Prince Philip: a legacy of curiosity

In all, Prince Phillip was a consistently inquisitive man. The sharpness of his mind - and occasionally, his tongue - made him interesting to people who might otherwise have dismissed him as a mere extra on history's stage.

One of his great legacies will be the interests and skills he quietly passed on to his children, by example. Charles is an avid supporter of natural farming methods and environmentalism. Anne is a keen sportswoman and, like her father, devoted to public duty. Andrew was a decorated navy man. Edward heads up the DoE scheme pioneered by his father.

Prince Phillip's influence, however, is seen well beyond the confines of the Royal Family.

Whatever it is we lead, we'll do well to learn from his example. We may not have the advantages of his position or the spotlight it gave to his advocacy for causes. But we can determine to pursue new knowledge, even in areas where others might think us an expert.

We can decide to pivot on some questions as new facts come to light - without losing sight of proven core convictions. We can commit ourselves to continue learning about things that lie outside our comfort zones.

Making those decisions a habit and acting on them is the only thing that guarantees us a lasting influence and legacy.