No 10 apologises to Queen over parties on eve of Philip funeral
DOWNING Street has apologised to the Queen after it emerged that two leaving parties took place in No 10 on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said it was ‘deeply regrettable’ that the two events had been held on April 16 last year.
At the time, the country was in a period of national mourning and lockdown restrictions banned any socialising indoors between households. Just hours after the gatherings ended, the Queen was forced to sit alone in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, at the funeral of Prince Philip.
Coronavirus regulations meant only 30 people were allowed to attend, with mourners spaced two metres from one another.
The parties in No10 were held to mark the departures of James Slack, the Prime Minister’s former director of communications, and one of the PM’s photographers.
The events will now form part of the inquiry being held by senior civil servant Sue Gray into allegations of lockdown breaches in Whitehall. Last night, Downing Street was facing claims that regular drinking sessions were held throughout the pandemic with reports that staff held ‘wine-time Fridays’. The weekly event was allegedly scheduled into the electronic calendars of around 50 staff in No 10. Referring to the April leaving parties, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said yesterday: ‘It is deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning and No 10 has apologised to the Palace. You heard from the PM this week, he’s recognised No10 should be held to the highest standards, and take responsibility for things we did not get right.’
The spokesman added that Mr Johnson was at his country residence Chequers on April 16 and had not been invited to the events.
It is understood the apology was delivered by telephone.
Asked why No 10 had apologised rather than Mr Johnson himself, his spokesman said: ‘Well, again, the Prime Minister said earlier misjudgments have been made and it’s right people apologise, as the PM did earlier this week.’
In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Slack said: ‘I wish to apologise unreservedly for the anger and hurt caused. This event should not have happened at the time that it did. I am deeply sorry, and take full responsibility.’
After leaving his post last year, Mr Slack, a former political editor of the Daily Mail, was appointed deputy editorin-chief of The Sun.
Both leaving events reportedly started separately and later merged. The Daily Telegraph reported accounts from witnesses who said there was boozing and dancing – with one person sent to a shop with a suitcase to buy wine.
One attendee allegedly broke a swing belonging to Wilfred, the Prime Minister’s son, after trying to sit on it.
Guidance at the time forbade socialising indoors except with household members or a support bubble. The latest revelations bring the total number of alleged gatherings across Whitehall during restrictions to 14.
‘Wine-time Fridays’