Queen Elizabeth Attends Prince Philip's Memorial Service With Her Family
When Prince Philip died at the height of the COVID pandemic last April, his funeral was attended by just 30 people in line with restrictions at the time. But today, there was an opportunity for a larger celebration of his life as a Thanksgiving Service was held at Westminster Abbey attended by 1,800 people including his family and representatives from his public role.
The Queen, who wore a dark green outfit with a black trim, led the congregation and was seated last after the arrival of other senior royals. She did not enter via the Great West Door of the Abbey as the rest of her family did, but instead was taken to her seat via a side entrance. She used a walking stick and held the arm of Prince Andrew, who escorted her. Her second son had earlier been photographed in the car traveling with her from Windsor Castle. The 95-year-old Queen’s attendance was only confirmed on the morning of the service as, while she had always very much hoped to attend, she has been struggling with mobility issues. As the service commenced, she could be seen looking small and hunched on her chair and at one point was seen bringing a tissue to her face. Despite her apparent frailty, the Queen stood for the hymns along with the rest of the congregation.
In a touching sign of just how much Prince Philip meant to his family, several of his older great-grandchildren attended with their parents. Prince George, 8, and Princess Charlotte, 6, arrived with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and joined them shaking hands with some of the Abbey staff before the service began. And Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall also brought children Savannah Phillips, Isla Phillips and Mia Tindall. Prince Harry was the only one of Philip's grandchildren not to attend. The Duke of Sussex is currently taking legal action against the UK's Home Office in an attempt to have a decision that he and his family should not receive automatic police protection in the UK reviewed.
Buckingham Palace outlined yesterday how the Queen had been “actively involved in the plans” for the 40-minute Thanksgiving Service, which incorporated elements of his original funeral plans that were unable to go ahead because of COVID. Perhaps his biggest legacy, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, was front and center with a tribute from Gold Award holder Doyin Sonibare about what the Award did for her life.
Poignantly, the flowers at the service included orchids which were in the Queen’s bouquet when she and Philip married in 1947 as well as sea holly which reflects his Naval career and love of the sea.
The vast majority of the congregation was made up of representatives from most of the 700 charities which Philip was patron of throughout his working life until he retired in 2017. The charities were given two seats each. Other notable attendees included members of overseas royal families, the British Prime Minister, and Sir David Attenborough.
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