Queen Elizabeth's Final Note to Prince Philip Included a Heartfelt Detail
This weekend, the royal family honored Prince Philip with funeral services. Saturday's procession and ceremony took place at St George's Chapel, on the Windsor Castle grounds. Queen Elizabeth attended, remembering her husband of 73 years.
The Queen added her own special tribute in the form of a handwritten letter. She placed a note on her late husband's coffin, which remained there throughout the services. While observers could not see the entirety of the letter's contents, we do know one sweet detail. The monarch signed the note "Lilibet"—her childhood nickname. According to People, Prince Philip is thought to be the last person who called her by this nickname.
Though many royal family members attended Saturday's ceremony, Queen Elizabeth had to sit alone, due to COVID-19 precautions. The pandemic impacted the day's structure, as only thirty guest were allowed inside the chapel. The palace also discouraged crowds of mourners, instead asking everyone to watch the televised event from home. All in-person guests wore face masks and sat six feet apart from individuals in other households.
The loss of Prince Philip will surely impact the Queen, who has had the Duke of Edinburgh by her side since 1947. However, the monarch will keep fulfilling her royal duties. A former senior aide at the palace told People, "Her family will step up and be by her side, but she will carry on. She understands that she has a job to do, and [Philip] would have wanted her to crack on. She did do so when he retired from public life."
While the Queen has not released a personal statement about her husband's death, the royal family issued a joint message expressing their grief.
"It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will be made in due course," the statement read. "The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."
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