Queen hails public

THE QUEEN has spoken out for the first time since the death of the Duke of Edinburgh to thank wellwishers across the globe for the tributes paid to her husband which have “deeply touched” the royal family.

In a message released on her 95th birthday yesterday, the Queen said she and her family were in a “period of great sadness” but were comforted by words of praise for Philip who died peacefully at Windsor aged 99 on April 9.