LETTER:In praise of Prince Philip
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Sir Sigmund Sternberg
Sir: You chose to mark the 74th birthday of Prince Philip with a critical article by Polly Toynbee which went beyond what is fair and reasonable.
Delving into his family history, Polly Toynbee describes his mother, Princess Alice, as having gone "mad". This did not prevent her from saving the lives of many Holocaust victims. I was present, representing British Jewry, a the ceremony in Jerusalem last year when Prince Philip received an award by Yad Vashem on behalf of his late mother. Also present was his sister, Sophie, to whom Prince Philip displayed considerable care and attention.
I had the privilege of meeting him again last week at the reception with the Queen in St James' Palace of the Council of Christians and Jews when his interest in people was again manifested. There was no evidence of a "royal repressed voice". Prince Philip is at an age when many people have long retired; yet he is - in Polly Toynbee's own words - "an energetic patron" of 850 organisations.
His life is an outstanding success story. Having overcome his deprived background, he went on to build a reputation worldwide, far removed from the "archetypal patriarch - dutiful, bullying and redundant", of Polly Toynbee's imagination.
Yours faithfully,
SIGMUND STERNBERG
Sternberg Centre for Judaism
London, N3
12 June
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments