Queen Elizabethis coping with thedeath of her husbandof 73 years,Prince Philip.
Charles Anson, former press secretary to the Queen, tells PEOPLE that the 94-year-old monarch was prepared for Philip’s death after years of health troubles.
Listen below to the episode ofour daily podcast PEOPLE Every Daywhere we are looking back atPrince Philip’s life and legacy.
“She would have thought about this moment several times, and her way would be to remain as steady and as calm as possible,” Anson says. “That comes naturally to her through her temperament and her experience.”
He adds, “In my years of working for her she was always calm, no matter what was going on. But for any human being, this is a very cathartic moment.”
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.Steve Parsons/Press Association via Getty
Anson remembersPrince Philip, who died at age 99, quickly adapted to his role as a support forQueen Elizabeth.
“There were some things they had to deal with together that were difficult, but it was a long marriage with a great deal of happiness,” he says. “He took very seriously his role as a support for the Queen as monarch.”
Anson continues that Philip was able to provide “a great level support from a strong outward-looking man of action that he was. He was a natural of his generation to be at his wife’s side. He very quickly came to terms to watching to be in that role of support as well as running his own life.”
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their honeymoon in 1947.Central Press/Getty
“She has an enormous amount of family support for her and will also take comfort from the enormity of the support from all over the world,” he says.
He also believes her eldest son,Prince Charles, is a part of conversations. The Queen and Charles recently posed for photos released for Easter at Windsor Castle together, and the former staffer says it’s possible thatPrince Charleswill come into her “bubble” at Windsor, where she and Philip have been staying amid the coronavirus pandemic.
News ofPrince Philip’s death at age 99 was announced on Friday.
“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness ThePrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” the palace said in a statement. “His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.”
They continued, “The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
The monarch will refrain from carrying out any royal duties for the next eight days as she enters amourning periodand funeral plans are set in motion. Affairs of state will also be put on pause.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, funeral plans will likely be modified as there are restrictions on crowd movements and numbers, and rules governing the number of people allowed to attend gatherings like funerals.
Prince Philipwould have turned 100 on June 10.
source: people.com
