Prince Philip funeral update – Resilient Queen, 94, to increase royal duties within weeks with senior family by her side
THE Queen is planning to INCREASE her royal duties within weeks it has been claimed.
The 94-year-old is currently in an eight-day period of mourning for her husband of 73 years which is due to end on the day after her 95th birthday.
But once the mourning period ends, the Queen is determined to get on with "as many royal duties as possible" in order to fill the "huge void" left by the death of Prince Philip.
Although she has carried out many solo events over the years, especially since the Duke's 2017 retirement, there is now a major effort among senior royals to ensure she has support in the coming months, the Mail reported.
Among those expected to be seen by her side as she ramps up her diary are the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Princess Anne.
The Iron Duke – who was married to the Queen for 73 years and described as her constant "strength and stay" – passed away peacefully last Friday morning at the age of 99.
His funeral will be held at St George's Chapel on Saturday – the same place where Meghan Markle and Prince Harry got married.
Philip's death comes amid a turmoil-filled 12 months for the royals after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry quit the royal family.
Prince Philip remained one of the hardest working royals in history – since 1952 he attended 22,219 solo engagements and 637 overseas tours in a career marked by his famous gaffes, wit and wisdom.
Read our Royal Family live blog below for the latest news and updates…
- Alice Peacock
PHILIP 'SPANNED ALL THE GENERATIONS'
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said the fact that the Duke of Edinburgh "spanned all the generations" motivated many MPs to join in a day of tributes following his death at the age of 99.
Sir Lindsay told Times Radio: "It was a great reflection. People wanted to reflect their encounters, their meetings and how they had come across the Duke of Edinburgh.
"I think it was so important for people to express their views and their opinions in a very nice way.
"Whether it was the older generation who served in the armed forces or whether (it was) the younger generation of MPs who had actually done the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
"So he spanned all the generations and that's why I think so many people feel this real attachment and wanted to be part of yesterday."
- Alice Peacock
‘MOMENTS TO TALK AND REFLECT’
The fact that Harry has come alone to the UK for Prince Philip’s funeral, could give him and his brother space to finally talk, said ITV’s Chris Ship.
The royal editor told Good Morning Britain: “I wonder whether being on his own with his family will give Harry those moments to talk and to reflect.
“They’ve had some phone conversations as we know thanks to Gayle King, the US TV anchor, but we will have to see whether they can do that and I think funerals can sometimes do that.”
- Alice Peacock
BBC ‘RECEIVES MORE THAN 100,000 COMPLAINTS ABOUT PRINCE PHILIP COVERAGE’
The BBC has reportedly received more than 100,000 complaints about its coverage of the death of the Duke Of Edinburgh, a record in British TV history.
The broadcaster set up a dedicated webpage for viewers to lodge their dissatisfaction at its coverage after it cleared its schedules to cover Philip’s death on Friday.
It has now received more than 100,000 complaints, according to The Sun newspaper.
That would be a record for complaints in British television history, beating the previous high 0f 63,000 sparked by the BBC’s screening of Jerry Springer: The Musical in 2005.
The BBC declined to comment on the figures and said it would release its fortnightly complaints bulletin on Thursday as planned.
- Alice Peacock
PRINCE ANDREW: ROYAL FAMILY GRATEFUL FOR ‘ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TRIBUTES’ TO DUKE OF EDINBURGH
The Duke of York added that the royal family was grateful for all the “absolutely amazing tributes” to the duke.
Andrew, who stepped down from royal duties over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2019, said of Philip: “He was a remarkable man.
“I loved him as a father. He was so calm. If you had a problem, he would think about it.
“That’s the great thing that I always think about, that he was always somebody you could go to and he would always listen so it’s a great loss.
“We’ve lost almost the grandfather of the nation. And I feel very sorry and supportive of my mother who’s feeling it probably more than everybody else.”
- Alice Peacock
‘AMAZING’
Meanwhile, the Queen’s daughter-in-law Sophie Wessex said the Queen is “thinking of others before herself”. And chatting to mourners after the service, she said the Duke died “gently”.
“You know it’s going to happen but when it happens it’s just this massive, massive hole,” she said.
“It was so gentle, it was just like someone took him by the hand and off he went.
“Very, very peaceful – and that’s all you want with somebody isn’t it?
“I think it’s so much easier for the person that goes than the people left behind. We’re all sitting here looking at each other going, ‘This is awful’.
- Alice Peacock
PRINCE PHILIP HAD UFO BOOK COLLECTION
Prince Philip had reportedly been collecting UFO books for more than a decade before his death.
The Duke of Edinburgh had most recently read The Halt Perspective based on Britain's biggest UFO mystery, Triangle News reported.
The 99-year-old – who died on Friday – had also amassed a vast array of ten other alien tomes in recent years.
Among those in his library are Haunted Skies and Haunted Skies: The Encyclopaedia of British UFOs.
They were sent to him by retired West Midlands Police detective turned author John Hanson.
- Alice Peacock
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON’S CHILDREN WILL NOT ATTEND FUNERAL
William and Kate Middleton’s three children are not expected to attend the funeral of their great-grandfather Prince Philip.
The ceremony at Windsor Castle on Saturday has been scaled back to 30 mourners due to Covid-19 restrictions.
According to a report Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and two-year-old Prince Louis are considered too young to join the Duke’s funeral.
Their absence will free three spots for older relatives.
Joe Little, of Majesty magazine, said: “Even in normal times, the Cambridge children would probably have been deemed too young to attend.”
- Alice Peacock
FAMILY RESEMBLANCE
A magazine cover from 1957 has revealed the striking resemblance between Prince Harry and his grandad Philip when he was younger.
A front cover of Paris Match magazine shows the Duke of Edinburgh, at the age of 36, decked out in the Tropical Dress of the Blues and Royals – looking almost identical to his grandson.
- Alice Peacock
PRINCE PHILIP MERCH TAKES OFF ON EBAY
Duke of Edinburgh badges and signed Christmas cards are taking off on eBay following Prince Philip’s death last week.
Specially made ‘RIP’ t-shirts as well as cushions and mugs featuring Philip’s face have also been put up on the site, as well as ‘special editions’ of the national newspapers – going upwards of £10 each.
Some are even selling what the claim to be personal letters sent from the monarch, Metro reported.
Topping the list is a five-pound platinum coin commemorating the monarch’s 90th birthday, with a bidding price of £11,250.
- Alice Peacock
HARRY ARRIVES BACK IN UK FOR PRINCE PHILIP’S FUNERAL WITHOUT MEGHAN MARKLE – BUT WHERE WILL HE STAY?
PRINCE Harry has returned to the UK for Prince Philip’s funeral without Meghan Markle.
The Duke of Sussex is thought to have driven to Kensington Palace where he could stay at Nottingham Cottage – the home he and Meghan shared before they were married.
Harry will stay alone, after doctors warned Meghan not to fly due to her pregnancy.
The duke, 36, flew over from the US in his first return since he and Meghan stepped back from royal duties.
An eye witness told The Sun he got off a British Airways flight from Los Angeles which arrived at Heathrow at 1.15pm today.
- Alice Peacock
ROYAL FAMILY ORDERS TRUCE OVER OPRAH CHAT
According to an insider the Royal Family has ordered a truce over the Oprah chat.
“Family conversations now will be on the passing of Prince Philip — and nothing else,” they said.
“The Queen has declared royal mourning for two weeks so it’s quite clear that is the focus.
“Conversations will be private but the focus will be on emotional matters of dealing with a father and grandfather.”
- Joseph Gamp
‘MOMENTS TO TALK AND REFLECT’
The fact that Harry has come alone to the UK for Prince Philip’s funeral, could give him and his brother space to finally talk, said ITV’s Chris Ship.
The royal editor told Good Morning Britain: “I wonder whether being on his own with his family will give Harry those moments to talk and to reflect.
“They’ve had some phone conversations as we know thanks to Gayle King, the US TV anchor, but we will have to see whether they can do that and I think funerals can sometimes do that.”
- Joseph Gamp
ROYAL FAMILY NEWS: THE LATEST
- Prince William hailed the “extraordinary” duke and shared a sweet photo of son George in an emotional tribute to Philip
- Harry signed off his tribute with a Royal Marines motto
- Meghan, Archie and his unborn daughter would ‘always hold a special place’ for Phil, Harry said
- Kate and Wills vowed to ‘get on with the job’ like the Duke of Edinburgh would have wanted
- Boris Johnson paid tribute to Prince Philip’s ‘unfailing dedication’
- The Queen’s support network after her husband’s death was revealed
- The Duke of Sussex is staying at Frogmore Cottage after flying in from the US overnight
COMMONS SPEAKER SIR LINDSAY HOYLE PAYS TRIBUTE TO PRINCE PHILIP
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, concluding proceedings, told MPs: "It is a sign of the high regard with which the Duke of Edinburgh is held that so many members have made such moving tributes.
"Today has brought the House together and it is at its best when the House is brought together. May Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, rest in peace."
Time for MPs to make contributions elapsed at 10pm, with five of the 136 listed unable to make a speech.
TORY MP SAID PRINCE PHILIP 'HAD SERIOUS GUTS' TO PERFORM HIS NAVAL SERVICE
Conservative MP Bob Stewart (Beckenham) praised the naval service of the Duke of Edinburgh, adding that he had "serious guts".
He told the Commons: "In 1941, at the Battle of Matapan, on board HMS Valiant, he was the guy that was holding the search light that illuminated an Italian cruiser and he kept it on the cruiser despite the fact that cannon shells were landing all around him and destroying, he stayed here.
"He not just illuminated that cruiser, he identified another one. The captain afterwards said, 'thanks to Prince Philip, two eight-inch Italian cruisers were sunk within five minutes'.
"My God, what cold courage to stay there when he clearly understood that he was being targeted by the enemy and it was pinpoint targeting because you just have to fire at the source of the light.
"That man, our prince, had serious guts, and I use the word he might have used. I admire him utterly."
- Joseph Gamp
PHILIP DISAGREED WITH ‘PREOCCUPIED’ HARRY AND MEG
PRINCE Philip disagreed with Harry and Meghan Markle being “preoccupied” with their own problems, a royal biographer says.
The Duke of Edinburgh reportedly believed his grandson should follow the rule he stuck to and not talk about himself.
But this was broken when Harry and Meghan took part in a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey. Gyles Brandeth told the Daily Mail the fact the interview was aired while Philip was is in hospital “did not trouble him”.
But he added: “What did worry him was the couple’s preoccupation with their own problems and their willingness to talk about them in public. 'Give TV interviews by all means,’ he said, ‘but don’t talk about yourself’.
“That was one of his rules. I know he shared it with his children. I imagine he shared it with his grandchildren, too.”
- Joseph Gamp
WILLIAM AND HARRY PAY TRIBUTE TO PHILIP'S SERVICE, WARMTH AND WIT
The Duke of Edinburgh was described as the Queen's "rock" and praised as "master of the barbecue, legend of banter" in poignant tributes from his grandsons.
The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex recalled their grandfather as an individual "authentically himself" filled with warmth and wit and devoted to the monarch, as they joined the nation in honouring his memory.
William said Philip was an "extraordinary man" and pledged to uphold his wishes and continue, along with wife Kate, to support the Queen and "get on with the job".
He also highlighted the special bond between the duke and Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who would have "special memories" of being picked up in a horse-drawn carriage by their "great-grandpa".
William spoke candidly about Philip's relationship with Kate and expressed his gratitude for the "kindness he showed her".
- Joseph Gamp
BBC 'RECEIVES MORE THAN 100,000 COMPLAINTS ABOUT PRINCE PHILIP COVERAGE'
The BBC has reportedly received more than 100,000 complaints about its coverage of the death of the Duke Of Edinburgh, a record in British TV history.
The broadcaster set up a dedicated webpage for viewers to lodge their dissatisfaction at its coverage after it cleared its schedules to cover Philip's death on Friday.
It has now received more than 100,000 complaints, according to The Sun newspaper.
That would be a record for complaints in British television history, beating the previous high 0f 63,000 sparked by the BBC's screening of Jerry Springer: The Musical in 2005.
The BBC declined to comment on the figures and said it would release its fortnightly complaints bulletin on Thursday as planned.
- Joseph Gamp
PRINCE ANDREW: ROYAL FAMILY GRATEFUL FOR ‘ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TRIBUTES’ TO DUKE OF EDINBURGH
The Duke of York added that the royal family was grateful for all the “absolutely amazing tributes” to the duke.
Andrew, who stepped down from royal duties over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2019, said of Philip: “He was a remarkable man.
“I loved him as a father. He was so calm. If you had a problem, he would think about it.
“That’s the great thing that I always think about, that he was always somebody you could go to and he would always listen so it’s a great loss.
“We’ve lost almost the grandfather of the nation. And I feel very sorry and supportive of my mother who’s feeling it probably more than everybody else.”
- Joseph Gamp
HARRY ARRIVES BACK IN UK FOR PRINCE PHILIP’S FUNERAL WITHOUT MEGHAN MARKLE – BUT WHERE WILL HE STAY?
PRINCE Harry has returned to the UK for Prince Philip’s funeral without Meghan Markle.
The Duke of Sussex is thought to have driven to Kensington Palace where he could stay at Nottingham Cottage – the home he and Meghan shared before they were married.
Harry will stay alone, after doctors warned Meghan not to fly due to her pregnancy.
The duke, 36, flew over from the US in his first return since he and Meghan stepped back from royal duties.
An eye witness told The Sun he got off a British Airways flight from Los Angeles which arrived at Heathrow at 1.15pm today.
- Joseph Gamp
ROYAL FAMILY ORDERS TRUCE OVER OPRAH CHAT
According to an insider the Royal Family has ordered a truce over the Oprah chat.
“Family conversations now will be on the passing of Prince Philip — and nothing else,” they said.
“The Queen has declared royal mourning for two weeks so it’s quite clear that is the focus.
“Conversations will be private but the focus will be on emotional matters of dealing with a father and grandfather.”
- Joseph Gamp
'AMAZING’
Meanwhile, the Queen’s daughter-in-law Sophie Wessex said the Queen is “thinking of others before herself”. And chatting to mourners after the service, she said the Duke died “gently”.
“You know it’s going to happen but when it happens it’s just this massive, massive hole,” she said.
“It was so gentle, it was just like someone took him by the hand and off he went.
“Very, very peaceful – and that’s all you want with somebody isn’t it?
“I think it’s so much easier for the person that goes than the people left behind. We’re all sitting here looking at each other going, ‘This is awful’.
- Joseph Gamp
ROYAL FAMILY NEWS: THE LATEST
- Prince William hailed the "extraordinary" duke and shared a sweet photo of son George in an emotional tribute to Philip
- Harry signed off his tribute with a Royal Marines motto
- Meghan, Archie and his unborn daughter would 'always hold a special place' for Phil, Harry said
- Kate and Wills vowed to 'get on with the job' like the Duke of Edinburgh would have wanted
- Boris Johnson paid tribute to Prince Philip's 'unfailing dedication'
- The Queen's support network after her husband's death was revealed
- The Duke of Sussex is staying at Frogmore Cottage after flying in from the US overnight
BBC BLAST
Meanwhile, BBC has been flooded with over 100,000 complaints about the wall to wall coverage of Prince Philip’s death.
The Beeb tore up its usual schedule after news of the Duke of Edinburgh’s death broke shortly after noon on Friday.
Many viewers were left fuming after their favourite shows – including the MasterChef final – were ditched so special tribute programmes could be laid on.
The coverage is believed to be one of the most complained about bits of telly in British history.
PRINCE HARRY’S TRIBUTE TO ‘WITTY’ GRANDPA PHILIP – ‘MASTER OF THE BARBECUE, LEGEND OF BANTER & CHEEKY ’TIL THE END’
PRINCE Harry today paid tribute to his “witty” grandfather Philip – remembering the duke as the “master of the barbecue and legend of banter”.
Harry, who last night returned to the UK from his home in the US, said the Duke of Edinburgh was “cheeky ’til the end”. He thanked the dedicated royal for being a “rock” to his grandmother the Queen – just minutes after his brother William also paid tribute.
Prince Harry said: “He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm – and also because you never knew what he might say next.
“He will be remembered as the longest reigning consort to the Monarch, a decorated serviceman, a Prince and a Duke. But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right ’til the end.
“He has been a rock for Her Majesty The Queen with unparalleled devotion, by her side for 73 years of marriage, and while I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, ‘Oh do get on with it!’
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