THE Queen “did not say a word” and just wanted “to be alone with her thoughts” after Prince Philip’s funeral, according to a behind-the-scenes book by her most trusted aide.
An extraordinary insight into life in Covid isolation at Windsor Castle describes how the stoic monarch simply removed her jacket and sat alone in her sitting room after bidding farewell to the Duke of Edinburgh.
Her right-hand woman, Angela Kelly, who was involved in a pre-wedding tiara row with Meghan, also revealed the Queen’s new Corgi puppies Muick and Sandy were a “constant joy” and a “godsend” for the Queen during lockdown.
In a new book — which has been given the Queen’s blessing — the Royal Dresser also described how the monarch handed out prizes at a “Bubble Olympics” for lockdown staff in Windsor after watching from a concealed car.
The Queen, who turns 96 on Thursday, was placed under strict isolation, dubbed HMS Bubble, during the start of the pandemic to keep her safe from Covid.
In extracts of The Other Side of the Coin, published in Hello!, Angela reveals she waited in her dressing room for the Queen to return from Philip’s service.
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She wrote: “I helped her off with her coat and hat and no words were spoken. The Queen then walked to her sitting room, closed the door behind her, and she was alone with her own thoughts.”
Describing the day Philip died in April last year, she wrote: “The feeling among all the royal staff in the bubble at Windsor was sombre. Only a few of us were told after the family had been informed.”
Of his scaled-down funeral, she added: “You could see the expression of sadness on everyone’s faces to see such a great and well- respected man making his last journey. Their thoughts, I’m sure, were for the Queen, knowing she had lost a husband and a best friend. The nation shared the grief and their hearts went out to Her Majesty.
“I’m sure some of the prayers that were offered were by those who had never prayed before. I think those prayers were offered to keep the Queen strong throughout the months to come, when she would be without her husband.”
Angela has published a new chapter about life during Covid in her updated book to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.
In another extraordinary tale, she described how the Queen handed out prizes to stunned aides after they played games of rounders and held relay races.
As staff enjoyed champagne, biscuits and sweets at the golf course in Home Park, Her Majesty watched the fun and games from inside a Range Rover hidden behind bushes.
Angela, who has worked for the Queen for 28 years, recalled: “There were various events, which included rounders and relay.
“If I told you that there were balloons filled with water you might get an idea of the fun that was had out on the golf course in Home Park. I had asked the Queen a few days before if she would mind hosting the prize-giving, to which she very kindly agreed.
“On the day, she came out very quietly and discreetly, and it was amazing to see the looks of surprise and delight when the Queen’s Range Rover pulled up by the golf course and Her Majesty stepped out.
“Little did the staff know that the Queen had actually arrived earlier and had been watching, hidden behind the bushes.
“The prizes were awarded and each team member came forward to receive their award and congratulations from the Queen.
“The astonishment on their faces was so lovely to watch, and as the Queen drove away in her Range Rover afterwards, everyone was speechless. An amazing day that will be cherished by all those who were there.”
SOLACE FOR QUEEN
In another touching behind-the-scenes revelation, the aide described how two new Corgi puppies, Muick and Sandy, had provided great solace for the dog-loving Queen.
Sandy had been bought to replace puppy Fergus who died just weeks after he arrived at Windsor Castle last year.
Revealing the name of Sandy for the first time, she writes: “I was worried they would get under the Queen’s feet, but they have turned out to be a godsend.
“They are beautiful and great fun and the Queen often takes long walks with them in Home Park.”
She also has an elderly Dorgi called Candy, who recently appeared in footage of the Queen viewing items from her previous Jubilee celebrations.
Candy kept an eye on Muick and Sandy when they had their first royal flight — joining the Queen on a plane to Balmoral in August last year.
Angela wrote: “They were very well-behaved, with Louis the footman on hand.
“Candy, who is an old hand at flying — she must have been on hundreds of flights in her lifetime — ambled about and kept her eye on the young pups.
“The puppies stayed close to the Queen but occasionally sniffed around your feet as they hoped for a nibble of something tasty from our lunch.”
The dresser was also drafted in to trim and style the Queen’s hair and put in her rollers before her televised Covid speech and the traditional Christmas broadcast.
However it proved to be a stressful experience for Angela, leaving her in need of a stiff drink.
She wrote: “As I grew in confidence I’m sure the Queen thought I was a professional and started shouting at me, ‘Don’t do that, do it this way. That’s right, you’ve got it, don’t change it.’
“I was thinking, ‘Goodness me, I need a gin and tonic’.
“So while the Queen was under the dryer I said to her, ‘I’m off for a stiff drink because this is so stressful, getting it just right for you.’”
The latest revelations come as Prince Harry, 37, also writes an autobiography which will be published in the autumn.
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The Duke of Sussex is accused of yelling “What Meghan wants, Meghan gets” at Angela over a choice of tiara ahead of their royal wedding in 2018.
Sources close to Harry denied that he yelled at his grandmother when she gave him a dressing-down over his treatment of staff.
