Queen was 'formidable' at Prince Philip's funeral says Lette

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The Queen said her final goodbye to her husband of 73 years on Saturday, as Britain stood still to mark Prince Philip’s funeral. The monarch’s two week mourning will come to an end on Thursday, April 22. After this date, Her Majesty is expected to return to “business as usual” and concentrate her efforts on plans for next year’s Platinum Jubilee.

Royal insiders said the Queen intends to carry on undertaking engagements when the period of official mourning ends.

She has already carried out a small number of engagements during mourning, including hosting a formal farewell to her retiring Lord Chamberlain, Earl Peel, whose office organises royal ceremonies.

During a private event held at Windsor Castle, the Queen accepted her former royal aide’s wand and office insignia and welcomed his successor, Lord Parker of Minsmere.

In the coming weeks and months the Queen will focus much of her time on her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, according to The Times.

The plans for the landmark occasion, which will take place next June, are said to be “ramping up”.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will take place on February 6, 2022, and the event will be marked with a four-day bank holiday weekend in June.

Celebrations will take place across the country, with a new medal awarded to those in public service, including representatives of the armed forces.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the May bank holiday weekend will be moved to Thursday, June 2 and an additional bank holiday will take place on Friday June 3, giving Britons a four-day weekend.

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The long weekend will feature “an extensive programme of events that mix the best of British ceremonial splendour and pageantry with cutting edge artistic and technological displays”, the Government has said.

Announcing the plans last November, Mr Dowden said: “Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee will be a truly historic moment – and one that deserves a celebration to remember.

“We can all look forward to a special, four-day Jubilee weekend, when we will put on a spectacular, once-in-a-generation show that mixes the best of British ceremonial splendour with cutting edge art and technology.

“It will bring the entire nation and the Commonwealth together in a fitting tribute to Her Majesty’s reign.”

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The celebrations will mark the first time any British monarch has reached 70 years on the throne.

The Queen is already the longest-reigning monarch, gaining that title in 2015.

On Saturday Her Majesty looked sombre as she marked her husband’s passing.

During the ceremony the Queen sat alone, in accordance with Covid restrictions.

Prince Andrew, her second-eldest son, sat closest to the Queen, several metres away.

The other guests of the ceremony, which numbered just 30 due to Covid restrictions, were spread out across the Chapel.

The entire funeral was televised, with millions tuning in to watch the proceedings.

The BBC’s coverage of the funeral was watched by an average of almost seven million people.

The corporation said viewing peaked just after 3pm, as the ceremony started, with 11.3million people tuning in.

The one-hour service was viewed by an average of 11 million people on the BBC, 2.1 million on ITV, and about 450,000 on Sky, the BBC reported, citing figures from broadcasters’ official overnight ratings.

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