Queen back to work after Prince Philip’s funeral, no longer donning black as she hosts dignitaries virtually
The Queen's unwavering spirit was on full display Tuesday, April 27, as she resumed her duties with a bright smile in her first photographed royal engagement since the passing of her beloved husband, Prince Philip.
The 95-year-old monarch was seen in a video link from Windsor Castle, no longer draped in a black mourning outfit as she welcomed dignitaries to Buckingham Palace. Donning a pale blue floral dress with pearls, the Queen held a virtual audience to officially receive Her Excellency Ivita Burmistre, the Ambassador of Latvia, at Buckingham Palace. The virtual meeting also saw her receive Her Excellency Sara Affoue Amani, the Ambassador of Cote d'Ivoire, the Daily Mail reported.
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This comes 10 days after the funeral of Prince Philip, who died peacefully at the age of 99 on April 9. And while it is the first time the Queen is seen in photos engaging in royal duties since the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral, it is not the first time she has resumed work since his demise.
Just four days after the death of her husband, the Queen attended a retirement ceremony for the former Lord Chamberlain Earl Peel. In her second official engagement since Prince Philip's passing, she welcomed the new Lord Chamberlain, former MI5 head Baron Parker, to his post.
In her most recent appearance today, however, the Queen was notably no longer in a black mourning outfit. Instead, she was dressed in a pale blue floral dress featuring large purple, white, and yellow flowers. Among the accessories she wore were a three-string pearl necklace and a diamond brooch.
The monarchy and its households completed two weeks of royal mourning in memory of the Queen's consort on Friday, April 23, following which the Windsors were allowed to resume work full time.
The Queen turned 95 just 12 days after her husband's demise, and she used her birthday to thank well-wishers for the outpouring of support. She noted that she and her family underwent a "period of great sadness," but found comfort in the words of praise for the duke. "We have been deeply touched and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life," she added.
A former BBC royal correspondent recently claimed the Queen was preparing to take a step back from royal engagements for a future without Prince Philip by her side. Meanwhile, her children are expected to take on more responsibility within the firm as time passes.
"Fundamentally, the Queen will fade away gracefully," Peter Hunt, who worked at the BBC until 2017, told the New York Times. "Covid has helped in the sense that it has accelerated what any sensible 95-year-old woman would want to do, which is not stand on your feet all day long."
Prince Charles will probably take on more duties and is already slated to join his mother in the state opening on parliament next month. It's worth noting that the monarch has overseen every one of the constitutional set pieces since she ascended the throne in 1952, except the years 1959 and 1963, when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward respectively, the Daily Mail reported.