5 Years Ago, Queen Elizabeth Sat Alone During One of the Saddest Moments in Royal History
The death of Prince Philip marked a huge loss for the royal family, specifically his widow, Queen Elizabeth II. Photos from his funeral showed one of the saddest moments in modern British royal history.
The Duke of Edinburgh was laid to rest after an intimate funeral on April 17, 2021, two days after he died at Windsor Castle at the age of 99. Due to restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, only 30 people attended Philip's funeral at St George's Chapel within Windsor Castle.
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The public mourned the longest-serving British royal consort in history, and hearts broke everywhere when photos released from the service showed Elizabeth sitting alone, wearing all black during the service.
Also in attendance were the couple's four children, now-King Charles, Princess Anne, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and Prince Edward, as well as their grandchildren, Prince William, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise Windsor, and James, Earl of Wessex. In addition, a handful of close friends, like Penny Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, and other relatives, were also included in the service.
Although Elizabeth sat alone due to COVID-19 protocols, the photographs were a profound moment of the monarch's stoicism and private grief as a widow. Elizabeth and Philip were married for 74 years, and she famously called him her "strength and stay."
The royal family opted out of a state funeral due to the pandemic, but the smaller service more closely aligned with what Philip wanted. The Duke was known not to want a lot of fanfare at his funeral, and royal author Anna Pasternak further explained how Elizabeth honored his wish to avoid "a lot of fuss."
"The queen wants to honor him in the way that best reflects his desires, but also touches on the sense of duty that he led in his life," she told Fox News. "It's my understanding he didn't want the frills of a massive funeral even if we didn't have a pandemic."
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Philip was deeply involved in the planning of his funeral, with CNN reporting he selected the music and ensured the ceremony reflected his military affiliations and personal interests.
Elizabeth was able to say a final farewell to her husband during his funeral, although she was not able to be at his bedside when he died. Author Gyles Brandreth shared details about the monarch's whereabouts in his book, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait.
"When he came back [from the bath], he said he felt a little faint and wanted help getting back into bed … The nurse called the Duke's valet and the Queen's page, Paul Whybrew, for help - and he died before the Queen could be called," the author wrote, per Daily Mirror, noting Her Majesty was asleep in a separate room. "The Queen wasn't yet up … And she wasn't called until after a doctor had come and pronounced the Duke dead."
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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 5:08 PM.