THE Queen drove herself to her beloved spot in Windsor for some quiet contemplation the day after Prince Philip’s funeral.
The monarch bid farewell to her husband of 73 years on Saturday and a picture of her sitting alone at St George’s Chapel in Windsor showed the brutal reality of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Yesterday, a day after the funeral, Queen Elizabeth II drove to Frogmore Gardens – a place she loves and where she often walks her dogs.
The spot is just a few minutes from Frogmore Cottage, where Prince Harry has been staying after travelling to the UK for his grandfather’s funeral.
Sources say visiting Frogmore regularly will help the Queen deal with her grief after Prince Philip‘s death.
The gardens are one of her favourite parts of the estate to walk her puppies, dorgi Fergus and corgi Muick.
According to sources, she is likely to drive to Frogmore on her birthday too to enjoy nature and walk her dogs.
On Wednesday, the monarch will mark her 95th birthday – but can only meet those outside her household in the open air due to Covid regulations.
A royal expert said her two new puppies will make the monarch “distracted” from grief after losing Prince Philip.
Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine, said the monarch’s lively new companions, as well as her elderly dorgi Candy, would provide comfort.
He said: “The thinking was enough was enough, and that she was getting too old for new dogs and who would look after them when she was gone.
“But clearly that decision was reversed and, as it turned out, it probably is very fortuitous. I think it’s useful to have these puppies in her life now as way of a distraction.”
The Queen was accompanied by her loyal lady-in-waiting when she arrived St George’s Chapel for the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on Saturday.
Lady Susan Hussey, 81, entered the chapel but was there as a working household member – not one of the 30 guests attending the funeral – so she did not seat with the Windsors.
She remained nearby in the chapel to be ready to help in case the Queen needed her.
The grieving Queen today sat alone as she said a final farewell to her beloved husband on her “saddest and most difficult day”.
Her Majesty, who wore all black and a face mask for the occasion, appeared sorrowful and deep in thought during the funeral.
