THE Queen and other members of the royal family are paying tribute to Prince Philip at a Westminster Abbey memorial today.
Her Majesty, 95, paid a touching tribute to her late husband wearing a special brooch that he gave to her over fifty years ago.
The Grima Ruby Brooch, also known as the Scarab Brooch, was created by celebrated jeweller Andrew Grima, and bought by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1966.
It features an impressive large central ruby surrounded by six lesser size rubies cut as buds, all set with scattered diamonds.
The Queen was first pictured wearing her Grima Ruby Brooch for a visit to Bournemouth in 1966, and she has worn it for many occasions since.
Most poignantly, she wore it for a series of portraits taken to mark the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s 70th Wedding Anniversary, and on her first official engagement after the Duke of Edinburgh’s death when she visited the company of HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth.
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Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall was seen wearing her Rifles brooch in a nod to the late Duke, who handed over his role as Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles in 2020.
The bells rang out across Westminster as senior royals, charity workers and foreign royals arrived to remember the Duke of Edinburgh.
Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince George and Princess Charlotte were among those in attendance.
Zara Tindall and husband Mike arrived with daughter Mia along with Peter Phillips and his children Savannah and Isla.
Philip’s daughter Princess Anne stopped to speak to Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award holders and members of the youth UK Cadet Force associations who are attending under Philip’s wishes.
Touchingly, the Queen, Camilla and Princess Anne all wore dark green in a subtle nod to Philip, whose livery colour was Edinburgh Green.
Her Majesty organised for Prince Philip’s Service of Thanksgiving to take place at Westminster Abbey after his funeral was scaled back due to Covid last year.
The Duke of Edinburgh, 99, was laid to rest last spring, when singing was banned and numbers were limited to just 30 people under Covid restrictions.
His memorial service today, however, marks a more uplifting affair, with the Queen said to have been “actively involved” in the day’s planning.
In a particularly personal touch, Her Majesty opted to feature the flowers she and Philip had on their wedding day – white orchids – in the service.
The day’s flowers are in shades of red, white and blue, marking the same shades of the Union Jack flag.
The orchids feature in smaller posies, along with red freesias, alstroemeria and spray roses, white dendrobium orchids, freesias and Eustoma and blue iris and eryngium.
Larger floral arrangements include red roses, carnations and Gerbera, white roses, Eustoma and large white chrysanthemums and blue agapanthus, delphinium and eryngium [known as sea holly].
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FLOWER POWER
Queen’s sweet personal tribute to husband Philip at his memorial service
Orchids featured in The Queen’s wedding bouquet in 1947.
Meanwhile sea holly is a touching nod to the Duke of Edinburgh’s career in the Navy, Majesty Magazine reports.
As part of Philip’s wishes, Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award holders and members of the youth UK Cadet Force associations will today line the steps as the 1,800-strong congregation arrives.
