Sir Michael Palin remembers 'mischievous' Duke of Edinburgh in tribute following his death

Sir Michael, who is an advocate of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme, met Prince Philip on a number of occasions during his career.

Speaking on BBC news this evening (April 9) he said: “He was very good company. He knew how to relax people around him.

"I have been with him on many occasions where people about to meet him were totally terrified of meetinh a member of the royal family and he disarmed them extremely well, either by being interested in what they were doing but more particularly through a joke or a bit of humour.

"He always had a little twinkle in his eye whenever I met him. He was such a mischief.

"He had a good sense of humour and he relaxed people and he was genuinely interested in the people he met.”