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Prince Philip's funeral: Heartbroken Piers Morgan says Queen sitting alone during service was 'just devastating'

'The cruel separation and loneliness suffered by so many in this pandemic, now endured by the world’s most famous woman as she says goodbye to her husband of 73 years. Just devastating,' Morgan wrote in a tweet

The picture of Queen Elizabeth sitting alone in St George's chapel, mourning the death of her husband of 73 years, whom she described as her "strength and stay," was heartbreaking to the entire world. Among those who publicly expressed their grief was the former British broadcaster, Piers Morgan. The monarch was forced to sit alone during the service was due to the restrictions of the pandemic. 

"Has there ever been a more heart-breaking picture of The Queen? The cruel separation and loneliness suffered by so many in this pandemic, now endured by the world’s most famous woman as she says goodbye to her husband of 73 years. Just devastating," Morgan wrote in a tweet, posting a picture of the queen sitting far away from the other attendees at the funeral. 

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The somber occasion of the funeral seemed to bring people together. The royal brothers Harry and William were seen catching up with each other in a brief interaction following the ceremony. Then there was Dan Walker, the broadcasting rival of Morgan who has had several public disagreements with former 'Good Morning Britain' host, sharing the same picture as his nemesis on Twitter with the caption, "This is such a poignant photograph. A reminder of how this pandemic has changed all our lives. The Queen sits alone, with a mask on, as she says farewell to her ‘strength & stay’ for so much of her life."

The Queen was 'setting example'

The rest of the world also chimed in. "This is the saddest," one of them wrote while another said, "When Buckingham Palace was bombed during WW2 the queen mum famously remarked 'I am glad we have been bombed, now I can look the east end in the eye' - I think that in many ways this photo sums up the modern day equivalent." A third noted, "The reason seeing the Queen sat all alone is so upsetting is that it’s a reminder of the grief-filled year so many of us have had. And that all too often we have had to go through it in unnatural & very isolated ways. She is a symbol of that for us all".

The next remarked, "No matter what anybody feels about the Royals, a lady of the Queen's age shouldn't have to sit alone throughout the funeral of her husband of 73 years. It's sad that she's done that and if it's the Queen's way of setting example to us all it's a very powerful example to set." One more noted, "I’ve never seen her look so tiny, utterly heartbroken but so dignified. So proud to be British today, beautiful, respectful and dignified service." Another person, moved by the sight of the Queen mourning alone wrote, "No matter what your opinions are on the royals this picture is heartbreaking. Here in this moment she isn’t the queen of England .. she’s a lonely woman who’s lost the love of her life devastating."

A commenter tweeted, "Not only did I see my Queen today, I saw a lonely little old lady who was saying goodbye to the only love of her life." A person reacted with "Such a beautiful and poignant service but so heartbreaking sad for the queen. She showed such dignity but looked so lonely. God bless our Queen and royal family."

Why did the Queen sit alone?

It was earlier reported that the Queen may have to sit apart from family members during her husband's funeral, following strict Covid-19 guidelines. The current rule state that anyone attending a funeral must stay at least two meters apart from those not belonging to their household, except when in a "support bubble". The Queen, however, does not qualify for the support bubble, since she does not live on her own, and is, instead, supported by a team of royal aides known as the 'HMS Bubble'.

As other members of the royal family were living in other royal residences, according to the report, it meant that the Queen was most likely to sit at least two meters away from those attending the funeral, according to the Telegraph. Royal sources said in the paper's report that the Queen was slated to be alone at the funeral service until a member of the Windsor bubble decided to join her.

Looking considerably grief-stricken, the Queen bowed her head in tribute as she accompanied her beloved husband's casket on its final journey. The Queen arrived at the funeral as the national anthem played and her royal Bentley stopped nearby her late husband's casket, where she paused for a moment of reflection as cannons fired and bells tolled in his remembrance. She was subsequently driven to St George's Chapel in the company of a lady-in-waiting. She later sat alone at the front of the church, bowing her head in respect during the national minute's silence. In a rare sight, she was seen wiping away tears as she mourned alone during the service.