The ceremony at Westminster Abbey was held to mark one year since the Duke of Edinburgh’s death, as only 30 of his loved ones attended his funeral due to pandemic restrictions. It was uncertain until Tuesday morning if the Queen could attend after poor mobility prevented her from traveling to formal engagements. She traveled from Windsor with Andrew, who accompanied her to Westminster Abbey, offering his elbow as he carefully approached her position using a cane. The Queen was led to the monument to Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey with Prince Andrew – video Andrew’s prominent role raised eyebrows because he came so soon after an out-of-court settlement of several million pounds in a case of political sexual assault. He continues to deny the allegation, but has resigned from public life because of his friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Former BBC correspondent Peter Hunt said he was surprised to see Andrew’s role in the service, noting that it would not have happened “by accident” and risked overshadowing the monument and causing controversy around the world. “He could have sat in the church with others, with his relatives, but they actively decided that he would have this role to support her. So he chose, in essence, to remind people that he has not admitted any wrongdoing, he is not guilty of anything, he is innocent. “And he states very clearly that he has a role to play in family circumstances,” he said. Eve Guttentag said the queen “always behaved perfectly”. Photo: Sarah Lee / The Guardian However, Joe Little, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, said Andrew’s role may have been a matter of “practicality as much as anything”, noting that the prince had not been found guilty of anything. Andrew took the front row in the process, next to his brother the Earl of Wessex and opposite his other brothers. Commentators on social media expressed disbelief that Andrew had apparently recovered so quickly from the scandal and were concerned about the message he could send to survivors of domestic abuse. Someone wrote on Twitter: “Prince Andrew accompanying Queen Elizabeth to and from her husband’s memorial means the game is over. We can not afford this government or the royal family. It’s not a good look. “ The ceremony was attended by about 1,800 people, with hundreds of well-wishers and passers-by waiting to take pictures. Those who spoke to the Guardian stressed the importance of Andrew’s resignation from public office following the scandal, but said his presence at a major family occasion was justified. “It’s important for the whole family to be there no matter what. Harry had to come too. “A lot of people are really sad about the queen watching her whole family fall apart,” said Eve Guttentag, 72, a retired beauty therapist from London. Amanda Kominski. Photo: Sarah Lee / The Guardian Max Furlong, a 26-year-old heating engineer from Chingford, added: “I don’t think it has to do with anything else. “But you can not say he should not be here.” The members of the crowd had come mainly to take a look at the Queen, whom they praised for her perseverance and dedication to public service. Guttentag said she was “wonderful” and “always behaved perfectly”. Lee Styles, a 25-year-old heating engineer from Harlow, said: “It’s nice to have something like this, it’s special to British culture. We will probably never see another queen in our lives. “ Amanda Cominsky, a 29-year-old U.S. banker living in Westminster, said she went down to “immerse herself” in UK culture. “It’s something different, something we do not have in the United States. “It is historic, traditional,” he said. Professor Chris Amafidon said that Prince Philip “dramatically affected lives in a way that people do not perceive”. Photo: Sarah Lee / The Guardian Guiding the service, the dean of Windsor paid tribute to the intellect, work ethic, sense of humor and devotion of Philip to his family. Right-wing Reverend David Conner described the duke as a “remarkable man” devoted to “a multitude of down-to-earth operations.” He pointed out that the duke could be “abrupt”, adding that “he could be a little sharp in piercing what he thought were bubbles of pomp or slander”. The Queen, Duchess of Cornwall and the Royal Princess dressed in dark green in honor of Philip, whose vibrant color was Edinburgh Green. Holders of the Duke of Edinburgh Prize also took part in the service, one of whom, Doyin Sonibare, paid a special tribute to the impact that Philip’s youthful plan had on her life. Professor Chris Imafidon, president of the charity Excellence in Education, watched from the outside, while some of the Edinburgh Duke Award winners he worked with attended the service. He said that Philip’s contribution to education was underestimated. “He did not have to worry about the children, he is not the Minister of Education, but he made so much effort for the next generation. “It dramatically affected lives in a way that people do not perceive.”
