Prince Philip comes out of retirement to thank key workers for ensuring 'life continues' under lockdown in rare statement just hours after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their refusal to talk to UK press

Prince Philip today delivered a heartfelt thank you to key workers who are helping to make sure 'the infrastructure of our life continues' in the coronavirus pandemic.

The Duke of Edinburgh, 98, said he wanted to recognise the 'vital and urgent' medical and scientific work taking place to battle the deadly virus.

It is a rare public statement from the Royal - who has not been seen since he was hospitalised in December - as he approaches his 99th birthday in June.

His warm remarks were in stark contract to the media blaze created by his grandson Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who last night said they will 'no longer engage' with the nation's most popular newspaper titles.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the country will have been inspired by Philip's words, but Harry's decision was 'strange'.

The LA-based couple were blasted by other commentators for their timing of the letter to four newspaper groups detailing how their self-imposed ban is a refusal to 'offer themselves up'.

The Society of Editors branded the move censorship, adding it was 'a clear attempt to undermine certain sections of the UK media'.

The Queen's former press spokesmen Dickie Arbiter claimed the couple was 'wrong' and that Harry 'was not the brightest bunny on the planet'.

Prince Charles's biographer Tom Bower said the Sussexes 'have become their own worst enemies' and was baffled they can only think of themselves 'in the midst of a horrendous global crisis'.

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Prince Philip, 98, has thanked medics, scientists and researchers who are tackling the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

The Duke of Edinburgh said: 'On behalf of those of us who remain safe and at home, I also wanted to thank all key workers who ensure the infrastructure of our life continues; the staff and volunteers working in food production and distribution, those keeping postal and delivery services going, and those ensuring the rubbish continues to be collected'

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It came after the Duke's grandson Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle (pictured in LA last week) said they will 'no longer engage' with the nation's most popular newspaper titles

Philip, who retired from public duties in 2017, thanked key workers involved in food production and distribution, rubbish collection and the post services.

In his tribute, published on the royal family's social media channels, he said: 'As we approach World Immunisation Week, I wanted to recognise the vital and urgent work being done by so many to tackle the pandemic; by those in the medical and scientific professions, at universities and research institutions, all united in working to protect us from Covid-19.

'On behalf of those of us who remain safe and at home, I also wanted to thank all key workers who ensure the infrastructure of our life continues; the staff and volunteers working in food production and distribution, those keeping postal and delivery services going, and those ensuring the rubbish continues to be collected.'

The duke, who is staying with the Queen at Windsor Castle with a reduced household for their safety, is affiliated to more than 750 organisations.

These include the scientific, technological research, healthcare and infrastructure sectors, which have been responding to the outbreak.

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Philip, in his tribute published on the royal family's social media channels, said: 'As we approach World Immunisation Week, I wanted to recognise the vital and urgent work being done by so many to tackle the pandemic'

The Duke's rare message came the morning after Prince Harry and Meghan's bombshell letter to some of the British press.

The note was sent from an official Sussex Royal email, despite the Queen banning them from using the title and them saying they plan to use Archewell.

They emailed the editors of the nations most popular publications: the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, the Sun and the Daily Express.

Prince Harry had earlier on Sunday caused outrage by suggesting the coronavirus crisis sweeping Britain was 'better than we are led to believe through certain corners of the media'.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have said they will no longer respond to enquiries from journalists at some British papers. Pictured with son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor during a royal tour of South Africa, September 25, 2019

Their letter was widely criticised by royal and media commentators, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, while Philip's words were met with praise.

Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: 'The country will have been inspired by the Duke of Edinburgh’s message to those fighting coronavirus in the front line and to other key workers.

'Harry’s ill-judged comment that the situation regarding the deadly pathogen in Britain is ''better than we are led to believe through certain corners of the media'' is strange and not only because of its timing, as the Sussexes cut all links with the British tabloids.'

The Society of Editors brands the Sussex's letter censorship

Executive Director Ian Murray said: 'Although the Duke and Duchess say they support a free press and all it stands for there is no escaping their actions here amount to censorship and they are setting an unfortunate example.

'Although the couple may no longer style themselves as working royals, they continue to be high-profile public figures and indeed have made plain their intention to continue to do so. By appearing to dictate which media they will work with and which they will ignore they, no doubt unintentionally, give succour to the rich and powerful everywhere to use their example as an excuse to attack the media when it suits them.

'The truth is that Harry and Meghan have enjoyed and continue to enjoy a huge amount of positive coverage for themselves and their causes, much of it carried in the very titles they are now targeting. They may have been stung by some of the coverage they have not liked, they may disagree strongly with some elements of that coverage and can of course take action to answer any criticism they consider unfair or inaccurate through several channels. But the answer should never be to attempt to shun individual titles and their millions of readers.'

Executive director of the Society of Editors Ian Murray said the statement was 'sadly a clear attempt to undermine certain sections of the UK media who often ask uncomfortable questions'. 

Mr Arbiter said: 'I really want to know who is advising them because they are wrong... unless they are doing it themselves.

'Not only this, Harry was wrong over the weekend. because 2.4million deaths is bad, 16,000 in the UK is bad.

'So how he can even suggest it isn't as bad as what is being said about it is wrong. But then again, he is not the brightest bunny on the planet.'

Mr Bower added: 'The Sussexes have become their own worst enemies. They clearly cannot stand being irrelevant and ignored.

'In the midst of a horrendous global crisis causing so much misery all they can think about is themselves.

'Constantly they push their obsession about their image and their financial income into the spotlight, and then outrageously harangue the public with their problems. Meghan, just understand: No one cares!'

The Sussexes completed their last royal duty on March 31, before stepping away from the monarchy - dropping their HRH styles - for a life mostly in LA.

President Donald Trump said the US will not pay for the couple's estimated £4million security costs, which had been picked up by the Metropolitan Police.

Earlier this month the Mail revealed Harry and Meghan had agreed to pay for the cost of their security, which will reportedly consist of former SAS soldiers at a cost of £400 per operative per day.

Harry, 35, and 38-year-old Meghan's letter was sent to the editors of the news groups involved last night.

They wrote: 'Please note that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be engaging with your outlet. There will be no corroboration and zero engagement.'