How Queen Elizabeth Will Handle Public Events Without Prince Philip

On Friday, April 9, Buckingham Palace released a statement confirming His Royal Highness Prince Philip had sadly died at the age of 99. As BBC News confirmed, the announcement was made "with deep sorrow" on the part of Philip's long-time partner, Queen Elizabeth, who described him as her "beloved husband." The Duke of Edinburgh memorably left the royal navy to serve as the Queen's royal consort. Philip ended up serving for the longest term in British history, having stood by her side for over 60 years in total at the time of his death. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson recalled how Philip "inspired the lives of countless young people," with the palace noting, "The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss." Prince Charles traveled to Windsor Castle, where his father died peacefully, to support his mother during this difficult time. Likewise, the flag at Buckingham Palace was flown at half-mast while hundreds of people left tributes to Philip outside its gates. The Queen is facing life without him for the first time in decades, but thankfully she has plenty of support around her.

As Express acknowledges, Queen Elizabeth already took a significant step back from public duties in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Now that she is in a period of mourning, family members will ensure HRH has the requisite space to deal with her loss in peace, which will be Queen Elizabeth's primary focus as she continues her duties behind closed doors. A source close to the royals advised the Daily Mail that the Queen will be accompanied during all future public appearances either by Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Princess Anne, or other senior members of the monarchy. Philip's death has reportedly left a "huge void" in the Queen's life, but she's eager to get back to work once her two weeks of official mourning are up. 

She's ostensibly scheduled to attend the state opening of the British parliament in May with Prince Charles, according to an insider. "The Duke of Edinburgh is irreplaceable and the Queen's dedication to duty is undiminished," remarked one source. They added, "But senior officials and members of the family have long had an eye on ensuring she is more supported in the future and it seems sensible to start employing this now." When a parent dies, the kids and even grandchildren typically step up to fill the void. The insider noted that, hopefully, "all of them coming together will fill some of the space he has left behind" until the Queen is more comfortable.