The death, two months after his 100th birthday, of Prince Felipe left a “great void” in the life of the one who had been married for 73 years, Queen Elizabeth II, according to his son Andrés after a memorial mass this Sunday.
Known for his strong character, candor and devotion to the Queen and the country, Prince Philip died “peacefully” Friday at Windsor Castle, west London.
The Queen “describes it as a great void in her life,” Andres said at the end of a mass in Windsor to questions from British television.
“We’ve almost lost the country’s grandfather and I feel sorry for and support my mother, who probably feels it more than anyone else,” added the couple’s third child.
Andrés, 61, often considered Elizabeth II’s preferred son, left the royal family in 2019 due to his friendship with late American financier Jeffrey Epstein, accused of sexually exploiting minors.
His brother Prince Edward, 57, in turn described “a terrible shock”. “We’re still trying to assimilate it, it’s very, very sad,” he added.
The day before, the heir to the crown, Carlos (72 years old), had assured that both he and the royal family are “greatly” missing their father.
At a memorial mass at Canterbury Cathedral in South East England this Sunday, Archbishop Justin Welby urged prayers for the royal family.
“For the royal family, like anyone else, there are no words that can go into the depths of the pain caused by grief,” Welby said.
On the other hand, Prince Henry’s return to London on the occasion of his grandfather’s funeral encourages the hope of family reconciliation after he moved to the United States and decided to separate from the royal family.
The funeral will take place Saturday in Windsor Castle, West London and will be confined to the family circle due to the pandemic. Only 30 people can participate, including Felipe and Isabel II’s four children (Carlos, Ana, Andrés and Eduardo), their partners and their children.
Lack of support
Enrique will travel from California, but his wife, Meghan (39 years old) will not accompany him as his doctor advised him not to do so because she is pregnant with their second child, Buckingham Palace said.
It will be the grand return of Carlos and Diana’s youngest son since the controversial interview he gave with his wife to American presenter Oprah Winfrey on March 7, in which he accused ‘the firm’ – as the monarchy is called – of not after supporting his wife, who for her part said she even had suicidal thoughts.
Both assured that a member of the royal family had acted racially when she wondered what skin color their son would be, but off camera stated that it was neither the queen nor her husband.
Enrique, 36, also stated that he was “really disappointed” by his father’s lack of support and revealed that he had become estranged from his brother Guillermo.
“Shared pain”
Since his retirement from the Royal Family over a year ago, Prince Henry has not set foot in the UK.
On Saturday, Enrique and Guillermo will follow their grandfather’s coffin on foot to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where the ceremony will take place, which will recall the statues of the two brothers, accompanied by their father, who is behind his mother’s walk, Diana, after her death, in 1997.
“They are both fully aware of their common history and will no doubt remember the impact their grandfather has had on their lives. On an occasion like this, when siblings are grieving, there is hope that they will take a new turn. . ” source of the monarchy told The Mirror tabloid.
Enrique will see his father again, with whom the relationship has cooled. As he said in the interview, Prince Charles didn’t even answer the phone for a while.
But that tensions are lowered “will depend on Enrique,” said Tom Bower, author of a biography of Prince Carlos, in The Sun newspaper this Sunday. “If you arrive with a warrior attitude, you can be sure that you are right […] he could seal a final divorce with his family. “