LONDON (CU)_This week, Queen Elizabeth II marked her first public appearance in five months, as she arrived at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday to pay a personal tribute to her husband Prince Philip. Just a day later, the 95-year-old monarch is facing a painful anniversary, as it continues to be an emotional week for Her Majesty.
Despite her mobility issues, the Queen made the journey from Windsor Castle to London to celebrate the life of her late husband the Duke of Edinburgh who died on 9 April, 2021, aged 99. At one point during the memorial, she looked tearful as she listened to the many tributes to her husband. The following day marked another painful event for Her Majesty, as it was the 20th anniversary of the death of her mother, Queen Elizabeth.
The Queen Mother died on 30 March 2002, at the age of 101. Her funeral took place on 9 April that year at Westminster Abbey, after her coffin was taken to Westminster Hall for it to lie in state. On the eve of her mother’s funeral, the Queen gave a televised address to the nation. It was a rare move for Her Majesty, who had made such addresses, apart from her Christmas message, on a limited number of occasions, including the death of Princess Diana, the Gulf War in 1991, on her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“Over the years I have met many people who have had to cope with family loss, sometimes in the most tragic of circumstances. So I count myself fortunate that my mother was blessed with a long and happy life,” The Queen said in her tribute to her mother. “She had an infectious zest for living, and this remained with her until the very end. I know too that her faith was always a great strength to her.”