Thankyou very much for your discussions. Your sentiments entirely reflect my own and I believe the largest percentage of the non-vocal majority, to which I belonged until 2 minutes ago. I too am dismayed at the increasing divestment of personal responsibility for any of lifes wrinkles, indeed at times, land mines. Throwing blame and compensation claim at anyone but themselves. I utterly respect the Duke and the way he has negotiated his job under the microscope that is press scrutiny; and find the trite, narrow responses of "wealth/priviledge/leisure" indicative of lazy minds lacking resolve to view his position from the inside and investigate the real job description.

Gail, Aberdeen,

Thank you Libby Purves for the breath of fresh air and common sense you bring to your articles. The latest one on getting on with life no matter what it throws at you is the most down to earth comment on living I have heard for a long time.,
The article was more than the sum of its parts and had quite an affect in this household whether it was intended or not.
More power to your elbow Ms Purves keep up the good work.
sincerely Derek Price.

derek price, codsall, south staffs

I am glad you have written this piece that is so appreciative of the values I admire most. HRH Prince Philip (as well, I might add HM The Queen, and their daughter The Princess Royal)are stoical, good-humoured and get the most out of a life which at times they must surely loathe!

Nice work.

Sue, San Antonio, USA/TX

Yes, absolutely spot on , Libby.

I play golf and there is a quote from the great American golfer Bobby Jones in his book "Golf is my Game " on the ideal mental attitude. I love it and it reads as follows:

"The main idea in golf, as in life , I suppose, is to learn to accept what cannot be altered, and to keep on doing one's own reasoned and resolute best whether the prospect be bleak or rosy."

So true , so simple and so obviously sensible a concept - yet so hard to unfailingly follow .

Ian, Yorkshire, England

A toast to a fine naval officer, Admiral of the Fleet HRH The Duke of Edinburgh!

Lester , London , UK

Thanks Libby.
Your articles are always brilliant but today's was helpful. I know you have been through tragedy in your own life, which gives the words more meaning.
I have had a good life, but have often fallen short of being a good person. It is so easy - and so useless - to keep thinking of what "might have been".
I was diagnosed with cancer today. I read your article, went out and bought myself a good lunch and some flowers for the living room.
I shall keep the article for reference, and look forward to the rest of my life.

Michael, Aston Clinton, England

I've often wondered how a man who seems so in control of himself can live in such an uncontrollable environment. Many a man would have scarpered by now. He seems a bit grim to me most of the time, but you have to give him credit for having that British attitude that won't let them see you sweat. Stiff upper lip and all that.....he seems to have it down pat. Good for him. But even better for Queen and Country to see an undivided household these days.

Jillian Cunningham, Boston, Massachusetts

What an excellent article, Libby.

David Gwilliam, Leicester, England

Even as a lifelong republican I must express my admiration for both Philip's character and for Ms. Purves' description of his, her and my attitude to life.

John Blackley, Austin, TX, USA

I really appreciate this article. These virtues are out of fashion but by God, they way the future looks, we'll need them again. And unfashionable it may be to say so - but I think there are millions of Britons who, without any toadying or nonsense, rather admire the Queen. I do.

julia, london,

Elizabeth Purves, please tell me you're joking. What has the Duke of Edinburgh ever had to "get on with", for goodness sake??? Living his life of privilege and luxury at the expense of the taxpayer, and even then not being able to keep quiet and refrain from the kind of crass remark for which he has become notorious.
He doesn't have a clue what most people have to "get on with".

Paulina, Chester,

Yes I am very grateful to work hard every day to pay taxes so he can drink champagne and blast wildlife from the sky at will. What great sacrifices the man has made to enjoy his luxury at our expense whilst some starve in the streets or go hungry. The worst piece of journalism I have seen in some month from the Times. Tickets for the garden party are no doubt in the post, however.

alan, scotland,

As is said here in the United States, if life hands you a lemon, make lemonade - or perhaps in Britain, lemon squash. The Duke of Edinburgh has lived by the words of the Serenity Prayer: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. If tactless at times or seemingly outspoken, the Duke has shown considerable wisdom; Libby Purves speaks for many: nicely done!

David Cunard, Los Angeles, United States

I think the Duke is a very intelligent person and probably much more sensitive than people realize (or that he'd let them see) and it's good to see someone writing in his favor for a change. Thanks for a perceptive article.

Susan, New York, NY

Quality comment Libby. I couldn't agree with that sentiment more and I hope all the moaners and whiners our there take note. I am going to pull my socks up and look forward, not back. Bring it on. Or rather, just get on with it.

Rupert , London ,

Indeed he has got on with the job and must sometimes grit his teeth when he becomes a target from the frosty media.
It is time he was made Prince Consort, lik another unappreciated consort of the 19th Century.

Peter Piper, Oxford, UK

O, please. Could you find a finer example to show us how we should get on with it? "He was faced with a compulsory job for which he was not remotely suited by nature". So the Duke was misled when he decided to marry the future Queen? He had absolutely no "bloody" clue that he would be assuming a ceremonial role? Yeah, he was probably blinded by love to realise what would be expected of him. Interesting observation, Libby.

Tortue, Hong Kong,

When my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer she didn't ask 'why me?', she said 'why not me?'.
I have hanging in my hall a small wooden plaque - 'Man cannot change the direction of the wind, he can only adjust his sails'.
I try. Often unsuccessfully. But it still seems to me the best way. Thanks for today's comment Libby.

Valerie Bowkett, Cambridge, UK

Libby, well done on writing such a wonderfully English analysis of a marriage.This is a nicely sensitive piece, that refuses to be part of the silly modern world of smirks and easy answers.Life is more difficult than than that, and Libby has written a good piece of journalism here

nick, jakarta,

They want us to sum up in five words what it means to be British. My entry : Read Libby on the Duke. Excuse me now whilst I go out to raise a glass to you both.

John, Edinburgh,

I would take issiue with Bill on the amount of fortitude it must take to live in a perpetual 'goldfish bowl', ones every remark and nuance debated, criticised and, often, denigrated.
I think HRH has served admirably, as has Libby Purves in this piece.

Kathryn Jaye, Edinburgh,

Your view that we should get on with it and your support for the Duke's pragmatism may explain why a few weeks ago you indicated your perfect contentment (exact phrase - "so what") with the possibility that the British banking system might collapse.

peter wood, Penrith, UK

Thank you. One of the few sane things I've seen in the UK media for a long time. Well done!

Rob, Scotland,

I agree with you Libby, I think the attitude you describe is an admirable one. But surely you could have picked an exponent of it we could actually identify with. I mean how much fortitude does it really take to give up a career for a life of unimaginable wealth, privilege, leisure and comfort?

Bill, Sheffield,

I'll raise aglass to the Farepak customers and the Incapacitated who will suffer from more ill-directed attacks on benefits, while the Northern Rock shareholders get bailed out and the head of the most parasitic family in our history is feted with costly flummery for a wedding anniversary . They'll live to have another one in 10 years with their lifestyles.

Peter K Day, Doncaster, UK/ Yorkshire

I like him, he's a good bloke. He doesn't believe in the current obsession with political correctness and he is dead right about having to take the bull by the horns and get on with it. I wish somebody like him was running the country; he could sort out a lot of the mess we find ourselves in. His greatest quality is being straight-forward and not devious. Somebody like that, you can trust. Good for you, Sir!

Derek Harvey, Manila, Philippines

Libby, thanks so much for this. It is basically my perspective as I watch my husband dying slowly at the age of 46. Some would say I was heartless but they don't see the pain inside, instead what they see is a refusal to wail and gnash my teeth as no amount of doing so, would change things.
So we just have to get on with it. I'll keep this piece and read it when I get wobbly.

Alice, Hove,

Much food for thought, for me anyway. Nowadays, I'm just inclined to just get on with it meself. Hail to Thee, HRH Il Duce!

Desie, Miami, Florida

Nice perspective.
" Why Me?! " Well, why not you?

James , Canberra, Australia.