Queen back to royal duties virtually after 2 weeks of mourning for husband Prince Philip
The 95-year-old monarch was photographed while conducted virtual 'audiences'.
By PTI | Updated:
AP
The photographs showed the Queen dressed in a pale blue floral dress and no longer wearing black, after two weeks of royal court mourning ended last Friday.
LONDON: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday resumed royal duties following a mourning period for her late husband, Prince Philip, who passed away earlier this month.
The 95-year-old monarch was photographed while conducted virtual "audiences" with the ambassadors of Latvia and Ivory Coast, who were at Buckingham Palace in London while she was at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, south-east England.
These formal audiences involve the presentation of credentials before new diplomats take over official duties as ambassador.
Ivita Burmistre, the ambassador from Latvia, presented her Letters of Credence to the Queen, as did Sara Affoue Amani, the Ivory Coast ambassador.
The photographs showed the Queen dressed in a pale blue floral dress and no longer wearing black, after two weeks of royal court mourning ended last Friday.
Today The Queen held Audiences with incoming Ambassadors via video link from Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace.… https://t.co/sthmUMpxzO
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) 1619533244000
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While in mourning, the Queen has continued to carry out duties including four days after Prince Philip's death on April 9 during an audience and investiture with Earl Peel, who was relinquishing his role as Lord Chamberlain, and a day later she welcomed her new Lord Chamberlain, Baron Andrew Parker.
But her latest virtual engagement is the first formal resumption of duties since the late Duke of Edinburgh's royal ceremonial funeral at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on April 17.
To mark her 95th birthday on April 21 she released a message thanking well-wishers for their support and tributes to her husband of 73 years as she reflected on a "period of great sadness".
"We have been deeply touched and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life," she said, on behalf of the royal family.
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Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died aged 99 was laid to rest in a Covid-compliant ceremony, with only 30 guests and social distance measures in place.
The British Royal Family Isn't Alone. A Look At Other Regal Controversies Around The World
1/9
After keeping a stiff upper lip over Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s explosive interview to Oprah Winfrey, Buckingham Palace finally broke its silence, saying it was saddened and concerned. Royal watchers say the foundations of the House of Windsor have been shaken, with comparisons being made with Lady Diana’s famous interview with Martin Bashir on BBC, where she said there were three people in her marriage, and even Edward VIII’s abdication to marry an American divorcee.
The British royals could, perhaps, take some comfort in the fact that this is just one of many scandals, controversies and shocking circumstances royal families around the world have found themselves in.
Take a look:
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The reason? A law which punishes any public criticism of its royals with imprisonment.
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On June 1, 2001, the world was horrifi ed by a massacre in the Himalayan kingdom. The crown prince, Dipendra, went on a murderous rampage, killing nine members of the royal family, including his parents, the king and the queen, before using his gun to kill himself. The mass shooting of the royal family at the Narayanhity Palace and the uproar it caused, laid the ground for the eventual abolition of monarchy in Nepal.
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In March 2020, in an unprecedented move, Spain’s king, Felipe, gave up his personal inheritance and stripped his father and former king, Juan Carlos, of his annual stipend, following allegations that the son would benefit from an offshore fund, set up by the father, with links to Saudi Arabia. A supreme court probe was also launched into his role in a multi-billion dollar deal for a high-speed rail line in Saudi Arabia won by a Spanish company. Carlos announced in August 2020 that he would be going into exile abroad to save his son, the current king, further embarrassment.
(Text Sources: Vanity Fair, BBC, CNN, The Independent)
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