The Queen Makes A Subtle Nod To Prince Philip During Her First Outing Of The New Year

February 6, 1952 was the day that King George VI died, and his daughter became Queen Elizabeth II. Her husband, Prince Philip, was the one who delivered the sad news to her while they were on an international royal tour in Kenya. He was by her side throughout the rest of his life until his death on April 9, 2021.

With 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth has surpassed — by seven years — Queen Victoria's record for longest reigning British sovereign, and the public celebrations for Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee are planned for June (via Reuters). But with her advancing age and the pandemic, she's had to cut back on public engagements. In October 2021, she wasn't able to follow her plan to attend the climate talks in Scotland upon doctor's advice, and in November, she canceled her appearance at a Remembrance Day service due to a sprained back (via NBC News).

But 2022 may be off to a better start. The queen hosted a reception at Sandringham House for her Platinum Jubilee on February 5, the night before her Accession Day anniversary (per People). And while she was without her husband for the event, it seems like he was on her mind.

At the Platinum Jubilee event, Queen Elizabeth was seen holding a cane. But not just any cane. "I recognized the stick instantly as it was always kept in a pot by the front door," Prince Philip's biographer Gyles Brandreth told The Telegraph. "It was the duke's stick, and it is very touching that the queen has started using it."

Elizabeth started using a cane in 2021, according to People, after never having used one other than to recover from knee surgery in 2003. Philip was first spotted with the cane Elizabeth used at Sandringham House in 2013 (per People).

In a statement from the queen marking Accession Day, she, of course, mentioned Philip. "I was blessed that in Prince Philip I had a partner willing to carry out the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it," she wrote. 

The Sandringham House event was a tea party with local volunteers, children, and pensioners as guests (per Woman & Home). The public Platinum Jubilee celebrations on the first weekend of June will include, per the British royal family website, a baking competition, a parade, a lighting of beacons, and more.