LONDON – British Princess Anne paid tribute to her father, Prince Philip, as the royal family mourned his death ahead of the funeral this weekend.
“My father has been my teacher, my supporter and my critic, but it is above all his example of a life well lived and free service that I most wanted to emulate,” said Anne, Queen Elizabeth II and Philip’s only daughter, in a statement. statement released by Buckingham Palace on Sunday.
“You know it’s going to happen, but you’re never really ready,” she said of her father’s death on Friday.
Along with Anne’s tribute, the royal family shared a black and white photo of the princess and her father laughing at the 2012 London Olympics. The two were known to have a particularly close relationship.
Anne’s statement was released as members of the public continued to leave flowers and messages of condolence outside royal residences in London and Windsor, where Philip died, although palace and government officials alike have urged people not to come in person to pay their respects due to Covid-19 restrictions.
On Monday, The Sun, a British tabloid, reported that Prince Harry had already returned to the United Kingdom. prior to the funeral, but his spokesman declined to comment. Buckingham Palace did not respond to NBC News’ request for comment on the Prince’s arrival.
All eyes will be on Harry, and his reunion and interactions with his family, after an interview he and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, gave last month to media mogul Oprah Winfrey who made a series of allegations about their lives before and after. they parted ways with the royal family.
The interview plunged the British monarchy into its greatest crisis in decades, sparking accusations of racism within the royal family.
Harry, one of Philip’s eight grandchildren, and Meghan moved to the United States after relinquishing royal duties. Harry plans to attend the funeral, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said last weekend. Meghan, who is pregnant with the couple’s second child, has been advised not to travel by her doctor, the palace said.
Former British Prime Minister John Major said the funeral and shared grief was an “ideal opportunity” to mend any rifts between the royal family and Harry.
Harry will be quarantined upon arrival in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines. Current UK regulations require travelers coming from the US to quarantine for 10 days, but they have the option of taking a private Covid-19 test after five days of isolation and can end their quarantine early if the test is negative. They can also leave their place of self-isolation in limited circumstances, the rules say, including on compassionate grounds – such as attending a funeral for a close relative.
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Also on Sunday, Anne’s brother, Prince Andrew, Philip’s third and the queen’s four children, said his father’s death “left an enormous void” in the queen’s life.
Philip, who died just months before his 100th birthday, was the Queen’s consort and support for more than seven decades of marriage.
“We almost lost the nation’s grandfather,” he said.
A ceremonial funeral for Philip will take place in Windsor Castle on Saturday, with no public access due to restrictions due to the corona virus.
