The Duchess of Edinburgh has surprised her husband with a tearful tribute ahead of his 60th birthday, saying he is “the best of fathers, the most loving of husbands and he is still my best friend” and “I am so proud of the man he is”. Sophie took to the stage at the end of the Community Sport and Recreation Awards, in Leeds, to make a speech praising her husband ahead of his landmark birthday on Sunday. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00 [CROWD NOISE]
00:27 Have you won all your matches or most of them?
00:31 Most of them? Enough of them?
00:33 Yeah?
00:34 And you normally train at school?
00:36 Yeah.
00:37 So what's it like being here on the 100th day of the Games?
00:40 Is it?
00:41 Yeah.
00:42 So it's a bit different.
00:43 And with the stands around it's...
00:46 Can you imagine what it would be like if this was full of people?
00:49 And then turn them round for me?
00:52 Why?
00:54 I'm much younger.
00:56 Even I know there aren't that many people in a good part of the field.
01:00 [LAUGHTER]
01:04 They can take to make sure that they're creating a culture and opportunities.
01:10 I just wanted to congratulate all the winners.
01:13 Everybody in all that you've done and all our finalists.
01:18 It's just every year we come and do this I think we can't possibly find any more inspirational groups out there.
01:24 And then I get proved wrong every single time.
01:27 It's been fascinating listening to your stories.
01:29 It's amazing what you're doing out in those communities.
01:31 And I want you all to feel very, very proud of what you've done.
01:33 [APPLAUSE]
01:41 [LAUGHTER]
01:45 If I may, I am begging your indulgence for a few minutes.
01:49 Because I also wanted to take this opportunity to recognise another great milestone.
01:55 And share a small tribute to my darling husband as he celebrates his 60th birthday this Sunday.
02:02 It's alright darling, you're going to hear 60 a few more times I'm afraid.
02:05 [LAUGHTER]
02:08 Like my father-in-law, my husband never seeks compliments for himself.
02:12 So when acknowledgement has come his way, it has always been a total surprise to him.
02:17 Which is why I am grateful for this chance to, for once, be able to publicly celebrate and compliment him.
02:24 He was so happy and humbled when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth made him a Knight of the Garter in 2006.
02:31 And was equally delighted and moved the day His Majesty the King, who we are both incredibly proud to support, made him Duke of Edinburgh.
02:39 Both he deserves in equal measure and I am so proud of the man he is.
02:45 He is the best of fathers, the most loving of husbands and is still my best friend.
02:51 [APPLAUSE]