Twitter users praise the Queen for her ‘composure’ and ‘strength’ after she battled mobility issues to attend her beloved Prince Philip’s memorial
- The Queen managed to attend Prince Philip’s memorial despite health issues
- She was lavished with praise on social media for her strength in attending
- Was her first major engagement away from Windsor Castle in nearly six months
The Queen has been praised for her ‘composure’ and ‘strength’ after she attended Prince Philip’s memorial at Westminster Abbey today despite mobility and health issues.
Her Majesty, 95, appeared to shed a tear during a poignant and emotional service held to pay tribute to the late Duke of Edinburgh.
Despite battling mobility problems, she stood to pray and sing anthems during a 40-minute ceremony which Philip, her husband of 73 years, had helped plan before his death last April.
Royals fans were quick to flock to Twitter to praise the Queen for her strength and appearance.
One wrote: ‘She looks superb. Delighted to see her at the ceremony. The Queen is an example to us all.’
Another said: ‘Bless the Queen today at the Duke of Edinburgh’s Thanksgiving service. She looks so composed. I’m so glad she was enough to make it.’
While a third added: ‘Good to see the Queen attending. She’s a strong woman.’
The Queen used a stick as she was walked to her seat by her disgraced son the Duke of York to give her ‘strength and stay’ Philip the final farewell he had wanted.
But in a controversial decision she chose Prince Andrew to support her as she arrived and left the church, clutching his elbow with one hand and a walking stick with the other.
The Queen closed her eyes in prayer as she joined senior royals to pay tribute to Prince Philip at his memorial at Westminster Abbey. When she opened her eyes they appeared moist
She decided to attend today’s service in Central London around two hours before it took place, as she battles mobility problems that have prevented her doing a major public engagement away from Windsor Castle in nearly six months.
The Queen has pulled out of a number of key occasions in the last six months due to concerns surrounding her health, most recently delegating to Charles for the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey last week.
The consistent uncertainty has meant that her presence at all future events will be confirmed on the day with a member of the royal family on standby in the event she feels unable to attend.
The Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey would have been the 95-year-old’s first in-person public engagement since being advised to rest by her doctors following a hospital stay in October and testing positive for Covid-19 on February 20 with ‘mild symptoms’.
Most notably, she did not attend last November’s Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Cenotaph after suffering a sprained back and being advised to rest.
She has spent recent weeks carrying out only light duties including a handful of virtual audiences.
But she returned to in-person engagements earlier this month, meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Windsor Castle and later meeting the head of Britain’s armed forces.
She now regularly uses a stick and recently commented about her mobility issues, telling two senior military officers during a Windsor Castle reception ‘Well, as you can see, I can’t move,’ when asked how she was.
Her Majesty was ‘actively involved’ in every element of the service of thanksgiving which Westminster Abbey packed to the rafters.
Even the smallest of touches were overseen by the Queen, including the use of orchids that formed part of her 1947 wedding bouquet being used in small posies of flowers.
Prince Philip’s beloved Sea Cadets and young people who have taken his Duke of Edinburgh awards were centre stage at the service.
The Queen was the last to arrive for the memorial and was joined by Prince Andrew.
It was a move that royal watchers believe may have upset her son Prince Charles and grandson Prince William – both instrumental in the decision to take away the Duke of York’s ‘HRH’.
Andrew releases his mother from his arm as she walks the final steps to her seat unaided
She spoke to her son inside the car and waved to the crowds outside the service in London, which ended this afternoon
Queen Elizabeth II, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. (second row left to right) The Duke of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, the Duchess of Cambridge during a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of the Duke of Edinburgh
The Queen chose her second son to join her in the back of her royal car for the 22-mile journey and he was also given a front row in the church, right next to his other siblings at the service just weeks after he paid millions to one of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex slaves, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who accused him of having sex with her three times when she was trafficked to London aged 17.
The Queen’s state limousine arrived at Poets’ Yard entrance with Andrew sat beside her. As they walked through the famous section of the abbey towards her seat, in a small procession, the monarch held onto her son’s elbow with her left hand and had a walking stick in her right.
They walked at a slow but steady pace both looking ahead, and at the end of the aisle they separated – with Andrew giving a last glance to his mother as she turned right.
The Queen stood with tears in her eyes as the 1,800-strong congregation sang Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer before the bells of Westminster Abbey rang out to mark the end of the memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh.
After the first hymn, Charles, who was sat next to her mother, could be seen leaning over to speak to the Queen seated next to him – but it is not clear what was said. The Queen then delved into her black Launer handbag for her glasses to read the order of service.
After she leant on Andrew as she walked back out of the church, the Queen appeared to grimace as she walked to the car hunched over with the Duke of York at her side guiding her towards the Bentley.
She appeared to be holding tightly to her stick and appeared to be making a great effort to get to the vehicle, concentrating very hard in taking each step.
Once inside the car she appeared to be back to her normal composed self as the car slowly drove away. She waved to onlookers as she arrived and left the service.
The Queen and the packed abbey listened as the Dean of Windsor paid tribute to Philip’s intellect, work ethic, sense of humour and devotion to his family.
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