The Queen's eldest grandchild, Peter Phillips, has spoken about the difficulty of not being able to hug his grandmother following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, highlighting the challenges many families faced during the pandemic.
In an interview with the BBC, Phillips, 43, said the image of the Queen sitting alone at Prince Philip's funeral would resonate with many who lost loved ones during COVID-19 restrictions. 'The hardest part is not being able to hug those closest to the person who's been lost,' he said.
Phillips described the Duke as a 'hugely influential figure' and said he is 'sorely missed.' He added that the family has been trying to support the Queen as much as possible, and that lockdown easing has allowed her to spend more time with her great-granddaughters, Savannah and Isla.
Reflecting on his grandfather's legacy, Phillips noted that the Duke would have enjoyed the Gatcombe Park Food and Drink Festival, which Phillips is organising. He said his own passion for the countryside came from his grandfather, who would have been 'very happily ensconced' in the Stroud Brewery tent.
Phillips declined to comment on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan.
