Late Queen’s heartbreaking six words after Prince Philip’s death

Following the death of Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II experienced profound grief, which she expressed poignantly in a mere six words. The loss of her husband, with whom she had shared nearly 74 years of marriage, left her deeply heartbroken. Known for describing Prince Philip as her unwavering “strength and stay,” the Queen’s emotional response to his passing was both touching and revealing.

Prince Philip, though always respectful of his wife’s public role as the head of state, was known for his candid opinions in private. The Queen herself noted this dynamic during a speech marking their 50th wedding anniversary. Despite the public façade of royal duty, their private interactions were marked by Philip’s straightforward manner. After his death in April 2021, the Queen’s reaction, though private, was encapsulated in a profoundly simple but sorrowful statement: “Life goes on.”

This reaction was brought to light by Gyles Brandreth, a former MP and royal author who was well-acquainted with both Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth. In his book, “Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait,” Brandreth delves into the late Queen’s response to her husband’s death and contrasts it with the response of her famous ancestor, Queen Victoria. Brandreth highlights that while Queen Victoria withdrew from the world following Prince Albert’s death, Queen Elizabeth II faced her grief head-on. She believed it was her Christian duty to continue fulfilling her royal responsibilities, finding solace in the routine of her duties. As she put it, “There is no magic formula that will transform sorrow into happiness, but being busy helps.”

In the wake of Prince Philip’s passing, Queen Elizabeth continued to perform her royal duties with dedication, even amid the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This included a scaled-back version of the Trooping the Colour, which was adjusted to adhere to social distancing guidelines. The Queen’s commitment to her public role was a testament to her resilience and sense of duty during a time of personal sorrow.

Brandreth also shed light on a heartbreaking detail regarding Prince Philip’s final moments. Contrary to some reports, Brandreth expressed doubt that the Queen was by Philip’s side at the time of his death. He suggested that the Queen was not present when her husband passed away but was notified afterward by a doctor.

The Queen’s ability to maintain her public duties while privately mourning her husband underscores the complexity of her role and the depth of her personal loss. Her response, captured in those six words, reflects both the profound grief of losing a lifelong partner and the determination to persevere in her responsibilities.