Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Kieran Isgin

Concern for 'frail' Queen at Prince Philip memorial service as others hit out at 'bad call'

The Queen joined together today with her close family, friends, foreign royals and hundreds of charity workers to remember her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

One of the most high profile attendees who was front and centre at the service was the Duke of York, in his first public appearance after forking out millions to settle a civil sexual assault case. Andrew escorted his mother into Westminster Abbey and drove in the same car as her from Windsor Castle

The monarch held onto Andrew's elbow with her left hand as she moved slowly to her place, using a walking stick in her right hand. They entered via Poets Corner - a shorter route for the Queen's comfort.

Read more:

Inside the abbey, she walked at a slow but steady pace accompanied by Andrew. As they approached the end of the aisle they separated, with Andrew giving a last glance to his mother as she turned right.

Andrew, who stepped down from public life over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, had a front-row seat and was situated next to his brother the Earl of Wessex and across the aisle from his other siblings.

Fans of the Royals raised concerns over the Queen's physical condition (Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)

Some 1,800 people packed the gothic church, a stark contrast to Phillip's funeral where only 30 were permitted to attend amid Covid restrictions with the Queen sitting alone to mourn.

Amid the Queen's latest public appearance, concerns are rising surrounding her physical condition, with many on social media referring to her as 'frail'. One user on Twitter wrote: "Watching our Queen has just broke my heart.

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of York arrive at a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of the Duke of Edinburgh (Richard Pohle/The Times/PA Wire)

"She is so frail but still so dignified. I really hope this isn't the last time we see the Queen in public." Another user wrote: "The Queen has changed so much in a year. She's just not the same any more. She is frail."

One user added: "Was in tears, full of respect and pride for our wonderful Queen. She looks so frail now and, given her age, she looks far more fragile since losing her husband last year. I love how Prince Charles always seems to be watching out for her."

Other users have expressed their support and admiration for the monarch who attended despite her mobility issues with one user saying: "Say what you will about the Queen but this is a woman who has given her life to this country and had to sit alone at her husband's funeral last year.

"So it's great to see that she can be there to celebrate today with her family despite struggling with mobility."

Another user added: "Despite her recent health and mobility issues, the Queen was determined to travel to London to mark the long and productive life of her late husband Phillip, her 'strength and stay'."

Prince Andrew walking into church (BBC)

But many people were also concerned as to why Prince Andrew accompanied the Queen so closely during the service due to his controversy, with one user writing: "This was the Queen endorsing Andrew after he paid millions to a woman he says he has no recollection of ever meeting.

"Either Charles and William didn't intervene - or they did and failed to stop the prince performing such a high profile role at his father's memorial service."

One user expressed his distaste to the Duke of York's appearance by saying: "The Queen walking into her husband's memorial with Andrew on her arm gives me the ick. Bad call." Another user wrote: "Prince Andrew walking alongside the Queen, memorial or not we get it! Privileged men aren't held accountable..."

Click here for the latest headlines from the Manchester Evening News

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.