For more than 70 years, Prince Philip was right there. He was a few steps behind and perhaps sometimes a little out of line, but always there supporting his wife and Queen.
Key points:
- The Queen's closest family and aides rally around her in the so-called 'HMS Bubble'
- Her page, ladies-in-waiting, personal dresser and horse groom are also expected to help guide her through this time of loss
- The younger members of the royal family are likely to take on bigger roles, accompanying the monarch on official occasions
Without him, the Queen says there is a "huge void" in her life and it's a place in her inner circle that cannot be easily filled.
Prince Philip was the only man in the world who treated the Queen "simply as another human being", according to the monarch's former private secretary Lord Charteris.
The duke's advice to the Queen was candid and sometimes frank — the kind of support that can only come from the person who knows you best.
Royal editor for the UK's Hello! magazine, Emily Nash, said it was the most unique of partnerships.
"He was able to speak frankly, directly and in a way I think the Queen really appreciated," she said.
"He would go through her speeches with her before she gave them and I think she really relished the opportunity to hear someone tell her frankly their opinions, when so many of those she comes into contact with are obviously full of deference."
For someone so watched and so revered, the Queen will surely miss that intimacy.
And while Prince Philip's death was still a great personal shock to the royal family, plans for what would happen after it had been in place for decades.
What could not have been prepared for years ago, was the duke dying during a pandemic and the Queen mourning from the so-called "HMS Bubble".
'HMS Bubble'
The Queen's closest and most-trusted aides and advisors have been living inside the royal bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It was nicknamed 'HMS Bubble', which the duke is said to have found very amusing because the Cockney rhyming slang for 'Greek' is 'Bubble and Squeak', so there was an element of entertainment in that for him," Ms Nash said.
What the bubble means now, is that the Queen's support system during this period of mourning is quite a closed operation.
"She does have her bubble of aides who have supported her throughout the past year in the reduced staff at Windsor," Ms Nash said.
"People like her personal dresser and close advisor Angela Kelly, who she is very close to.
"These are people who spend time with her day in, day out and who will be rallying around her as best they can."
Included in that list is her personal page Paul Whybrew, who made an appearance in the Queen's James Bond sketch for the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony.
LoadingThe head of the Queen's household, her private secretary and her horse groom have also all been in the bubble.
"These are the people she's been spending the past year with in close quarters and who will remain key supports for her at this time, as well as her family of course," Ms Nash said.
Professor of the history of monarchy at the Royal Holloway University London, Anna Whitelock, said, while it's difficult for the Queen to have friends, longtime attendants such as her ladies-in-waiting would provide a level of support.
"She has familiars — people who know her well, people who are confidantes of sorts," she said.
"Their presence is a support, but I don’t think they’ll provide the deep emotional support."
Team Windsor
Of course, the royal family has been rallying around their matriarch, with all four of the Queen's children visiting the Windsor estate over the weekend.
"We, the family, the ones that are close, are rallying round to make sure that we're there to support her," Prince Andrew said, in his first public comments since stepping back from royal duties.
While the royal family will be at the Queen's side, some members are seen as more reliable than others.
Prince Edward's wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, is considered one of the most dependable people in the family and has been a "fantastic support" for the Queen.
"They do have a very warm, affectionate relationship and of course the Wessexes live at Bagshot Park, which is not very far from Windsor at all and they've spent a great deal of time with the Queen," Ms Nash said.
AFP: Steve Parsons
)Professor Whitelock said the royal children "all had a different role to play".
"Anne is very practical and she’s obviously her mother’s only daughter," she said.
"Charles is a very regular companion to her and will always be a great source of support.
"But ultimately of course, they’re also her children and one has a different relationship with one’s children as one does with one’s partner, so I think even though they will be there supporting her, helping her, advising her, it’s very different than having that significant other."
Carrying on
The Windsor children will all be expected to step up and support the Queen, both on a personal level but also in terms of royal duties.
When Prince Philip retired from his formal duties in 2017, there was a restructuring of official tasks for the royal family members.
The Queen continued to attend official engagements, but she often did so solo.
But, as royal commentator Jennie Bond writes, the Queen "prefers company" and we are now likely to see younger royals by her side on official occasions more often.
"Sophie Wessex — I think we'll see a lot more of her supporting the Queen at engagements in coming months," Ms Nash said.
AP
)While royal watchers expect the incredibly stoic Queen to continue with her duties after her period of mourning, they predict the royal children will have increasing responsibilities.
"I think we’re going to see more of the Queen being supported by members of the family and that’s as much about her age as it is now with the loss of Philip," Professor Whitelock said.
When it comes to public engagements, the so-called "Team Windsor" has a few of its younger members on the bench.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle surrendered their royal titles and stepped back from royal duties early last year.
Prince Andrew is also out of action after excusing himself from public duties "for the foreseeable future" due to his association with disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Professor Whitelock said the Queen "will do as she’s always done".
"Which is to keep calm, carry on and be supported by her sense of duty and service even now she doesn’t have Philip with her," she said.
"How she fares behind closed doors remains to be seen."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiX2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTA0LTE0L3ByaW5jZS1waGlsaXAtZGVhdGgtd2hvLXRoZS1xdWVlbi10dXJucy10by1ub3cvMTAwMDYxMTQ00gEoaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEwMDA2MTE0NA?oc=5
2021-04-13 17:48:51Z
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