Whether you are a Royalist or not, few would deny the prominence of Prince Philip over many decades of the last century.
Within hours of the Duke of Edinburgh’s death was announced last Friday (April 9), despite the guidance against turning up at the Royal residencies, the British public turned up in their droves to pay their respects with sympathy cards containing message of support for the Queen being placed alongside flowers outside the gates of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle especially.
As Amanda Fergusson, ceo of the GCA summed up: “Greeting cards are there for all in the good times as well as in times of hardship as a way of showing you care. And the sending of a card to mark someone’s passing and to show your respects to their loved ones is especially poignant.”
The GCA has sent a sympathy card, designed by Rachel Hare, managing director of Belly Button Design and reigning president of the association, but Amanda is also encouraging all members of the greeting card community to also send their personal condolences. Amanda is to write a blog post for the GCA website on sympathy cards and is interested in featuring some of the cards that are being sent.
Appositely the last official photograph released of Prince Philip with the Queen was last November to mark their 73rd wedding anniversary, with the greeting card that had been made for them by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s children being the central focus of the picture.
Well known for his wit and outspoken views, Prince Philip demonstrated this when he met Paul Woodmansterne, chairman of Woodmansterne Publications a 10 years ago at St James’s Palace connected to a new music trust for Christ Church, Oxford, Paul’s alma mater.
Prince Philip greeted Paul and asked: “What do you do now?” Paul responded: “I make greeting cards, Sir.”
Struggling to hear and looking rather puzzled, the Duke turned to his aide who repeated Paul’s response. “Oh goodness, I thought he said was ‘greasing cars’,” said Prince Philip audibly.
Anyone wishing to be included in the GCA sympathy cards blog should send their card designs to Amanda on hello@gca.cards
Top: Prince Philip died last week, aged 99.
