Prince Philip memorial: Tearful Queen bids emotional farewell to beloved husband as royals honour Duke of Edinburgh
THE tearful Queen paid a heartbreaking farewell to her beloved husband yesterday in a poignant service honouring his life.
Her Majesty, 95, appeared emotional as the Duke of Edinburgh was remembered following his death last April aged 99.
The monarch had walked arm-in-arm with her “favourite” son Prince Andrew as the thanksgiving service began at Westminster Abbey.
Once Her Majesty reached the end of the aisle, she detached herself from Andrew’s elbow and confidently made the last few steps alone.
It comes as:
- Princess Beatrice appeared to well up at the emotional service
- A body language expert said Prince Andrew remains the Queen’s favourite child
- The Queen left a personal tribute to Prince Philip in the flowers at his service
- The Monarch, Princess Anne and Camilla all gave a subtle nod to the Duke of Edinburgh with their outfits
Buckingham Palace earlier confirmed the Queen would be attending to lead her family in honouring Philip.
She was pictured travelling from Windsor to London with Andrew in her car despite his recent sex case shame.
Read more royal news
The pair arrived at Poets’ Yard entrance, which the Queen used in a departure from her normal route as it is a shorter walk.
The bells rang out across Westminster as senior royals, charity workers and foreign royals arrived to remember the Duke of Edinburgh.
Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince George and Princess Charlotte were among those in attendance.
It is the first time the children – the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s eldest – have attended a major public church service.
Zara Tindall and husband Mike arrived with daughter Mia along with Peter Phillips and his children Savannah and Isla.
Princess Anne stopped to speak to Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award holders and members of the youth UK Cadet Force associations who attended under Philip’s wishes.
Touchingly, the Queen, Camilla and Princess Anne all wore dark green in a subtle nod to Philip, whose livery colour was Edinburgh Green.
The monarch also wore a yellow gold, ruby and diamond scarab brooch, which was a personal gift from Philip in 1966.
Fears had been growing Her Majesty, 95, would be forced to pull out of the event after she missed a string of recent engagements.
This was her first public engagement since February 5 after she faced a number of health scares including a battle with Covid.
It is also the first she has taken part in outside one of her homes for five and a half months since travelling to Cardiff.
But she was “actively involved” in planning the service, which featured elements Philip planned for his funeral that were banned due to Covid.
The Queen was supported in the front pew by Prince Charles and Camilla and Princess Anne with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Shamed Prince Andrew – attending his first public event after he paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case – was welcomed back into the fold.
Last night he was accused of misreading the public mood after successfully lobbying to walk in with her.
It is believed Charles and William were resistant but insiders said the Queen “couldn’t say no”.
Andrew sat with Edward and Sophie and their children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
His daughter Princess Beatrice appeared to well up at one point as she remembered her late grandfather.
Royals from around the world – including Prince Albert of Monaco, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, and Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia – were also in attendance.
The only major royals missing were Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who confirmed they were not flying in from the States to honour the Duke amid a row over their security.
Boris Johnson, who was joined by members from his cabinet, later praised the Queen saying: “Clearly it is welcome to see Her Majesty out today, continuing her incredible decades of service to the country.”
The service featured elements that Philip wanted at his funeral that had to be scrapped due to Covid.
This included a rousing chorus of Hymn Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer the Duke requested for his final farewell.
The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth (Royal Band) also played as part of Philip’s longstanding relationship with the Armed Forces.
The flowers featured a touching nod to Philip and the Queen’s 73-year marriage they included orchids that appeared in her wedding bouquet.
The service was a stark contrast to his stripped down funeral last April that saw just 30 guests in attendance.
Philip was laid to rest in Windsor Castle as Her Majesty was in silent mourning for her husband of more than 70 years.
The heartbreaking image became a symbol of the pandemic as many of Philip’s final wishes went out the window so the royals could lead by example.
Philip was associated with over 700 charities and organisations and undertook 22,200 solo engagements.
The royal also stood by the Queen’s side on countless tours and engagements through 60 years of service as her consort.
He was remembered as a “remarkable man” who was committed to “a host of down-to-earth enterprises”.
Read More on The Sun
The Right Reverend David Conner also joked he could be “abrupt” and suggested that at times he could forget “just how intimidating he could be”.
Following Philip’s death in April, the Queen said she and her family were in a “period of great sadness” but were touched by tributes paid to him.
Last night Andrew was accused of stealing the limelight. A source told The Sun: “Maybe the Duke just doesn’t get it. He just doesn’t understand.
“The public will always understand why he attended the service but by putting himself front and centre, he has misread the situation.”
But royal historian Hugo Vickers said Andrew’s role in escorting the Queen was “correct and appropriate”.
