Duke of Edinburgh is 'the First Lady of Britain,' claims Cherie Blair

New York, Jan.16 (ANI): Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife, Cherie Blair, has described the Duke of Edinburgh, the husband of the Queen, as "the First Lady of Britain".

Appearing on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno', she said his role as the Queen's husband was in effect the same as that of the wife of a US president.

She was asked on Tonight with Jay Leno if her former role as the wife of a prime minister, when Tony Blair was in power, was the same as that of the wife of an American president.

According to The Telegraph, Mrs Blair, 54, responded: "It's different because actually the First Lady is the wife of the head of state. On that basis the spouse of our head of state is actually Prince Philip. So I suppose you could say Prince Philip is really the First Lady of Britain."

Her rationale would put the Duke in the same category as Laura Bush, wife of the outgoing president George W Bush.

However, while Cherie Blair's comments might not be appreciated by the Duke himself, she praised the Queen in front of the US audience.

She said: "She is an amazing person. She has devoted her whole life to the country and was very, very kind to Tony and I." (ANI)