The Queen led her family – along with politicians, European kings and members of Prince Philip’s family – to emotional service at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday morning.
The 95-year-old monarch, who has had serious health and mobility problems in recent weeks – including Covid last month – was determined to attend the memorial service.
The funeral of Prince Philip in April last year saw His Majesty sitting alone with only 30 mourners in attendance, as Covid rules meant very limited numbers.
Today, the first two rows of the Abbey were filled with 20 of the closest members of the late Duke’s family – including the children of Prince Charles, Prince Andrea, Princess Anne and Prince Edward and their families.
Behind them sat minor members of the royal family, members of the aristocracy, the European royal family – including King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letitia – and even popular figures in popular culture – including the legend of the Sts.
Clearly moved, the Queen shed a tear for her late husband in the extraordinary service held in remembrance of his remarkable life in the service of Britain and herself.
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His Majesty will sing surrounded by her family with the Duke of York also in the front row. From left to right, front row: Queen Elizabeth II, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Royal, Rear Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Countess of Lady Louise Mountbatten -Windsor and Viscount Severn. (Second row from left to right) The Duke of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Cambridge, Peter Phillips, Isla Phillips, Savannah Phillin, Z. Till
THE FIRST SERIES AT WESTMINSTER ABSENCE
The Queen shed a tear for her husband today in a remarkable memorial service – in contrast to the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in April 2021, the Queen was surrounded by the closest members of her family
The Queen (1) The Sovereign took her place among the 1,800 guests despite the 95-year-old’s mobility problems, which prevented her from making a major public commitment away from Windsor Castle in almost six months. Wearing a racing green coat and matching fur hat, the queen sat down next to Prince Charles for the formal occasion.
Prince Charles (2) First in line for the throne, Prince Charles wore a clever navy blue suit with a black tie and shiny brooch as he sat next to his mother – with the Duchess of Cornwall to his left – .
The Duchess of Cornwall (3) Camilla, 74, who wore a deep green coat with black leather gloves and a black clutch bag and a black velvet hat with a striking green feather, was known to have a close relationship with the late Duke of Edinburgh – and is likely to use it as inspiration when she becomes Queen Consort in the future.
Support for the Queen: The front row saw, from left, the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Anne and Timothy Lawrence seated with Kate, William, Prince George and
Prince Andrew sat next to Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex during a memorial service at Westminster Abbey today.
Princess Anna (4) Princess Basilica, also in racing green, stood between her husband Timothy Lawrence and the Duchess of Cornwall for today’s service
Timothy Laurence (5) The 67-year-old retired Rear Admiral of the Royal Navy, the wife of Princess Basilica, took last place in the front row at the memorial.
Prince Andrew (6) After a turbulent year for Prince Andrew, the Queen has shown her support for him today, symbolically choosing to accompany him to Westminster Abbey despite the Epstein scandal that has derailed his royal life. He sat next to his brothers, with daughters Beatrice and Eugenie a few rows behind.
Prince Edward (7) Prince Edward looked sad as he sat next to his wife Sophie Wessex and their two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscomey Severn.
The royal family – which dealt with many of Prince Philip’s own family members, including the Crown Prince and Princess of Baden (just opposite the Duchess of Cornwall and Princess Basilica), was seen in
Sophie Wessex (8) Sophie, Countess of Wessex, 57, and her daughter, Lady Louise, 18, smiled and chatted with each other after sitting in their seats at the Abbey.
Lady Louise Windsor (9) Known for her close relationship with her grandfather, from whom she inherited her love of carriage riding, Lady Louise, 18, looked perfectly refined as she reunited with her parents and brother in Westminster Abbey.
Viscount Severn (10) The son of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex – now 14 – wore a black suit and tie to show his respect for his late grandfather.
THE SECOND SERIES AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY
Wearing racing greens to reflect the vibrancy of Prince Philip’s military regiment, the Duchess of Cornwall and Princess Royal – along with Tim Lawrence – sat in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Prince William (11) The Queen’s grandson and second in line to the throne held the hand of his wife Kate Middleton as he arrived with two of the couple’s children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, for his memorial service.
Prince George (12) Just visible next to his father’s shoulder, Prince George took his place just behind his great-grandmother for the service. The eight-year-old took a day off from school to come to the event with his younger sister, Princess Charlotte.
Princess Charlotte (13) The six-year-old schoolgirl was barely visible, except that she occasionally pushed her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge.
Duchess of Cambridge (14) Playing a reassuring role to two of her three children in attendance, the Duchess told a serious Princess Charlotte “you can smile,” according to lip-reader Jacqui Press. Kate looked ready as she wore a 4 1,495 navy Alessandra Rich navy dress, which she paired with a 7 775 smart hat from Lock & Co! and Princess Diana’s Collingwood earrings for service at Westminster Abbey today.
Isla and Savannah Phillips (middle row, second and third from left) teamed up with the Tindalls and their father Peter Phillips in the second row at Westminster Abbey today
Peter Phillips (15) Princess Royal’s son, divorced from his wife Autumn Phillips, was sitting next to his daughters Isla, 10, and Savannah, 11 in the second row.
Isla Phillips (16) For Peter Phillips’s youngest daughter, it was a day of mixed emotions as she celebrated her tenth birthday. Isla Elizabeth Phillips was born on March 29, 2012 to Peter and her mother Autumn Phillips.
Savannah Phillips (17) Seemingly delivering a cheeky smile at times, Savannah Phillips, the 11-year-old daughter of Peter and his ex-wife Autumn Phillips, wore a navy blue tie and button-down coat for the service.
Mia Tindall (18) Looking at Savannah Phillips’ older cousin, Mia Tindall, Mike and Zara Tindall’s eldest child, seemed to enjoy the grandeur of the occasion as she paid her respects to her great-grandfather. Mia wore a black coat for the occasion with red tubes on the cuffs and the collar.
Zara Tindall (19) The Duke of Edinburgh’s granddaughter was with her husband Mike and their eldest daughter Mia at Westminster Abbey for the memorial service for Prince Philip. The mother of three looked coordinated as she wore a distinctive Laura Green navy coat which she paired with elegant silver earrings.
Mike Tindall (20) The former England rugby player looked smart in a gray tailored suit he paired with a white shirt and a navy tie.
OTHER IMPORTANT PARIS
Princess Beatrice Princess Beatrice, 33, came out in a burgundy dress with heels and a black coat, next to the polished husband of Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 38. At one point the princess burst into tears. He enjoyed a particularly close relationship with the Grand Duke of Edinburgh.
Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi Mr Mapelli Mozzi was on his wife’s side as she paid tribute to her grandfather at today’s Thanksgiving service. The Duke of Edinburgh approved of their union and attended Mr Mapelli Mozzi’s wedding to Beatrice in 2020.
Princess Eugenie Princess Eugenie cut an elegant figure with a floral midi dress by British fashion designer Erdem worth £ 1,695. With her was her husband Jack Brooksbank. Eugenie and Jack welcomed August’s son in February 2021 and gave him the middle name Philip after his great-grandfather
Jack Brooksbank Princess Eugenie’s husband Jack Brooksbank looked dark throughout the service. It would be particularly painful for Jack, who lost his father to Covid in November 2021, just days before their son August’s baptism.
David Armstrong-Jones David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon, is the only son of Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowden. The furniture designer enjoyed a close relationship with the Duke of Edinburgh and used to take vacations with the royal family as a child.
Margarita Armstrong-Jones Earl of Snowdon’s daughter, Margarita Armstrong-Jones, was sitting next to her father. Lord Snowdon and her mother, Serena Armstrong-Jones, Snowdon countess, divorced in 2020.
Richard, Duke of Gloucester; Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, and Edward, Duke of Kent, also sat just a few rows behind the queen.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge left the Abbey with two of their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte
Queen Elizabeth II is assisted in her car by her son, Prince Andrew, shortly after Thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip
This morning, His Majesty had reached …