Peter Phillips, the Queen's grandson, has spoken about the monarch's solitary grief during Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021. The service, held under strict COVID-19 restrictions, saw the Queen sitting alone in St George's Chapel, a poignant image that resonated worldwide.
In a recent interview, Phillips recalled the Queen's comment about the difficulty of grieving in public. He said she wrote to the former Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, after Philip's funeral, expressing how hard it is to mourn someone you deeply love when the world is watching.
The Queen's words were shared by Sentamu on BBC's Sunday with Lauren Kuenssberg. He revealed that her letter ended with the line: 'When you are grieving someone you deeply love, it isn't easy when you're having to do it in public.' This sentiment has been echoed by royal commentators ahead of the Queen's own funeral.
Royal expert Victoria Arbiter tweeted about the Queen's heartbreaking note, reminding the public of the challenges faced by the Royal Family as they grieve on a global stage. The Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey is expected to be the most-watched broadcast in history, with billions tuning in.
Despite the solemnity, the Queen had reportedly planned her funeral to be uplifting. Sentamu noted that she did not want a 'boring' service, but rather one that would warm hearts and lift spirits through glorious choral singing.
