Prince Philip: Sophie Wessex on 'hole' Duke left in royals' lives

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Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband, died on April 9, aged 99, leaving a vast gap in the Royal Family in both public and private life. One of the couple’s children, Prince Andrew, said his mother had described his father’s death as leaving a “huge void” in her life, after 73 years of marriage.

While the Queen, 95, has been in mourning this summer, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have rallied around her.

The Queen and Prince Philip had four children, 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The Queen and Philip would usually spend summer at their country home in Balmoral, with members of the family coming to visit, and this year has been no different.

The family poured into Balmoral to be with the Queen when Covid restrictions allowed, keeping up beloved royal traditions and providing comfort to the monarch.

Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, visited with their three children – George, 8, Charlotte, 6, and Louis, 3.

Princess Eugenie was also spotted landing in Aberdeen Airport, off to spend some time with the Queen along with her Jack Brooksbank and baby August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, six months.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson are also believed to have spent a few days at Balmoral too, as well as Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

According to a family friend and reported in Vanity Fair, the Queen most looks forward to the last week of August, when all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren get together in her home.

The friend said: “It has become a tradition in recent years that the Bank Holiday weekend is the final family get together before Christmas and everyone is invited.

“In the past it has turned into one big sleepover with lots of the Queen’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her Majesty enjoys it immensely.”

She is even said to continue a sweet tradition of leaving a personalised gift on everyone’s pillow when they arrive.

It’s no surprise, then, that her family are keen to have their children grow up in this warm and welcoming environment.

Speaking previously of his childhood summers at Balmoral, Prince William said: “My childhood was full of holidays having fun in the fresh air and swimming in lochs, family barbeques with my grandfather in command, and yes – the odd midge.”

William and his family are believed to normally spend their time at Balmoral immersed in nature – taking long walks, going fishing and enjoying horse riding and cycling.

Aside from being surrounded by little royals, the Queen has been doing her best to keep busy are Philip’s death.

Buckingham Palace recently released details of her autumn schedule which shows the 95-year-old has no plans of slowing down at all!

She will oversee the opening of new sessions of both the Scottish and Welsh parliaments in the coming weeks, as well as attend a reception for the COP26 Summit in Scotland and host a reception at Windsor Castle to mark the Global Investment Summit.

There is also a nod to the year to come as she launches The Queen’s Baton Relay for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games with the countdown beginning at Buckingham Palace.

The diary also shows that Her Majesty plans to keep family close as she moves forward with a new phase of her life.

In particular, Charles and Camilla – the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall – will be close at hand.

But Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, and his wife Sophie and their children, will also be notable additions, with rumours they are stepping up to fill the gap pleft by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle proving likely.

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