Queen comforted by family as they hail amazing grace of grieving monarch

The Queen was comforted by her family and closest friends yesterday as she grieved her husband of 73 years.

The monarch is mourning the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle, where she has been visited by her three sons and is also being supported by her close-knit inner circle.

She was visited yesterday by Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, who tearfully told reporters: “The Queen has been amazing.”

The Queen is known to be very close to the Countess of Wessex, and she and Edward spent an hour at Windsor Castle as the family rallied round after Prince Philip’s death. Sophie was dressed in black and had tears in her eyes as they drove away.

Prince Charles had travelled to Windsor from his Gloucestershire home Highgrove on Friday to comfort his mother in the hours after the Duke died peacefully in his sleep.

The Prince – the monarch and Philip’s eldest son – will also be offering guidance as the Queen finalises the arrangements for the Duke’s funeral and for plans over the coming days.

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The Duke of York, who lives nearby in Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, was also seen driving to see his mother.

Princess Anne has also been supporting the Queen, as have her grandchildren.

The Duke of Cambridge has been in constant contact, and Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, and Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will also offer their support to their grandmother – keeping in touch through telephone and video calls.

The Queen and Philip’s other grandchildren are Lady Louise Windsor, 17, and Viscount Severn, 13, who live just 10 miles away in Bagshot Park, Surrey, and who, pre-pandemic, often spent time with their grandparents.

Support is also being provided by the Queen’s trusted household staff and ladies-in-waiting, who have been part of what was known as HMS Bubble during the pandemic. They include Angela Kelly, the Queen’s senior dresser and her personal assistant, her senior lady-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey.

Some of the ladies-in-waiting have been with the Queen for more than 50 years and act as both friends and loyal assistants, and their discretion and support will be invaluable.