A service to remember: Royal expert Ian Lloyd on the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial

Royal ceremonies have often had an awkward elephant in the room. For years it was the Duke of Windsor making an occasional visit to the country whose throne he had abandoned in 1936. These days it is more likely to be Fergie, Duchess of York at a wedding.

Last Tuesday’s thanksgiving service for the life of the Duke of Edinburgh was unusual in having two of them, or perhaps we should say just one, as Prince Harry was five thousand miles away in sunny California. The prince wasn’t even represented at the honouring of the grandpa that taught him so much and was often by his side during the turbulent years of his youth. He was however in the thoughts of many in the Westminster Abbey. “People were talking about it. Certainly around where I was,” Philip’s protection officer Richard Griffin later revealed. “People were saying he should have been here.”

He wasn’t the only member of the congregation to voice their criticism. Joe Little, Managing Editor of Majesty Magazine, told The Sunday Post: “The Duke of Sussex’s absence on Tuesday was inexcusable. He should have been there with his frail 95-year-old grandmother, who he has not seen in person since last summer.”

Harry is of course suing the Home Office over a decision to remove his security when he is Britain. Presumably he thought if he turned up without security or with American guards at the Abbey, the government could turn round and tell him he seems to be managing well without UK royalty protection officers. It was a hot topic among the guests. “All this nonsense about how he couldn’t get protection,” said Richard Griffin. “As far as I’m concerned that was a pathetic excuse.” He went on to point out that if Harry was “worried about security, he could’ve stuck with his brother and father who have got wonderful security and he would have been more than safe.”

Harry is due to arrive in Europe in two weeks’ time when he opens the Invictus Games in the Netherlands. He will also be present for the closing ceremony on April 22, the day after the Queen’s 96th birthday. It has yet to be announced if he intends to visit his grandmother on her special day or if he will introduce her to her great granddaughter, Lilibet, who is 10 months old and is yet to meet the Queen or Prince Charles. Then there is the question of whether the Sussexes will attend the Jubilee Celebrations in early June, or will they snub another thanksgiving service on the grounds of security.

The other elephant in the room was the Duke of York, who surprised even his royal relations by escorting the Queen into Westminster Abbey at last week’s event. This came just over a month after he paid millions in an out-of-court settlement to bring to an end a damaging civil sexual assault case. It is unclear how he came to play such a prominent role at his father’s thanksgiving service. Some palace insiders claim that Andrew muscled in and persuaded his mother that he should accompany her. It is more likely the Queen was seeking to pour oil on troubled waters and rehabilitate her son, knowing full well he won’t receive such a public backing when Charles and William occupy the throne. It isn’t the first time she has publicly endorsed members of the royal family. In a statement marking the 70th anniversary of her accession in February she made clear her support for Camilla to become the next Queen Consort. Then, back in 2015, in a speech at that year’s Commonwealth Conference she told delegates it was her wish that Charles should succeed her as Head of the Commonwealth. Such is the respect for the monarch that the prince was duly voted in as the next head, and it would is now inevitable Camilla will take on the title last held by the Queen Mother from 1936. As with Harry, we will have to wait for the Jubilee celebrations to see if Andrew takes part in any of the events should his mother, once again, override the concerns of Charles, William and royal aides who very much feel his presence could detract from the proceedings at any royal event.

On a more positive note, it was encouraging to see the Queen present at a major state occasion, having been forced to cancel her traditional appearances at the Cenotaph last November and at the Commonwealth Day Service in the Abbey just a month ago. It bodes well for the Jubilee events, which include a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral, Trooping the Colour, a street party in The Mall and a possible royal runner in the Epsom Derby. It is unlikely she will play a full part in proceedings but she will be determined to attend at least part of the programme of events.

Two people who will be there in June will be her great-grandchildren George and Charlotte. They were well-behaved participants at the thanksgiving service and were led across to greet the clergy by their parents. William and Kate were clearly preparing them for their destiny and the Queen would have been proud to see that, when it comes to public duty, at least this grandson and his wife are happy to follow her shining example.

Ian Lloyd is the author of The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Elizabeth II, published on April 21