THE Queen is ‘remarkably well’ after Prince Philip’s death and Covid lockdown lifting is “helping to fill the void”, says her son.
But Prince Edward said there would be times “where it will become a bit more poignant and a bit harder” for his mum.
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Speaking to CNN royal correspondent Max Foster on what would have been his father’s 100th birthday, the Earl of Wessex commented on the benefits of “things beginning to open up more [in the UK]” post-lockdown.
Asked how the Queen was coping following his dad’s death, he replied: “Actually, she is doing remarkably well – it was a fantastic partnership but over the last couple of weeks life has got considerably busier.
“There are more activities, so weirdly that sort of fills any particular void.”
“I think there will be times further on in the year where, I think that it will become a bit more poignant and a bit harder.
“But at the moment – thank you very much indeed for asking – but I think everybody is in pretty good shape really.”
Prince Edward also praised his dad, who died peacefully on April 9, 2021 at Windsor Castle.
He spoke about his dad travelling the world, and that “he was the sort of person that once met, never forgotten”.
Mr Foster asked whether, with today being his dad’s 100th birthday, how he would have looked back on his work.
The Earl replied that “he was always, always incredibly self-effacing; it wasn’t about him, it was about other people.
“Tragically it wasn’t until he passed away that everybody went ‘wow, that’s what he did!’
“And of course it’s too late, he never found out.”
Remembering The Duke of Edinburgh, on what would have been his 100th birthday. pic.twitter.com/ksOjTQCapB
— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) June 10, 2021
The royal added that “it would have been lovely for him to have heard it himself – but he wouldn’t have wanted any fuss and bother”.
In a separate interview with the BBC, Edward said that, while the family would have “loved” the duke to have been able to experience his centenary, Philip would have been less than excited for the event.
Edward told the broadcaster: “He didn’t really want all the fuss and bother. I think he wasn’t really looking forward to the centenary, even if we were.
“So I think we go ahead and celebrate what might have been and his life, and I think we try to turn it into something that’s very positive.”
Reflecting on his father’s funeral amid the pandemic, the Earl said it was an “extraordinary” but “strange” day.
He told the BBC: “What should have been an occasion for so many people, and so many people that he had touched in his life not being there…
“Everybody will have their own memories. He was that sort of larger-than-life person. Once met, never forgotten.”
On Wednesday, the Queen marked the occasion with the planting of a newly-bred rose named after her beloved late husband.
The flower was planted in the gardens of Windsor Castle yesterday after being handed over to the Queen by Keith Weed, president of the Royal Horticultural Society.
Mr Weed told the Queen the deep pink rose was “named the Duke of Edinburgh Rose, to mark his centenary.
“And it’s a commemorative rose for all the marvellous things that he did over his lifetime and for everyone to remember so much that he did.”
The Queen replied “it looks lovely”, and praised the floral tribute as “very kind”.
Royalties from sales of the flower will go to the Duke of Edinburgh Award’s Living Legacy Fund, which gives more youngsters the chance to take part in the popular scheme.
The Queen will be accompanied by her cousin, the Duke of Kent, who will take Prince Philip’s place as her ‘plus one’ at her birthday parade.
This year, the monarch will be joined by her cousin, the Duke of Kent, during the Trooping The Colour on June 12.
