Your emotion’s overwhelmed us, says Edward
THE Earl and Countess of Wessex yesterday joined mourners at Windsor after thanking the public for the ‘tide of emotion that has engulfed us’.
Prince Edward, 58, and his wife Sophie – said to have become a ‘second daughter’ to the Queen – were greeted warmly by crowds as they viewed the sea of flowers left by Windsor Castle’s Cambridge Gate.
Sophie, 57, promised one wellwisher presenting flowers: ‘I will lay them for you.’
And mourners told how she expressed admiration for those enduring the hours- long queue to file past the Queen’s coffin at Westminster Hall.
Whitney Bacon-Evans, 34, said: ‘ She said, “Have you braved the queue down in London? We said we hadn’t, and she said, “You have to be rather stoic.”’
The Queen’s youngest son said ‘ Thank you very much indeed’ to those he met. And in response to their words of condolence, he replied: ‘I think we’ve all lost someone this week.’
Both the Earl and Countess were smiling and occasionally laughing after more than a week of intense emotion.
In a joint statement issued shortly before the walkabout, they said: ‘As a family, we have grown up learning to share our parents, especially our beloved mama, with the Nation, her Realms and the Commonwealth.
‘While it has been lovely to have spent time saying our own farewell privately at Balmoral, it is now time to allow others to be able to say their farewell. We have been overwhelmed by the tide of emotion that has engulfed us and the sheer number of people who have gone out of their way to express their own love, admiration and respect to such a very special and unique person who was always there for us. And now, we are there for her, united in grief. Thank you for your support, you have no idea how much it means.’
Mentioning their children, the couple continued: ‘The Queen’s passing has left an unimaginable void in all our lives.
‘Sophie and I have taken huge pleasure in seeing our James and Louise enjoying the places and activities that their grandparents loved so much. Given that my mama let us spend so much time with her, I think she also rather enjoyed watching those passions blossom.
‘Those times together, those happy memories, have now become massively precious to each and every one of us.’
‘Unimaginable void in our lives’