Queen Elizabeth's Lady-In-Waiting Reveals The Touching Words The Royal Shared After Prince Philip's Death
Although Queen Elizabeth has proven her exceptional strength to overcome difficult challenges throughout her reign as the longest-ruling monarch in British history, the past year hasn't been an easy one for her. In April 2021, Buckingham Palace announced the death of the queen's longtime husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who reportedly died "peacefully" at Windsor Castle. According to the head of the royal medical household, Sir Huw Thomas, the queen's husband and royal partner of 73 years died of "old age," per The Telegraph. Because of COVID-19 protocols, Philip's ceremonial funeral was cut short of invites, which left the already-mourning queen with "some difficult decision" making at the time, People reported.
The two had quite the iconic love story — so upon Philip's death, the queen's world was rocked. But, despite such, Lady Pamela Hicks, one of Elizabeth's bridesmaids and former lady-in-waiting, is now clarifying the queen's status following her husband's death. In fact, Hicks said the queen sent her a rather touching message not too long after Prince Philip's death.
Queen Elizabeth's words were 'moving' for Lady Pamela Hicks
Queen Elizabeth famously stated her late husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has always been her "strength and stay" amid the chaos of her constant and demanding career (via the Daily Mail). Upon his passing on April 9, 2021, those close to the royal family expressed their condolences, like the queen's former lady-in-waiting, Lady Pamela Hicks. People talked to Pamela and her daughter, India, who said her mom sent a letter to Elizabeth after Philip died. Because Pamela is the cousin of Philip, the queen sweetly sent back a "moving" message stating, "Of course, you have known him longer than I." Pamela added that the queen is "doing fine" and "wrote and thanked me for her Christmas present."
She also recalled when Elizabeth transitioned from princess to queen following the death of the queen's father, King George VI, in February 1952. They were on tour in Kenya when news of his death came out. Pamela recalls "going and hugging" Elizabeth but then quickly changing her stance to a "deep curtsy" following her new status. She remembered thinking at the moment, "Oh my goodness, She's Queen."
A royal source told The Telegraph (via Insider) that the past year "has not been a good" one "for the Queen." It comes as two of her other longtime ladies-in-waiting and "dear friends," Fortune FitzRoy, Duchess of Grafton, and Diana Maxwell, Lady Farnham, both died in December — eight months following the death of her husband.