SHE is the lesser spotted royal – yet it is Sophie Wessex who has become the surprise official messenger since Prince Philip’s death on Friday.
It was the Countess of Wessex who explained what was rightly too painful for Her Majesty to convey just 48 hours after the death of her beloved husband.
Watched by her slightly startled husband Edward, she said: “It was so gentle, like someone took him by the hand, and then he went. Very peaceful, which is what you want for somebody, isn’t it?”
The day before, the 56-year-old Countess lowered her Range Rover’s window to say the Queen had been “Thinking of others before herself, she’s amazing”.
What gave her response added poignancy was that she had clearly shed some tears.
Unforunately the Queen will have to bravely sit on her own during Prince Philip’s funeral because of strict coronavirus rules.
The only person who could sit with her during the funeral is expected to be Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell, Philip‘s private secretary.
He is the only other member of the 20-person Windsor Castle Covid bubble – known as ‘HMS Bubble’ – likely to be at the funeral.
The Earl Peel had overseen arrangements for the Philip’s funeral – known as Operation Forth Bridge – before handing responsibility to his successor, former MI5 spy chief Baron Parker, just over a week before the duke died peacefully at Windsor Castle.
And it is understood the Queen will also wear at mask during the funeral so as not to break the strict coronavirus rules.
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