A SAD FAREWELL
Insiders say royal family members are worried about Queen Elizabeth II in the wake of her husband’s death
Insiders reveal that the royal family is concerned about Queen Elizabeth II in the wake of husband Prince Philip’s death.
As word of Prince Philip’s April 9 passing began to spread, tributes to the 99-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II started pouring in from around the globe. World leaders, including President Joe Biden, released statements expressing their condolences and British actors Matt Smith and Tobias Menzies — both of whom portrayed Philip in the Netflix series The Crown — paid homage on Twitter. In the U.K., flags were lowered to half-mast and Westminster Abbey solemnly tolled its bell 99 times to honor every year of the Duke of Edinburgh’s life, while tearful mourners flocked to Buckingham Palace to lay flowers and notes at the gates.
Closer to home, sources tell Us the queen has been beside herself with grief. “Elizabeth knew Philip’s passing would hit her hard, but nothing prepared her for the reality of it actually happening,” says one source. “She’s inconsolable.” A palace insider says family members are worried about how the stoic matriarch — who turns 95 on April 21 — will cope with the absence of her husband of 73 years. “She’s keeping busy but it’s with a heavy heart,” says the insider. “There are legitimate fears from those close to the queen about how she will manage without Philip by her side.”
who was just 21 when she wed the dashing naval officer in 1947. “Philip was Elizabeth’s rock, her tower of strength,” says the first source, noting that they got even closer last spring while staying at Windsor Castle during lockdown. “It was the first time they spent that much time together under the same roof.” But sadly, the source says the queen knew Philip’s days were coming to end — his health had been deteriorating over the years and he was hospitalized for a month in February. “Philip was frail,” says the source. “Elizabeth did whatever she could to spend as much time with him as possible.”
pressing on. “She hasn’t skipped a beat since Philip died,” a third source says, noting that she’s been heavily involved in the April 17 funeral preparations. “She seems to be dealing with her grief by throwing herself into her work.” All three insiders tell Us there’s concern she’s pushing herself too hard as she refuses to step away from her royal duties. “People fear she’s doing too much,” warns the third source, “but no one can tell the queen what to do with her life.” Adds the palace insider: “The queen is about to turn 95, and the worry is that she could be in a state of shock and that the enormity of Philip’s passing hasn’t yet properly sunk in.”
FAMILY FEUD
Loved ones are rallying around her. But tension between Prince William and Prince Harry has been unavoidable. Their ongoing battle reached a boiling point after Harry’s March 7 bombshell television sit-down with wife Meghan Markle. As Us previously reported, in the days after the tell-all, William, 38, called for an emergency summit with Harry, 36, and the conversation quickly devolved into an explosive exchange. A source told Us William later demanded a face-to-face meeting with his brother prior to the upcoming
July 1 memorial for their late mother, Princess Diana — but Philip’s death brought Harry to the U.K. sooner than anyone anticipated.
Some feel the emotional message William posted on Instagram in honor of his late grandfather contained swipes directed at his younger brother. “My grandfather’s century of life was defined by service — to his country and Commonwealth, to his wife and Queen, and to our family,” William wrote, prompting speculation he was taking a jab at Harry’s decision to abandon his royal post and move to California with Meghan, 39, and Archie, 23 months. “William’s statement left no doubt as to where he stands in terms of the obligations that are attached to being a senior royal,” says the palace insider. (Harry released his own statement to Us, calling his grandfather “a man of service” who was “authentically himself.”)
LASTING LEGACY
The hope among family members is that William and Harry can put their differences aside as they all continue to mourn Philip’s passing. According to the palace insider, the patriarch found peace in his final days. “He was with Elizabeth in their sanctuary of Windsor Castle,” the insider says. “He had the chance to read and relax in the home he loved and communicate with his family. That meant everything to him.”
The last thing he would want is for his beloved wife to spend too much time grieving. “Her emotions are very raw right now,” says the insider, “but the queen knows Philip would hate it if she sat around moping for the rest of her years. He would want her to look after herself.” The insider adds she’s been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support. “Elizabeth has found it cathartic to soak up all the wellwishes and tributes to the man she loved unconditionally for countless decades. Seeing how many lives he touched has been nothing short of extraordinary.”