LONDON (AP) – Prince Philip’s death has left a ‘huge void’ in Queen Elizabeth II’s life, their son Prince Andrew said Sunday, as benefactors continued to leave floral tributes outside the gates of royal residences in memory of the monarch. man.
Andrew, the third of the couple’s four children, attended church at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor, along with other members of the royal family, two days after 99-year-old Philip died in Windsor Castle.
Andrew said his mother “described it as leaving a huge void in her life.”
“We almost lost the nation’s grandfather,” he said. “And I feel sorry for and support my mom, who probably feels it more than anyone else.”
His younger brother, Prince Edward, called Philip’s death a “terrible shock,” but said the 94-year-old queen “carried” it. Edward’s wife, Sophie, said the monarch “thought of others” rather than himself.
Palace and government officials alike urged people not to come in person to pay their respects due to coronavirus restrictions on social mixing. But hundreds of people brought notes, cards and flowers to the gates of Windsor Castle, 20 miles west of London, on Sunday, while others paid tribute outside Buckingham Palace in the British capital.
Penny Farthing Club founder Neil Loughton rode his antique bicycle to the palace gates to pay his respects.
“I think there are some things that are just important and need to be done. Ninety-nine years of life and more than 70 years of service deserve some recognition, ”he said.
Philip’s funeral will be held on April 17th at Windsor Castle. Under current coronavirus restrictions, only 30 people will be able to attend in England, but the slimmed-down service is scheduled to be broadcast live on television.
Philip’s grandson Prince Harry, who stepped down from royal duties last year and now lives in California, will attend the service along with other members of the royal family, palace officials said. His wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is pregnant and has been advised by her doctor not to make the trip.
Members of the royal family said they appreciated the outpouring of tribute and good wishes from people from all over Britain and around the world to Philip, who was the queen’s consort and support for more than seven decades of marriage. stated.
Prince Edward, 57, said the “extraordinary” tributes meant a lot to the royal family.
“It just goes to show that he might have been our father, grandfather, father-in-law, but he meant so much to so many other people,” he said.
Andrew, 61, who has been largely kept out of the public eye since 2019 amid controversy over his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, also praised the “absolutely astonishing tribute.”