Princess Anne and Sophie Wessex ‘will be among grieving Queen’s first visitors ahead of her 95th birthday’
PRINCESS Anne and Sophie Wessex will be among the Queen's first visitors ahead of her 95th birthday on Wednesday.
It comes after news that the Royals have agreed on a rota to visit as the monarch grieves the death of Prince Philip.
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Her Majesty will also be visited by her son Andrew, granddaughter Eugenie and her newborn son August in the coming days,
Members of the family will take it in turns to visit Queen Elizabeth for walks in Windsor along with her two new corgi pups.
The Queen, who turns 95 on April 21, has said she was “coping” after having attended the funeral of her devoted husband of 73 years on Saturday.
She was spotted on Sunday driving out of Windsor Castle in a green Jaguar.
The plan to support the Queen is said to have been formed by the female leading figures in the family, including her daughter Princess Anne, daughters-in-law the Duchess of Cornwall and the Countess of Wessex, supported by the Duchess of Cambridge.
Camilla is also expected to visit the Queen this week and has dedicated the second season of her online book club in memory of "great fellow reader" Prince Philip.
The Duchess of Cornwall shared a touching tribute to her late father-in-law with four person book choices.
“As Patron of Booktrust, which I inherited from my late father-in-law His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, I would like to dedicate the next series of my Reading Room to him, in memory of a great fellow reader..... C," the duchess wrote.
The Queen is expected to have a series of regular visitors as she stays at Windsor Castle, where she has remained for most of the past 13 months as the coronavirus pandemic swept across the country.
A source told the : “The Queen will not be alone.
“She will have others who care about her deeply and want to be there to support her in her most pressing hour.
“In typical fashion the Queen has insisted she is coping and despite the suggestion she had prepared herself for this day to come, everyone is well aware there is nothing like the experience when it comes.”
The involvement of Prince Harry, if any, in the plan is uncertain but it’s thought he could stay in the country for his grandmother’s birthday after leaving his return flight to Los Angeles open.
The Duke of Sussex, 36, jetted into Heathrow eight days ago and self-isolated at Frogmore Cottage in Home Park at Windsor before he was cleared to attend Saturday’s funeral.
Harry’s ticket means he could fly back to the Californian home he shares with pregnant wife Meghan, 39, and 23-month-old Archie at any time.
Our source said: “If all goes well, he could stay for the Queen’s birthday.”
Nearly 14million viewers in the UK tuned in to watch the funeral of Prince Philip which was held under Covid conditions, meaning only 30 guests could attend.
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The Countess of Wessex has planned on a number of visits in the coming days, along with her children Louise, 17, and James, 13.
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Princess Anne will also visit, coming from her home in Gloucestershire, Gatcombe Park.
The Duchess of Cambridge, who returned to London with Prince William and their three children, is said to have lined up a number of video calls.