The Queen will rely on her strength and support of her family
“Grief is the price we pay for love” was the message the Queen sent to the people of the United States in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Now in her own grief for the love of her life, a husband of 73 years, whom she once called her “constant strength and guide,” just how will Her Majesty and the rest of her family cope?
No doubt the Queen will draw on the inner strength that has been a sustaining force since succeeding her father to the throne at just 25.
I once asked her cousin, Margaret Rhodes, how the Queen dealt with the pressure of what Princess Diana called “the top job.” Her reply was simple. “She has the ability to compartmentalise her life. She can be in the middle of some great personal crisis, but will go for a ride with her groom and discuss how his son could find university accommodation. She will give that just as much thought.” Prince Philip was the last of the tight-knit group, including her mother and sister, whom the Queen spoke to every day and who would offer her total support and good advice. They understood her belief in duty and self-sacrifice and we caught a glimpse of it last week when she carried out a short private engagement to mark the retirement of her Lord Chamberlain, Earl Peel, four days after the death of the duke.
When the Queen succeeded to the throne she made it clear that while she was head of the country, Prince Philip was to be head of the family. He was responsible for deciding how they’d be educated and to be their role model. As The Princess Royal said: “My father has been my teacher, my supporter and my critic but mostly it is his example of a life well lived and service freely given that I most wanted to emulate.” She added that it would be “an honour and a privilege to have been asked to follow in his footsteps”.
Prince William also looked to life after his grandfather when he declared: “I will continue to do what he would have wanted and will support the Queen in the years ahead.” Prince Philip himself helped to prepare the way forward by retiring from royal duties in 2017 at the age of 96. The Prince of Wales has taken his father’s place alongside the Queen at many events while only last month the Duchess of Cornwall joined her mother-in-law for a joint video chat with the Royal Voluntary Service.
The duke’s children and grandchildren have made it clear they will also accompany the Queen on public engagements and to assist her in every way they can. This support network will be very much in evidence on Wednesday when, four days after she paid an emotional goodbye to the man she fell in love with at first sight 81 years ago, the Queen marks her 95th birthday without him.
There will be little celebration but perhaps besides a toast to her, those members of the family who can join her in “HMS Bubble” will surely raise a glass in tribute to her much-loved, much-missed husband.