STRENGTH AND STAY
Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday bid farewell to her late husband, Prince Philip, her 'strength and stay', at a royal funeral like no other, restricted by coronavirus rules but reflecting his long life of military and public service.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who died on April 9 at age 99, was interred in the Royal Vault at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after a 50-minute service attended by just 30 guests.
The Queen, 94, seen for the first time since his death, cut a lone figure, sitting in mourning black, with a whiterimmed, black face mask. Close family, also masked, sat socially distanced in the historic 15th-century Gothic chapel.
Philip - described by royals as "the grandfather of the nation" - was Britain's longest-serving royal consort and had been married to the Queen for 73 years.
He was an almost constant presence at her side during her record-breaking reign that began in 1952 as Britain rebuilt from World War II, and as its global empire began to unravel.
His death, which the family said had left a ‘huge void’ in the Queen's life, has robbed her of the man she called her ‘strength and stay’ and closes a remarkable chapter for Britain's most famous family, and in the country's history.
Outspoken, influential
The blunt-speaking naval officer, who as Queen Elizabeth’s dutiful consort helped modernise the British monarchy, Prince Philip might be best remembered for his gruff public persona. Outspoken and irascible, Philip lived in the shadow of the woman he married at Westminster Abbey in 1947 and always walked a step behind the Queen
at the thousands of ceremonial events they attended during her reign, the longest in British history.
Though he had no official role, Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was one of the most influential figures in the royal family for more than 70 years.
Born in an age of deference to monarchy, Philip helped Elizabeth navigate the political and social upheaval of the 20th century to craft a monarchy fit for a different time.
Often facing a deeply traditional court, he reformed the palace and tried to harness the growing power of television to project royal influence.
He pushed for the queen’s coronation in 1953 to be televised live and behind the scenes removed outdated behaviour in the palace he regarded as stuffy. He was the first royal to do a TV interview.
A dashing young sailor
Philip had joined the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth as a cadet in 1939. He served in warships during World War II, was mentioned in dispatches, took part in the Allied landings in Sicily and was in Tokyo Bay when Japan surrendered in 1945.
He and Elizabeth first met at the wedding of Philip’s cousin in 1934. Five years later, the dashing young sailor attracted the attention of his future wife when the then-princess was 13 and visited Dartmouth with her parents.
“The colour drained from her face and then she blushed. She stared at him and for the rest of the day followed him everywhere. She was in love from the beginning,” the late Earl Mountbatten, Philip’s uncle, recalled later.
They were married at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947, in a ceremony attended by statesmen and
royalty from around the world.