l She was supported by her disgraced son Andrew
l Prince Philip was honored by royal families from around the world
l The Bulgarian monarchical family was represented by Prince Cyril
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is having difficulty moving after contracting a coronavirus in late February. In addition to a cane, she had to use help from her son Prince Andrew to reach her place in Westminster Abbey, where a memorial service was held for her husband. The 99-year-old Prince Philip died last year, but due to pandemic restrictions
only 30 people could
attend his funeral
That is why now the memorial service for the first year of his death has brought together representatives of monarchical families from all over the world. Among those who came to honor Prince Philip’s memory were more than 50 foreign guests: King Felipe of Spain and his wife Leticia, Willem-Alexander and his wife Maxima of the Netherlands, and Philip and his wife Matilde of Belgium. Also present were Prince Albert II of Monaco and Bahrain’s heir to the throne, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, as well as representatives of the Greek, Romanian and Serbian royal families. The Bulgarian was presented by Prince Cyril, who has been working in London for years.
The memorial service was at the church where Elizabeth II married Philip in 1947, not at Windsor Castle, where he was buried last April and where the Queen chose to live after his death. This raised many concerns about whether Elizabeth II would be able to attend at all. Due to deteriorating health, the 95-year-old monarch had to cancel his participation in some traditional events in the UK in recent months, which she never missed. Sources from the palace revealed to the Daily Mail that it was
was developed special
route so that Elizabeth II could arrive
from Windsor to Westminster Abbey in just 45 minutes and to walk as few steps as possible in the church itself so as not to be further exhausted.
She was accompanied by her middle son, Prince Andrew, and not by Crown Prince Charles, as is usually the case, which was commented on by royal correspondents as a sign of forgiveness to him, but also as a not very well-measured sign. Andrew had to relinquish all royal duties and honorary titles after his name was implicated in a sex scandal with minors and he had to pay serious compensation to one of the victims in order not to be tried in the United States.
His appearance at the memorial service was the first public one in months and is perceived as
experience of the queen
to unite the family, which has been shaken by a series of scandals over the past two years.
For this reason, Prince Harry was negotiating to come to London for his grandfather’s anniversary, after he also refused to perform royal duties. However, his spokesman said it was impossible at this stage because he could no longer rely on police guards. The prince was not sure about the safety of his family to travel outside the United States, where he chose to live with his wife Megan and their two children. Thus, the queen’s opportunity to meet their young daughter Lilibet, who was born last June, failed. Otherwise, all her children and grandchildren were at the memorial service.
According to royal sources, Elizabeth II felt unstable in walking in the last year, which is why she agreed to use a cane and was advised by doctors not to spend a long time straight. Things got even worse after being infected with the coronavirus, which she otherwise suffered from. Her team’s efforts are aimed at sparing her as much as possible so that she can join the celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne in early June. Then there will be four days off so that the people of the kingdom can enjoy the dozens of events on the occasion of Her Majesty’s platinum anniversary.
Therefore, immediately after the memorial service, she was returned to Windsor Castle, and the meetings and conversations after her with foreign guests were entrusted to the younger members of the royal family.
On entering and leaving, Elizabeth II beckoned the people gathered in front of the church to see her. She became upright during prayers and in singing hymns that her husband had wished to be performed at his funeral during his lifetime.
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