“Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones. This year especially I understand why,” she said in a personal message.

She described Prince Philip as her “beloved” and said she felt his presence over the festive period.

The Queen’s comments about loss come against the background of another year of the pandemic.

‘Final partings’

Speaking beside a photograph of them together, the Queen paid tribute to the late Duke of Edinburgh, her “irrepressible” husband of 73 years.

“That mischievous, inquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him,” she said.

“But life of course consists of final partings as well as first meetings.

“And as much as I and my family miss him, I know he would want us to enjoy Christmas,” said the Queen, remembering his “capacity to squeeze the fun out of any situation”.

The framed photograph in view during the broadcast was taken during their diamond wedding anniversary in 2007 – and the Queen was wearing the same sapphire brooch that appears in the photograph.

She also wore the same brooch, in the form of chrysanthemum, on her honeymoon in 1947.

This week Buckingham Palace announced plans for a service of thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip, to be held at Westminster Abbey in the spring.

A London judge has ruled that in order to protect the “dignity” of the queen and other members of the royal family, the final will and testament of the Duke of Edinburgh will remain a secret for at least 90 years. 

According to multiple reports, Sir Andrew McFarlane, the president of the Family Division of the High Court made the order on Thursday. 

McFarlane ruled that a private process can be held after the 90-year period to decide if the will’s contents should be unsealed, the BBC reports. 

“I have held that, because of the constitutional position of the Sovereign, it is appropriate to have a special practice in relation to royal wills,” McFarlane said in the written judgment. “There is a need to enhance the protection afforded to truly private aspects of the lives of this limited group of individuals in order to maintain the dignity of the Sovereign and close members of her family.”

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McFarlane added that while there “may be public curiosity” about the “private arrangements” of the royal family, “there is no true public interest in the public knowing this wholly private information.”

Elizabeth and Philip were married for 73 years prior to his death. Back in April, the royal family shared a touching 1997 quote from the queen about her husband. 

“He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than we would ever claim, or we shall ever know,” the queen expressed.

The Duke of Edinburgh died ‘peacefully’ at the age of 99 on April 9, Buckingham Palace announced at the time.

On Tuesday, May 4, it was revealed that the cause of death was simply ‘old age,’ according to The Telegraph, which reportedly obtained his death certificate.

The death was certified by Sir Huw Thomas, the head of the royal medical household and the physician to the Queen.

The description ‘old age’ is accepted if the patient is over 80 and if the doctor has personally cared for the patient for a long period, observing a gradual decline.

The report also noted there was no other identifiable disease or injury that contributed to the death, including the heart condition that forced him to undergo a surgical procedure just weeks before he died. 

A funeral was held for Philip on April 17.

Philip is survived by Queen Elizabeth, his wife of 73 years, their daughter Princess Anne and their three sons: next-in-line-to-the-throne Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.

He also leaves behind eight grandchildren, including Prince William and Prince Harry, and nine great-grandchildren, including Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Archie, and Princess Eugenie’s new baby boy, August, whose middle name is Philip.

William and Harry, whose troubled relationship has been well publicised, will be separated by cousin Peter Phillips when they walk behind their grandfather’s coffin on Saturday.

William will move ahead of his brother as the Royal Family arrives in pairs after the coffin is taken into St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Buckingham Palace has also revealed the Queen will sit alone during the ceremony, due to coronavirus precautions.

Details of Philip’s funeral have been released ahead of the service on Saturday.

The scaled-down ceremony will have just 30 guests due to coronavirus restrictions.

It has been confirmed the Queen – like everyone invited to the service – will wear a facemask.

She will sit alone in the choir of St George’s Chapel, with all mourners following Covid-19 guidelines and remaining socially distanced.

The Duke of Edinburgh handpicked many of his funeral arrangements.

A military green, custom Land Rover hearse, designed by the duke, will take his coffin in a slow procession from the state entrance of Windsor Castle through the grounds to the west steps of St George’s Chapel.

Meanwhile, a selection of military medals, picked by the duke himself, will appear on the altar inside the chapel.

Reflecting his life-long association with the Royal Navy, buglers of the Royal Marines will sound Action Stations during the service.

It is played on a warship to signal all hands should go to battle stations and is sometimes featured at funerals of naval men.

A reduced choir of four singers will feature during the service and the guests will follow coronavirus rules and not sing.

Among the guests are the Duchess of Cornwall, all of the duke’s grandchildren and their spouses, the children of the Queen’s sister Princess Margaret, and three of Philip’s German relatives – Bernhard, the Hereditary Prince of Baden; Donatus, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse; and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.

Also invited is a close friend of the duke, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, previously known as Lady Romsey and later Lady Brabourne, who was Philip’s carriage driving partner and one of his closest friends.

Buckingham Palace confirmed that royal men will wear morning coats with their medals, in a break with tradition, and the women will wear day dresses.

Today, full military rehearsals got underway in Surrey, ahead of the service in two days’ time.

About 730 men and women, from all branches of the armed forces, will be at the centre of events inside Windsor Castle.

The rehearsals took place at Pirbright Barracks in Surrey, where a parade ground was marked out to represent the Quadrangle in Windsor Castle.

Units involved in Saturday’s funeral include the Grenadier Guards, Royal Gurkha Rifles, the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and the Band of the Royal Marines.

The Band of the Grenadier Guards will lead the procession, chosen because the duke was Colonel of the Regiment for 42 years.

The Duke of Edinburgh passed away on Friday morning at Windsor Castle. He was the longest-serving royal consort in the history of the British monarchy.

A number of other Royal Family members have associations with The Freemasons.

In a statement, the group said: “The Freemasons are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Prince Philip this morning and we extend our sincere condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family.

“His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh started his life in Freemasonry in 1952, at the age of 31.

“He was initiated into Navy Lodge, No 2612, on 5 December.

“On 6 March 1953, HRH Prince Philip progressed to the Second Degree of Freemasonry, before advancing to the Third Degree on 4 May 1953.

“The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) issued his Grand Lodge Certificate on 7 May that same year and he has remained a member to this day.”

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The Freemasons are a group of fraternal bodies which can trace their origins to associations of stonemasons in the late 14th century.

Philip was born on Corfu in June 1921, the son of Princess Alice of Battenberg and Prince Andrew of Greece.

Due to his parentage, he initially held the title Prince of Greece and Denmark.

Philip joined the Royal Navy in 1939 serving with distinction during the second world war.

He was mentioned in dispatches for his bravery at the Battle of Cape Matapan during the 1941 German invasion of Crete.

In 1947 Philip renounced his Greek and Danish titles before marrying Princess Elizabeth.

Following the death of her father in 1952,

Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II.

According to The Freemasons’ statement Prince Philip was active within the organisation.

They said: “The Duke of Edinburgh was known to drop into meetings at his Freemasons Lodge almost unannounced.

“Navy Lodge has a storied past and an amazing roster of luminaries appear upon its membership roll.

“The Lodge prides itself on being the premier Naval Lodge in the world, with an unparalleled history that includes four monarchs as past members – King Edward VII, King Edward VIII, King George VI and King George II of the Hellenes.”

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, is also a Mason holding the title of Grand Master.

The news of Prince Philip’s death was announced by a statement from Buckingham Palace.

It said: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband.

“The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”

Boris Johnson said the Duke had “inspired the lives of countless young people”.

Following the announcement well-wishers began leaving flowers outside Buckingham Palace in London

This follows the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, which occurred on Friday, 9th April 2021.

Describing the Duke of Edinburgh as Queen Elizabeth’s “devoted companion of the last 73 years”, President Akufo-Addo recounted their visits in 1961 and 1999, adding that “the Ghanaian people have excellent memories of his dynamic and engaging personality.”

The President noted further that Prince Philip’s life “had a positive impact on us in Ghana. Over seven hundred and fifty thousand (750,000) young Ghanaians have benefitted from the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, the great initiative he established in 1956, sixty-five (65) years ago, to unearth talents amongst young people the world over.”

He continued: “It is now known in Ghana as the Head of State Award Scheme, and I had the honour, two days before his death, of cutting the sod for the construction of its own administrative office building, making Ghana one of the few countries in the world, and the second in Africa, to have such an office. His place in Ghanaian history is secure, and we appreciate very much his contact with us.”    

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President Akufo-Addo, in conclusion, stressed that “the British people have lost a redoubtable public servant, and we wish him peaceful rest in the bosom of the Almighty until the Last Day of the Resurrection when we shall all meet again.”

He was born into the turmoil of inter-war Europe and became a naval officer, who was decorated for heroism in World War II.

Philip’s life was dramatic from the outset. The nephew of Greece’s King Constantine I, the Prince of Greece and Denmark was born in 1921 on the dining room table of a villa on the Greek island of Corfu.

He was forced into exile just 18 months later, when the Greek monarchy was overthrown by a military revolt.

His family’s experience shaped Philip’s later desire to modernise the British royal family, in the hope that they would seem more relevant to the Queen’s subjects.

This piece looks back at the couple’s romance following Philip’s death on Friday, April 9, at age 99.

Elizabeth and Philip, who were married for 73 years, welcomed four children together and stayed by each other’s side for many historical and personal events of the last century. 

Their romance started when Elizabeth was just 13 years old and continued until Philip’s death. 

Look back at how it all began and the journey of the most successful royal couple:

First Meetings

Elizabeth first met Philip in 1939 when she was just 13 years old. At the time, he was the Prince of Greece and five years older than her, preparing to start a career in the Royal Navy.

Elizabeth’s cousin, Margaret Rhodes, wrote in her autobiography, “Elizabeth was truly in love from the very beginning.” 

Engagement 

Years later in 1946, Philip asked King George VI for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage. The king made Philip wait to formally announce the news until Elizabeth turned 21 the next April, forcing the couple to keep their engagement a secret for a year. 

On Nov. 20, 1947, Philip and Elizabeth were married in a stunning royal wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey. At the couple’s wedding breakfast, King George VI declared, “Our daughter is marrying the man she loves.” 

Honeymoon

Elizabeth was clearly head over heels for Philip, telling her parents in a letter from her honeymoon that she and the Duke of Edinburgh “behave as though we had belonged to each other for years!” adding, “Philip is an angel.” Philip also gave up smoking for his wife and would go on to give up his post in the Navy when she took the throne. 

A Baby Boy

Almost exactly one year later, Elizabeth and Philip welcomed their first child — Prince Charles.

The young family later took up residence in Malta for several years, where Philip was stationed in the Royal Navy. They welcomed their second child, Princess Anne, in 1950. 

Coronation

On June 2, 1953, Elizabeth officially became Queen Elizabeth II as she ascended to the British throne.

Philip proudly stood by her side in full naval uniform.

While Prince Charles was on hand to witness his mother’s coronation, a then-2-year-old Princess Anne was considered too young to attend the ceremony. 

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Commonwealth Tour

Following Elizabeth’s coronation, the couple ventured off on their own for a six-month tour of the Commonwealth.

They would go on many other royal tours together throughout their marriage. 

Life With Their Kids

Elizabeth and Philip welcomed sons Prince Andrew and Prince Edward in 1960 and 1964, respectively.

Following extended absences in their younger years, the teenage children enjoyed time with their parents as they grew. 

50th Anniversary

For the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary, Prince Philip gave a rare speech about their marriage, saying, “I think the main lesson that we have learnt is that tolerance is the one essential ingredient of any happy marriage. It may not be quite so important when things are going well, but it is absolutely vital when the going gets difficult. You can take it from me that the queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.”

Elizabeth also shared her affection for her husband, saying, “He is someone who doesn’t take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.” 

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Royals in Quarantine 

Prince Philip retired from royal life in 2017, making the occasional public appearance in the time since. But following the coronavirus pandemic, Philip and Elizabeth spent much of their quarantine together at Windsor Castle. 

“[Philip] is in self-isolation with the queen, which I’m told they’re surrounded by a very small team of staff,” royal expert Katie Nicholl previously told ET. “Just a handful of staff between the two of them, which must be quite enjoyable for them not to have the formality of so many courtiers, which is what the queen is used to when she’s at Buckingham Palace.”

Philip and Elizabeth’s grandson, Prince Harry, previously confirmed that the two royals regularly did Zoom calls with members of the royal family. 

“Both my grandparents [use Zoom],” Harry said on The Late Late Show With James Corden. “We’ve Zoomed them a few times. They’ve seen Archie running around. My grandfather, instead of pressing ‘Leave Meeting,’ he just goes [mimes abruptly closing the computer],” Harry added, laughing. 

Enduring the Test of Time

After more than seven decades of marriage, four children, their fair share of personal drama and scandal, and plenty of milestones, Elizabeth and Philip were clearly built to last. Lord Charteris, the private secretary of the queen, is quoted as saying, “Prince Philip is the only man in the world who treats the queen simply as another human being. He’s the only man who can. Strange as it may seem, I believe she values that.” 

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was admitted to the private King Edward VII’s Hospital on February 16 after he felt unwell and was given treatment for an unspecified, but not COVID-19-related, illness.

He was transferred briefly at the start of this month to a specialist cardiac centre at another London hospital, where he underwent a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition.

A Reuters witness said the duke left the King Edward hospital shortly after 10.30 GMT on Tuesday. He was taken to a waiting car in a wheelchair and returned to Windsor Castle, the royal residence west of London, waving to those outside as he arrived.

“His Royal Highness wishes to thank all the medical staff who looked after him at both King Edward VII’s Hospital and St Bartholomew’s Hospital, and everyone who has sent their good wishes,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

A royal source said the prince was in good spirits.

Since being admitted, the duke has been publicly visited only by his eldest son Prince Charles, the heir to the throne.

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The queen, 94, has remained at Windsor Castle where the couple have been staying during the coronavirus pandemic, and has continued to carry out her official duties by video.

Both she and Philip have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose.

The Greek-born prince, who turns 100 in June, has required hospital treatment a number of times in the last decade for a recurrence of a bladder infection.

At Christmas in 2011 he had an operation to clear a blocked artery in his heart after being rushed to hospital with chest pains.

During his latest hospital stay, the royal family has been embroiled in a crisis after his and Elizabeth’s grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan gave a televised interview to Oprah Winfrey.

During the interview, Meghan said a member of the royal family had made a racist comment while Harry criticised his relatives for failing to stand up to what he regarded as abusive press treatment of his wife.

Harry also said his father, Charles, had let him down and that he had felt trapped in his royal life.

The comments led Buckingham Palace to issue a statement on the queen’s behalf saying she was saddened by what they had said, while Harry’s elder brother William told reporters: “We’re very much not a racist family”.

Philip, who has been at the queen’s side throughout her 69-year reign, has always been considered the patriarch of the royal family privately, while always deferring to his wife in public and over state affairs.

However, since he retired from public life in 2017 he has taken more of a backseat role, with Prince Charles and Prince William, both future kings, taking on greater responsibilities.

The decision was made by Prince Philip himself and is supported by the Queen, a palace spokesman said.

He will attend previously scheduled engagements between now and August but will not accept new invitations.

The prince – who turns 96 next month – is patron, president or a member of more than 780 organisations and will continue to be associated with them.

However, he “will no longer play an active role by attending engagements”, Buckingham Palace said.