How the Queen will spend today remembering Prince Philip
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Today marks the very sad one year anniversary of Prince Philip's death, at the age of 99 – one that will no doubt be very challenging for the Queen, to whom he was married for 73 years. A source close to the royal family, Grant Harold, who worked as Prince Charles' butler from 2004 up until 2011, has said he believes Her Majesty will be spending the day in a poignant way in the Duke's honour.
"I've no doubt she will spend the day(s) reflecting," Grant said during a new interview with OK!, where he added that although 2022 is the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year and marks her seven decades on the throne, there's as much sorrow as there is joy during this contemplative time.
"For her, losing Prince Philip and going into the 70 years on the throne and all the anniversaries – even though the Jubilee is a big party – I think for her it's going to be very reflective because she has lost the closest people to her," he said, pointing out other losses such as the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, and their mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.
As for how the Queen will be spending today, as well as taking time to reflect, Grant says he believes Her Majesty will seek comfort from the church and pay the Duke of Edinburgh's final resting place a visit (St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle).
"She's very religious so I think she would put her thought and time [in], if she can, and go to church on those occasions because [it's] St George's Chapel within Windsor and it's not too far," he shared. "Don't forget there's also a private Chapel within Windsor as well, within the private apartments."
The former royal staffer also points out how the Queen has referenced the past, and the promise she made to always serve the people as monarch until the day she died, in several speeches recently – again suggesting that she's spending time looking back on her life as a whole.
Last week saw a grand memorial service take place in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh, attended by Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince George and Princess Charlotte and, somewhat controversially, Prince Andrew.
The moving ceremony came as quite a contrast to Prince Philip's funeral last spring, which due to the coronavirus pandemic, had an incredibly pared back guest list.
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