THE Queen will have had a “very lonely” 95th birthday with just a visit from her son Prince Andrew, Arthur Edwards has said.
The Celeb Report’s royal photographer said Princess Beatrice and Eugenie may “pop in” but senior royals were more likely to phone Her Majesty for the occasion.
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The Queen was expected to have a private and low-key day – with no gun salute as she undergoes a two week period of mourning for Prince Philip.
The Monarch earlier told of her sadness as she marked the big day, thanking the nation for its support days after attending the funeral for her husband of more than 70 years.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Arthur Edwards said: “I remember the 90th birthday parading through the streets with Philip through of Windsor with Philip, the 80th the same – exciting, huge crowds – but this year she’ll be all alone.
“She will probably get a visit from Prince Andrew or maybe Beatrice and Eugenie will pop in and obviously the Prince of Wales and the others will phone her but it will be very lonely.
“That picture of her in the pew at St George’s on her own, people must have cried over seeing that.”
It is understood the Queen would take corgi Muick and dachshund-corgi cross Fergus for a stroll around Frogmore Gardens on her birthday, as she has every day since Philip died.
But her special day falls within the two-week period of royal mourning for the Duke of Edinburgh, which is being observed until Friday.
The Queen today thanked the nation for its “support and kindness” following Prince Philip’s death – and said she has been “deeply touched” by the tributes paid to her husband.
It has emerged the Royals have agreed on a rota to visit as the monarch grieves the death of her husband of more than 70 years.
Princess Anne and Sophie Wessex were reported to be among the Queen’s first visitors ahead of her birthday today.
Her Majesty will also be visited by her son Andrew, granddaughter Eugenie and her newborn son August in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the Queen has not marked her birthday in the usual fashion for two years now.
The pandemic meant the Queen’s official birthday celebration known as Trooping the Colour, normally staged in June, has been cancelled for a second year running.
Last summer, a Covid-safe event dubbed “mini Trooping” was staged at Windsor Castle, and Buckingham Palace has said options for an “alternative parade” were being considered at the Queen’s Berkshire home.
