Queen Elizabeth II Returns to Work Amid Mourning for Prince Philip

Queen Elizabeth II has shown her deep sense of duty and service by returning to work despite being in a period of mourning for her husband, Prince Philip, who passed away four days earlier.

On Tuesday, April 13, the devoted monarch hosted a retirement ceremony for her household's most senior official, former Lord Chamberlain Earl Peel.

The Queen's husband of 73 years passed away peacefully aged 99 on Friday at Windsor Castle.

As touching tributes flooded in from across the nation for the Duke, including flowers left at residences such as Windsor and Buckingham Palace, the family announced a two-week period of royal mourning.

But in a move that typifies Her Majesty's dedication to her duties, she returned early to bid farewell to Earl Peel, a key royal aide who is retiring after 14 years of service.

The Queen's second son, Prince Andrew, said his mother is bearing up stoically and the family have been rallying round to support her.

Meanwhile, the Queen's only daughter, Princess Anne, took part in her first official event since the passing of her father.

She joined, via video link, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine's Spring Conference in her role as the organisation's patron.

It was announced at the weekend the monarchy and their households would observe two weeks of royal mourning, with members of the family continuing to undertake engagements appropriate to the circumstances, a royal official said.

The Earl Peel had overseen arrangements for the Duke's funeral, known as Operation Fourth Bridge, before handing responsibilities to his successor, former M15 Spy Chief Baron Parker, just over a week before Philip passed away.

The Lord Chamberlain oversees all senior appointments in the household, is the channel of communication between the Sovereign and the House of Lords, and ensures coordination between Buckingham Palace and Clarence House.

During a ceremony held at Windsor Castle, the Queen accepted her former royal aide's wand and insignia of office.

The official engagement was recorded in the court circular, a daily list of the events attended by the Queen and her family.

It said, “The Earl Peel had an audience of the Queen today, delivered up his wand and insignia of the office as Lord Chamberlain and the badge of Chancellor of the Royal Victorian Order and took leave upon relinquishing his appointment as Lord Chamberlain.

And Her Majesty invested him with the Royal Victorian Chain.”

The upcoming Prince Philip Farewell Service will be a royal funeral like no other, with the Queen and her family wearing face masks and socially distancing as they gather to say their final farewell.

According to the Telegraph, the 94-year-old monarch may have to sit alone during the service due to the social distancing rules.

She is staying at Windsor with a reduced number of around 22 staff, in what has been dubbed HMS Bubble.

The Duke's long-standing close aide, his private secretary, Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell, would be one of the few, and possibly only, non-royals invited to attend the historic farewell ceremony.

As a member of HMS Bubble, he may be the only person eligible to sit with the Queen.

The funeral will take place this Saturday, April 17 at Windsor Castle.

The ceremony will be small due to the Covid-19 pandemic, though it will be televised and photographed.

Preceding services will be a procession around the castle's grounds.

More details of the funeral, set to take place at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday, are to be announced on Thursday, according to the Daily Mail.