A statement—her first personal statement since the Duke of Edinburgh died on April 9—was released via the royal family’s Instagram account, in which she described tributes to her late husband as a “comfort.” “I have, on the occasion of my 95th birthday today, received many messages of good wishes, which I very much appreciate,” she said. She went on, “While as a family we are in a period of great sadness, it has been a comfort to us all to see and hear the tributes paid to my husband,” adding, “My family and I would like to thank you for all the support and kindness shown to us in recent days. “We have been deeply touched, and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life.” In a separate post, accompanied by a picture of the monarch looking fetching in a feather-trimmed plum hat and pearls, the caption said that the queen will be spending her birthday at Windsor Castle “during a period of Royal Mourning following the death of The Duke of Edinburgh.” Because the queen is in mourning, the bells of Westminster Abbey will not ring for her birthday for the second year in a row—last year they remained quiet due to COVID restrictions. It’s being reported that the queen will spend the day quietly, possibly with family members who live close by such Princess Eugenie, who is living in Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate with her husband Jack Brooksbank and new baby August. Prince Harry stayed in Frogmore Cottage—which remains his official residence when he’s in Britain, and which he has loaned to the Brooksbanks—when he travelled from California to Windsor for his grandfather’s funeral, but he has already returned to Montecito to be with his wife Meghan, who is due to give birth in the summer, and his son Archie, who turns 2 years old on May 6. Prince Charles won’t see his mother on his birthday as he has retreated to his private Welsh home Llwynywermod to “mourn the loss of his father” according to the Guardian, while his wife Camilla remains in London. Next up, look at the dreamy temple-style church on Corfu where Prince Philip was baptized.
