Queen Elizabeth has made her first public appearance in over five months as she attended St. George’s Chapel for a memorial service marking one year since Prince Philip’s death.
Her Majesty was joined by other members of the royal family and other dignitaries for the emotional service in honour of the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Queen looked lonely and solemn as she entered the church to pay her respects, as she sat alone to reflect on her life with her husband.
Prince Philip, who was by his wife’s side for more than seven decades, passed away at their Windsor Castle home in April 2021, just two months shy of his 100th birthday.
Due to strict coronavirus rules, only 30 people were able to be in attendance at the service, meaning the Queen said poignantly alone as her husband of 73 years was lowered into the Royal Vault of St George’s Chapel of the castle.
Another memorial service was held at London’s Westminster Abbey and was a much larger event, with royals Prince Charles and Camilla, and Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children all in attendance.
The event also marked the first public appearance of Prince Andrew since settling his lawsuit over sexual assault allegations, as Andrew accompanied the Queen into the church.
“A man of rare ability and distinction, rightly honoured and celebrated, he ever directed our attention away from himself,” David Hoyle, the Dean of Westminster, said of Philip.
The Dean went on to say it was a “long life lived fully”.
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This article first appeared on OverSixty.