The Queen was observed riding through Windsor on her way to take her pooches for a walk as she marked her 95th birthday without her strength and stay for 73 years.
The monarch, who was recently gifted two new corgi puppies by Prince Andrew, was pictured leaving Windsor Castle in a green Jaguar Estate after the low key birthday festivities, thought to have included several family members and her most intimate aides.
In her first comments since Prince Philip’s passing, the monarch thanked well-wishers over the globe for the tributes given to her husband which have genuinely touched the royal household.
The Queen said she and her family were in a period of great sadness but were comforted by words of admiration for Philip, who died peacefully at Windsor aged 99, and the Queen said in a statement that she had on the occasion of her 95th birthday today, received numerous messages of good wishes, which she very much appreciated.
The Queen said that while as a family they were in a period of great sorrow, it’s been a comfort to them all to see and to hear the tributes paid to her husband, from those within the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and throughout the world.
She then continued that her family and herself would like to thank everyone for all their support and kindness shown and that they’d been genuinely touched, and continued to be reminded that Philip had such an amazing impact on countless people throughout his life.
Buckingham Palace shared a photo of the steadfast monarch at a royal appointment with a message wishing her a happy birthday, and rather than sharing their own posts, Prince Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Instagram accounts reposted the radiant photo of Her Majesty.
Celebrations have been subdued this year with no traditional gun salutes while the Queen observes a two week grieving period following the passing of her husband the Duke of Edinburgh at the age of 99.
The Queen was supposed to be visited by family but grandson Prince Harry was not to be amongst them, as he returned home to California from London, only 24 hours before his grandmother’s birthday and two days after his grandfather’s funeral, and it’s such a shame that her grandson Harry couldn’t stay a few days longer to wish her a personal happy birthday.
But then on the other hand, perhaps he was told he wasn’t invited. After all, why would they keep him around – they’d have to watch everything they said, as it would probably be reported again.
Edward the VIII abdicating didn’t just change the Queen’s life, it altered world history, and considering the position was thrust into her path, she not only took it upon herself to fulfil her responsibilities but excelled in them.
The Duke of Edinburgh was constantly portrayed as the person who could throw shade like nobody’s business, and he always loved to make smart-aleck comments, but most often, he deployed that ridicule to relax people when they were around the Queen.
But he was always portrayed as that constantly smirking, constantly disgruntled man, but the real man was more of a well-liked gentleman, who completely embraced his role over his 70 years of marriage to the Queen.
Although there were always whispers that the Duke had liaisons with other women, which is quite spicy, but there’s never been any firm confirmation that this was true.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh clearly loved one another, either that, or they just put on a good show, although I would guess the latter was more likely, and even with all that money they have, it all boils down to a case of an older lady losing her husband to death, and now having to live without him for the first time in a very long time.
