Prince Andrew has paid tribute to his mother the Queen by calling her "Mummy" and saying he will miss her "advice and humour".
The Duke of York, the Queen's second son, also described his late mother as a "three in one" Queen and said he will treasure her compassion, care and confidence forever. Andrew's statement comes just days after he was allowed to don military dress in order to mount a vigil at his mother's coffin with his siblings the King, Prince Edward and Princess Anne in Westminster Hall. He said today in a statement: "Dear Mummy, Mother, Your Majesty, three in one.
"Your Majesty, it has been an honour and privilege to serve you. Mother - of the nation, your devotion and personal service to our
nation is unique and singular; your people show their love and respect in so many different ways and I know you are looking on honouring their respect.
"Mummy, your love for a son, your compassion, your care, your confidence I will treasure forever. I have found your knowledge and
wisdom infinite, with no boundary or containment.
"I will miss your insights, advice and humour. As our book of experiences closes, another opens, and I will forever hold you close to my heart with my deepest love and gratitude, and I will tread gladly into the next with you as my guide.
"God save The King."
Andrew accompanied his words with a black and white photo taken by society photographer Cecil Beaton of his mother holding him as a newborn in March 1960.
The Duke of York, who was forced to step down as a non-working royal, was widely billed as the Queen's favourite son and someone whom she had a more hands-on relationship with than most.
During his time in the navy, he was was sent to fight in the Falkland Conflict as a 22-year-old and on his return he was greeted by his relieved mother as his ship as he arrived back in the UK.
Katie Nicholl said: "He came back a hero and was very much the golden boy of the royal family."
Andrew stepped down from royal duties in 2019 and the Queen later stripped him of his honorary military titles following the fallout of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
He lost his military roles, including Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and he gave up his HRH style. But in recent months he had continued to be close by his mother's side.
Earlier this year, Andrew played a prominent role in the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service. The ceremony in Westminster Abbey marked almost one year since Prince Philip's death at the age of 99.
Andrew escorted the Queen into the Abbey after travelling with her from Windsor. The late monarch had been suffering with mobility issues over the course of that year and as she walked with a stick, Andrew offered his elbow as a means of support.
His tribute comes just a day after his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie also released an emotional statement thanking their "Grannie" for her service.
They said: "We've not been able to put much into words since you left us all.
"There have been tears and laughter, silences and chatter, hugs and loneliness, and a collective loss for you, our beloved Queen and our beloved Grannie.
"We, like many, thought you'd be here forever. And we all miss you terribly.
"You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever.
"For now dear Grannie, all we want to say is thank you. Thank you for making us laugh, for including us, for picking heather and raspberries, for marching soldiers, for our teas, for comfort, for joy. You, being you, will never know the impact you have had on our family and so many people around the world.
"The world mourns you and the tributes would really make you smile. They are all too true of the remarkable leader you are.
"We're so happy you're back with Grandpa. Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters and we're so very proud of you.
"We know that dear Uncle Charles, the King, will continue to lead in your example as he too has dedicated his life to service.
"God save the King. With our love, Beatrice and Eugenie."
You can now buy Friday's historic Daily Mirror commemorating the death of the Queen here: mirror.co.uk/commemorative.
