Lady India Hicks shared a touching tribute to the late Duke of Edinburgh in which she hailed his mixture of ‘teasing and unexpected kindness’ one of the Royal Family‘s most valuable assets. The British aristocrat is the granddaughter of the Earl Mountbatten and daughter of Lady Pamela Hicks, a friend of the Queen and Prince Philip, and took … Read more
A ‘coin toss’ decided which of four soldiers would be the driver and passenger in Prince Philip’s custom-built Land Rover hearse at his funeral yesterday. The Defender TD5 130 chassis cab vehicle, which Philip took an active role in modifying over 18 years, was at the heart at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, Berkshire. Corporal … Read more
The Queen kept her beloved husband poignantly close during yesterday’s funeral by carrying special mementoes from their life together inside her handbag. One item was believed to be a small photograph of the couple together – thought to have been taken in Malta – which she carried alongside one of his trademark white handkerchiefs. The island was a … Read more
The Queen is surrounded by a ‘bubble’ of 22 Royal Household staff who will provide comfort to her during her time of mourning. During the funeral of Prince Philip, the Queen sat alone inside St George’s Chapel, away from the rest of the Royal Family due to coronavirus regulations. Her Majesty is only allowed to … Read more
How the Queen’s old music teacher played a key role alongside Bach: Sir William Harris composed adagio espressivo which was played at Prince Philip’s funeral Sir William Harris was a former director of music at St George’s Chapel Taught music to Princess Elizabeth and sister Margaret at Windsor Castle Two of the other compositions were … Read more
Her Majesty’s 85 years of momentous royal farewells: From her grandfather George V’s funeral when she was nine to her husband Prince Philip’s today, the Queen has cut a dignified figure over the decades The Queen attended the funeral of her grandfather, George V, at the age of nine Her Majesty attended the funeral of … Read more
Normally, the Queen is a pillar of strength for her family and the balm for the nation’s soul. But yesterday, on an occasion of deep sorrow and rare glories, it was she who required succour. When, for instance, the national minute’s silence froze the scene inside St George’s Chapel in the great walled enclosure of … Read more
Prince Philip has joined 24 other members of the Royal Family lying in the vault under St George’s Chapel. His body will remain there until transferred by lift upstairs to a side chapel when the Queen dies. Then the devoted couple can be laid together – in the same final resting place as her father, George … Read more
What a day it was. Blue skies. Bright sunshine. Turreted shadows cast across green, green lawns. It all looked so beautiful, so stark in its resonance. But there is a peculiar anguish of sunshine for those who are grieving. It seems so painful that the world can carry on with such dazzling grace when you … Read more
Few moments in life are as profoundly lonely as the day after the funeral of a loved one. And if the loss is of a lifelong companion – one’s ‘strength and stay’, as the Queen so elegantly described her husband of 73 years, the Duke of Edinburgh – then it marks the point at which … Read more