Prince Philip and the Queen cuddle with great-grandchildren in Kate Middleton photo

Prince William and Kate Middleton have released a touching photo of the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen with seven of their great-grandchildren ahead of Prince Philip’s funeral on Saturday. 

The previously unseen photograph, which was taken at Balmoral Castle in 2018 by the Duchess of Cambridge, shows Prince Philip with his arm around Peter Phillips’ daughter Isla, while the Queen, 94, can be seen holding a then-baby Prince Louis in her arms. 

Prince George and Princess Charlotte can be seen offering a cheeky smile in the picture, while Peter’s elder daughter Savannah Phillips poses alongside Zara Tindall’s daughters Mia and Lena. 

A second picture of Her Majesty and her husband was share on the Duke and Duchess’ Instagram page, and showed the couple posing with Prince George and Princess Charlotte during a visit to Balmoral in 2015.

The caption read: ‘Today we share, along with Members of the Royal Family, photographs of The Duke of Edinburgh, remembering him as a father, grandfather and great-grandfather.’ 

It comes after it was revealed that William and Prince Harry will not meet in person until their grandfather’s funeral, with the Duchess of Cambridge helping them put on a ‘unified’ front for the Queen. 

The photograph does not include the couple’s three youngest grandchildren, who were born in the last few years.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their son Archie Harrison in May 2019, while Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall both gave birth to their sons, who they named after the Duke, last month. 

This is not the first time Kate, one of the world’s most photographed people, has gone behind the lens and released her own pictures.

The duchess was named as the new patron of the Royal Photographic Society earlier this year following her flourishing passion in photography.

A second picture of Her Majesty and her husband was share on the Duke and Duchess’ Instagram page, and showed the couple posing with Prince George and Princess Charlotte during a visit to Balmoral in 2015 

The picture is a snapshot of a typical day at the Queen’s private Scottish home where she entertains family, friends and politicians during the summer.

George, a future king, is dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, knee-length socks, loafer style shoes, tartan shorts and appears to have a fresh graze on his knee revealing probably much of his time with the great grandparents was spent outside.

The Queen, like the duke, is comfortably dressed and wears a blouse, cardigan and reflecting her Scottish surroundings a tartan skirt.

Behind the group is a writing desk laden with flowers and nearby a piano decorated with statues of stags and a black and white portrait of the Queen Mother. 

A history of art graduate, the duchess has previously been praised for her photographic portraits of her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Kensington Palace has often published photos taken by Kate to mark milestones in her children’s lives, such as birthdays and first days at nursery.

The duchess began the tradition in 2015 when she took the first official portraits of Princess Charlotte, rather than hiring a photographer.   

The Queen is continuing to work as she grieves and has expressed her sympathy with the people of a Caribbean nation following a series of violent volcanic eruptions.

Earlier today, Princess Eugenie shared photographs alongside her grandfather and an emotional tribute to Prince Philip (pictured, On The Royal Balcony At The Investec Derby Festival At Epsom In Surrey in 2017)

The head of state said her prayers remained with the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines after thousands were evacuated after La Soufriere volcano began spewing ash into the atmosphere late last week.

In the past the Queen would have referred to herself and the duke in any message of condolence or sympathy, but following her bereavement the words of support poignantly began with ‘I’.

She said: ‘I have been saddened by the destruction and major disruption caused by volcanic eruptions in recent days, and my thoughts are with the many people and families who have been evacuated from their homes, and whose livelihoods have been affected. I send my thanks to the emergency services and all those involved in the relief effort.

‘My prayers will remain with the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines at this very difficult time.’

Earlier today Princess Eugenie penned an emotional tribute to Prince Philip as she said she would remember his ‘spectacular life’.

The Queen’s granddaughter, 30, shared the lengthy post on Instagram alongside two pictures of her with the Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away last Friday at the age of 99. 

In the post, Eugenie said she ‘would remember learning how to cook, how to paint, what to read’ as well as her grandfather’s ‘favourite beer’ and BBQing ability.

She finished the statement by posting: ‘Thank you for your dedication and love for us all and especially Granny, who we will look after for you.’ 

Eugenie and her cousin Zara both paid tribute to their beloved grandfather by naming their newborn sons after him in recent months. 

Meanwhile the Royal Family Twitter account also shared a photograph of the Duke of Sussex with his grandfather on the Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Colour

Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank, who married in October 2018, named their first child, a son born in February, August Philip Hawke Brooksbank. 

A month later her cousin Zara Tindall and her husband Mike welcomed a boy, Lucas Philip Tindall.

Due to lockdown restrictions, it is thought that Eugenie and Zara never had the opportunity to introduce their newborn sons to their grandfather before his death yesterday morning at the age of 99. 

The Princess Royal has returned to public duties just days after the duke’s death, meeting young sailors during a visit to the Isle of Wight and she reminisced fondly about learning to sail as a child with her father.

Anne, who honoured her father at the weekend by describing him as ‘my teacher, my supporter and my critic’, travelled to Cowes and visited the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS).

The princess appeared in good spirits as she met with members of the RYS and she spoke fondly of her ‘links’ and ‘early memories of sailing’ at the west Cowes-based club.

Looked up to as the patriarch of his family, Prince Philip became a mentor for younger royals who continued to turn to him over the years. 

Earlier today, Prince Charles paid a touching tribute to his father Prince Philip with a heart-warming one-minute video of his ‘life and work’, with one of the images showing the pair playing polo together 

Eugenie once described him as the rock of the family. 

Speaking in the 2016 ITV documentary Our Queen at Ninety, Princess Eugenie said of Philip: ‘I think Grandpa is incredible. He really is strong and consistent. He’s been there for all these years, and I think he’s the rock, you know, for all of us.’

Hours ago, Prince Charles paid a touching tribute to his father Prince Philip with a heart-warming one-minute video of his ‘life and work’. 

One of the heart-warming images shows the Duke of Edinburgh and his young son playing polo together. 

Meanwhile the Royal Family Twitter account also shared a photograph of the Duke of Sussex with his grandfather on the Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Colour, as well as a picture of the late-royal with Prince Charles playing polo. 

The photos were released as the Duchess of Cambridge is said to be willing to act as ‘peacemaker’ between Prince Harry and William ahead of Prince Philip’s funeral, with the brothers vowing to set aside their rift and try to reset their strained relationship to honour the memory of the Duke of Edinburgh.

The brothers are believed to have already spoken on the phone since Harry landed at Heathrow ahead of seeing each other face-to-face for the first time in a year at Windsor Castle this weekend. 

Harry described Kate as the ‘big sister I never had’ when she became engaged to William 11 years ago – but the siblings’ relationship became fractured following his decision to emigrate to the US and be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey with his wife Meghan Markle.

The Sussexes accused the Royal Family of racism, with Harry claiming William is ‘trapped’ and saying Prince Charles cut him off financially. Kate was also accused by Meghan of making her cry in a row over bridesmaids dresses in the bombshell TV interview last month, but Kate is said to be pushing for the brothers to make up.

Saturday’s funeral will certainly remind the brothers of their shared grief at another royal funeral more than two decades ago – when, as young boys, both walked behind their mother Princess Diana’s coffin in 1997.

Harry is now in quarantine, but can attend the funeral in line with government rules that make exceptions for such occasions. Meghan, who is pregnant with their second child, was advised by her doctor not to make the long trip.

A royal source told the Daily Telegraph: ‘They know it is not about them on Saturday – it is about honouring their grandfather’s memory and supporting their grandmother. I would be extremely surprised if that wasn’t front and centre of both their minds. They will be keen to spend time together as a family, in the same time zone for once.’ Another insider said: ‘The entire focus is on the Queen. No exceptions. A family unified.’

The brothers will meet face-to-face for the first time in more than a year on Saturday. The brothers also plan to unveil a sculpture in memory of Diana in the gardens at Kensington Palace, together this summer.

In two statements with very different tones released 30 minutes apart on Monday, Prince William praised his grandfather’s lifetime of service to ‘Queen, country and Commonwealth’ before Harry declared: ‘He was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right ’til the end’.

William’s words focused on duty, continuing Philip’s work and the need to support the Queen, with some royal watchers pondering if this was, in part, a criticism of his brother who quit as a frontline royal and emigrated to the United States with his wife.

Harry is understood to have chosen to self-isolate at Frogmore Cottage at Windsor Castle where the Queen is based, rather than at Kensington Palace where his brother lives with his wife and three children.

Who are the Queen and Prince Philip’s 10 great-grandchildren?  

The Duke of Edinburgh was the proud grandfather of 10 great-grandchildren.

Buckingham Palace has released a previously unseen family portrait of the Queen and Philip surrounded by seven of the youngsters at Balmoral Castle in 2018, taken from the Windsors’ private photo album.

Here is a look at the great-grandchildren, from the oldest to the youngest:

Ten-year-old Savannah Phillips, who was born in 2010, is the Queen and Philip’s eldest great-grandchild (left) while her younger sister, Isla, has just turned nine and was born in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year of 2012 (pictured with Autumn and Peter in 2019) 

1. Savannah Phillips

Ten-year-old Savannah Phillips, who was born in 2010, is the Queen and Philip’s eldest great-grandchild.

She is the daughter of the Princess Royal’s son, Peter Phillips, and his ex-wife Autumn.

The couple announced they were divorcing in 2020, but share custody and co-parent their children.

At Eugenie’s wedding in 2018, bridesmaid Savannah had pageboy Prince George trying to stifle laughter when she entertained him by pretending to play the trumpet in St George’s Chapel.

She was also once seen pushing George – her second cousin – down a grassy bank at a polo match, and also putting her hand over his mouth as the National anthem was played while they were on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping The Colour.

2. Isla Phillips

Savannah’s younger sister, Isla, has just turned nine and was born in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year of 2012.

Her middle name is Elizabeth in honour of the monarch. The Phillips sisters are not entitled to a royal title.

They are usually kept out of the limelight – but sometimes join other members of the family on the Buckingham Palace balcony for major events.

They are mostly spotted enjoying themselves as they play together at horse trials.

3. Prince George

Future king George, born in 2013, is the oldest of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s children (pictured front left) 

Future king George, born in 2013, is the oldest of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s children.

The seven-year-old has spent much of lockdown at William and Kate’s countryside home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk.

The prince is known to be a fan of helicopters, and all things police-related.

Football-mad George is also a passionate Aston Villa fan, just like his father.

George is seen as shyer than his younger sister, Princess Charlotte, occasionally appearing a little reluctant in front of the cameras.

Third-in-line George and his siblings call the Queen “Gan Gan”.

4. Mia Tindall

Mia is the eldest child of former England rugby star Mike Tindall and Olympic medal-winning horsewoman Zara, daughter of the Princess Royal (pictured together in 2019) 

Mia is the eldest child of former England rugby star Mike Tindall and Olympic medal-winning horsewoman Zara, daughter of the Princess Royal.

The fun-loving youngster, who was born in 2014, has a reputation for being mischievous.

She is often spotted running around with her father and cousins, Isla and Savannah Phillips, at horse eventing competitions.

During a portrait shoot for the Queen’s 90th birthday, Mia, then two, had the privilege of holding her great-grandmother’s classic black handbag.

Like Savannah and Isla, she is not an HRH, nor does she have a title.

5. Princess Charlotte

The Cambridges’ five-year-old middle child, Charlotte, is known for her confident, feisty character (pictured here with the Duchess of Cambridge in 2019)

The Cambridges’ five-year-old middle child, Charlotte, is known for her confident, feisty character.

The princess, who was born in 2015, likes spicy food and is nicknamed “Lottie”.

She shares a love of horses with the Queen, and bears a resemblance to her great-grandmother when she was a child.

At the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding in 2018, the playful fourth in line to the throne stuck out her tongue as she arrived by car.

She repeated the gesture while watching a presentation ceremony at the King’s Cup regatta on the Isle of Wight in 2019.

At the christening of younger brother Prince Louis, she was heard telling off photographers and declaring they were not allowed inside.

6. Prince Louis

William and Kate’s youngest child Louis was born in 2018 (pictured with children Prince George (left), Princess Charlotte (right) at Anmer Hall in Norfolk)

William and Kate’s youngest child was born in 2018. The toddler proudly joined his siblings, George and Charlotte, when they clapped for carers during lockdown.

In pictures released for his second birthday, he was shown with a paint-covered face and hands as he made a rainbow print for his window.

Louis, who has inherited the Middleton eyes, has been compared to his maternal grandfather, Michael Middleton.

7. Lena Tindall

The Tindalls welcomed a second daughter, Lena, in 2018, after suffering two miscarriages (pictured with Zara in 2019) 

The Tindalls welcomed a second daughter, Lena, in 2018, after suffering two miscarriages.

The remaining great-grandchildren

The Queen and Philip’s other three great-grandchildren were not in the photograph taken by Kate, having not yet been born in 2018.

8. Archie Mountbatten-Windsor

Archie, who was born in 2019, lives thousands of miles away in California after his parents, Harry and Meghan, stepped down as senior royals last year and moved to the US

Archie, who was born in 2019, lives thousands of miles away in California after his parents, Harry and Meghan, stepped down as senior royals last year and moved to the US.

He appears to have inherited his father’s red hair, seen when he was pictured in a stylised image on the family’s Christmas card.

In the Oprah interview which rocked the monarchy, Meghan accused a member of the royal family – neither the Queen nor Philip – of raising concerns before Archie was born about how dark his skin tone might be.

The duchess also said Archie was not made a prince because of his race – although he is not actually entitled to be one or to have an HRH style yet because of rules set down by King George V more than 100 years ago.

9. August Brooksbank

August Philip Hawke Brooksbank – born to the Duke of York’s daughter Princess Eugenie and tequila brand ambassador Jack Brooksbank – arrived on February 9 this year

August Philip Hawke Brooksbank – born to the Duke of York’s daughter Princess Eugenie and tequila brand ambassador Jack Brooksbank – arrived on February 9 this year.

Eugenie described their hearts as being ‘full of love for this little human’.

His middle name was in honour of the duke.

10. Lucas Tindall

Zara delivered an 8lb 4oz son Lucas on March 21 – with the baby arriving on the bathroom floor in a surprise home birth.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen and the duke were ‘delighted’ at the news of their 10th great-grandchild.

Lucas has the middle name Philip in honour of both the duke and Mike Tindall’s father.

Great-granddaughter to be

Harry and Meghan are expecting their second child, a daughter, in the summer – the Queen and Philip’s 11th great-grandchild.