, all champion the idea of setting and overcoming personal challenges. This is something that is particularly relevant considering the plight of many young people over the course of the pandemic.
On Friday, the Palace released a statement thanking mourners for the hundreds of bouquets of flowers that have already been left outside the royal residences. In light of the current pandemic, the spokesperson also stated:
“During this time the Royal Family ask that members of the public consider making a donation to a charity instead of leaving floral tributes in memory of The Duke of Edinburgh.
An Online Book of Condolence is now available on the Royal website for those who wish to send a personal message of condolence: https://bit.ly/3rZF8tT"
The Queen described Philip as her ‘strength and stay’ over the course of their life together, enjoying a marriage lasting over 70 years. On behalf of everyone at TaxiPlus, we would like to extend our condolences to the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family in this period of mourning.