It was a long prophesied tragedy. And yet not any less tragic for it: on 9 April, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elizabeth II for 73 years, died at the age of 99. On the cusp of his 100th birthday, William and Harry's grandfather took his last breath, leaving behind grieving loved ones and a whole orphaned people.
Discover our latest podcast
National grief
Several days of national mourning have been recorded in the United Kingdom, at a time when pubs and other bars have reopened their terraces. The next few weeks are shaping up to be tough for the Windsor clan. A final farewell to the Duke of Edinburgh is scheduled for Saturday 17 April at 3 pm local time, for a small farewell gathering. Only 30 people will be allowed to attend the ceremony, which is why Prime Minister Boris Johnson has declined to participate, leaving his spot to a royal family member. Members of the royal family, including Prince Harry, will be there to support the Sovereign in this difficult test of life.
While the Duke of Sussex will have to return to the United States to his wife Meghan Markle—who remained behind due to her second pregnancy—and their son Archie, Kate Middleton, Prince William and the Earl and Countess of Wessex, among others, will be there to accompany Elizabeth II in the future. A presence more than essential for her.
By the queen's side
It is out of the question for Queen Elizabeth to abandon her royal obligations after the death of her husband. Entirely devoted to her country, it was unthinkable for her to pass on the job. She will therefore continue to make her official visits as soon as the situation will allow. But she 'will never walk alone:' according to a source in the Daily Mail, all members of her clan have agreed that the queen will never go alone again to events requiring her presence.
The Queen was rather used to loneliness during her travels since Prince Philip retired in 2017, but Elizabeth II will now have to account for her loved ones in the outings to come to avoid as much as possible the infamous 'immense void' left by her husband's passing.
Prince Philip himself seems to have anticipated the solitude her Majesty would have to face, as he asked his son to 'take care of the Queen' after his death. Check out the video above to learn more.
