Queen left with ‘huge void’ in her life after Philip’s death – Andrew

The Queen has described the death of her husband the Duke of Edinburgh as “having left a huge void in her life”.

Prince Andrew revealed the personal feelings of his mother the Queen after attending a church service where members of the royal family said prayers for Philip as the nation remembered him.

He movingly described the passing of his father as resonating with many people, saying: “We’ve lost the grandfather of the nation.”

Andrew was joined at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge,Windsor by the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their daughter Lady Louise Windsor for a Sunday service.

The duke said about his father’s death: “She described it as having left a huge void in her life, but we the family – the ones that are closer – are rallying round to make sure we’re there…”

He added: “I know there is a huge amount of support not just for her (the Queen) but for everybody as we go through this enormous change.”

Duke of Edinburgh death
PA Wire

Meanwhile Princess Anne said her father had been her “teacher, supporter and critic”.

In a message posted on the Royal Family’sTwitter account, Anne said it was her father’s example of a “life well lived and service freely given that I most wanted to emulate”.

With the message, she posted an image of herself and the Duke ofEdinburgh laughing together at a sporting event.

The message read: “You know it’s going to happen but you are never really ready. My father has been my teacher, my supporter and my critic, but mostly it is his example of a life well lived and service freely given that I most wanted to emulate.”

The Earl of Wessex told reporters that the duke’s death was a “dreadful shock”.

“It’s been a bit of a shock. However much one tries to prepare oneself for something like this it’s still a dreadful shock.

“And we’re still trying to come to terms with that. And it’s very, very sad.

“But I have to say that the extraordinary tribute and the memories that everybody has had and been willing to share has been so fantastic.

“And it just goes to show, he might have been our father, grandfather, father-in-law, but he meant so much to so many other people.”

On Sunday morning the Archbishop of Canterbury paid tribute to Philip during a remembrance service at Canterbury Cathedral.

Justin Welby described the duke as someone who had a “remarkable willingness” to “take the hand he was dealt in life”.

He said: “It is God who creates, God who calls, and God who sends.

“For His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, there was a willingness, a remarkable willingness, to take the hand he was dealt in life, and straightforwardly to follow its call.”

Buckingham Palace have said Philip’s ceremonial royal funeral will take place on April 17 in St George’s Chapel, in Windsor Castle.

A national minute’s silence will be observed as it begins at 3pm.

The Duchess of Sussex, who is heavily pregnant, has been advised by her physician not to travel to the UK for the funeral.

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