Prince Philip news: How Queen’s touching gesture had Duke near tears | Royal | News

The Queen and Prince Philip are currently spending time together at their Norfolk country retreat on the Sandringham estate. After the Royal Family enjoy Christmas there together, the Queen traditionally remains, leaving to come back to London on February 6 every year. Since the Duke of Edinburgh’s retirement in 2017, the time Her Majesty is able to spend with her husband at the home he now resides in full-time is especially poignant.

Although the Duke of Edinburgh is not known for showing his emotions in private or public, Daily Mail royal correspondent Richard Kay revealed how a gesture the Queen made on his 90th birthday in 2011 brought her husband close to tears.

Shortly after the Duke’s 2017 retirement, Mr Kay wrote: “Nothing illustrates the Queen’s devotion more than her marking his 90th birthday by bestowing on him one of her own titles, that of Lord High Admiral. 

“Cut adrift for so long from the life at sea he’d loved, it meant he’d been effectively returned to the Senior Service. 

“Friends describe him as being ‘almost in tears’ at the gesture.”

Philip was a Naval officer and excelled in his career, with ambitions to rise to First Sea Lord like his uncle Lord Mountbatten.

However, after facing pressure from courtiers and the government, including Winston Churchill, the Duke gave up his career soon after the Queen’s coronation.

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However, with the Queen still on duty at Buckingham Palace a great deal of the time, Her Majesty had some adjustments to make to life without Philip by her side.

Mr Kay continues: “She does miss him, though, especially at the breakfast table, which they always shared.

“Now, she sits alone and is rarely seen before the daily 11am meeting with her private secretary.”

However, it seems the Royal Family rallied round to support the monarch.

Mr Kay writes: “The younger royals, particularly Princess Anne and the Countess of Wessex, have been spending more time with the Queen since Philip’s retirement. 

“There is also a ‘granny rota’ for the grandchildren, who make sure they are around more, especially at teatime.”