Story behind tragic photo of Queen sitting alone at Prince Philip’s funeral
The image broke hearts around the globeOn April 17, 2021, Queen Elizabeth II bid farewell to her husband Prince Philip at his funeral, but the photo of the monarch sitting alone became a lonely and sombre picture.
She sat on her own inside St George’s Chapel as the funeral service for the Prince Consort was televised around the world.
Elizabeth and Philip had been married for more than seven decades. The former Duke of Edinburgh had died of ‘old age’ and before his death, spent 28 days in hospital for a pre-existing heart condition.
As we remember Britain’s longest-serving consort, we look back at the image of the queen sitting alone at Prince Philip‘s funeral that broke hearts around the world.
Why did the Queen sit alone at Prince Philip’s funeral?
The seat next to the Queen was empty, it was normally filled by Prince Philip during decades of royal events that would take place at the chapel. The seat next to that one was also empty. The row behind and in front was also vacant, and so on and so on.
The Queen was alone.
Her Majesty was seen sitting alone during Prince Philip’s moving funeral service in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle because of COVID restrictions and social distancing.
The closest royal to her was her son, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York – but he was out of arm’s reach. With no one around her to offer comfort during one of the hardest moments of a spouse’s life, she remained alone.
Her face was hidden behind a black mask, due to lockdown rules, and only her eyes were able to be seen underneath a black hat.
When it came to national minute’s silence for Prince Philip, she bowed her head.
Years later, the photo of the Queen sitting alone at Prince Philip’s funeral remains one of the most heartbreaking of the royal family.
‘Most heartbreaking’ photo of the Queen
Has there ever been a more heart-breaking picture of The Queen? The cruel separation and loneliness suffered by so many in this pandemic, now endured by the world’s most famous woman as she says goodbye to her husband of 73 years. Just devastating. 💔
(Photo: @PA) pic.twitter.com/XVpyG2wXQy— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 17, 2021
Celebrities and fans around the world reacted to the scene as they watched the service.
It led to an outpouring of sympathy and sorrow for the Queen, after they saw only 30 mourners were allowed to attend the funeral.
Taking to X (Twitter) TV host Piers Morgan posted an image of the Queen sitting alone in the chapel.
The outspoken former GMB host said at the time: “Has there ever been a more heart-breaking picture of The Queen?
“The cruel separation and loneliness suffered by so many in this pandemic, now endured by the world’s most famous woman as she says goodbye to her husband of 73 years.
“Just devastating.”
Read more: Moment Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sparked fury at Prince Philip’s funeral
She was ‘alone with her own thoughts’
Her personal adviser later revealed that the Queen spent the time alone after Prince Philip’s funeral to mourn the loss of her husband.
Angela Kelly said the former monarch returned to Windsor Castle and shut herself in her sitting room to be ‘alone with her own thoughts’.
In her book, The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe, she revealed she was there when the late queen arrived following the service.
Kelly acted as Her Majesty’s senior dresser and personal adviser and had worked with her for 30 years. Her book, which became a Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller when it first released in 2019, received the Queen’s blessing.
She wrote: “I helped her off with her coat and no words were spoken.
Did the Queen bow at Prince Philip’s funeral?
The Queen, along with other members of the royal family, bowed their heads during the nation’s minute of silence in memory of Prince Philip at his funeral.
The late monarch bowed her head in a rare display of emotion. As the Head of State, other royals, staff and members of the public bow or curtsy to the monarch when greeting her or if she enters a room, or walks past.
However, in this moment, she did the same for her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip.
There was only one other time that she was seen bowing her head to someone else during her 70-year reign – Princess Diana‘s state funeral in 1997.
The monarch broke royal tradition and bowed her head when Diana’s coffin went past. The Queen also would bow every year to the unknown soldier on Remembrance Day at the Cenotaph, but her bow to Diana is understood to be the first time she did so to an individual.
Read more: King Charles’ heartbreaking plea to sons William and Harry after Prince Philip’s funeral
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