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Queen Elizabeth II Honors Late Husband Prince Philip with Treasured Mementos at Emotional Funeral Service
Queen Elizabeth II paid a heartfelt tribute to her late husband, Prince Philip, during his emotional funeral service at St George's Chapel in Windsor.
The Queen kept her beloved husband close by carrying cherished mementos from their 73 years together inside her handbag as she sat alone, bidding him a final farewell.
According to Mail Online, Her Majesty carried one of Philip's trademark white handkerchiefs, crafted by his Savile Row tailors, Kent and Haste.
These crisply folded squares were a distinctive feature of the Duke's timeless style.
Additionally, the Queen carried a small photograph of the couple as newlyweds, believed to have been taken in Malta, a place of great significance for them.
During their early years of marriage, the couple resided in Villa Garda Mangia near Valletta, the capital of Malta.
Philip served as a naval officer with HMS Magpie on the Mediterranean island from 1949 to 1951.
Malta provided a sense of normalcy for Princess Elizabeth before she ascended the throne, and it was one of the happiest periods for the couple.
They frequently returned to the island, even celebrating their 60th anniversary there in 2007.
The photograph was safely tucked away in the Queen's handbag, which was made by the esteemed British brand Launa.
Known for its quality craftsmanship, the brand has held a royal warrant since 1969.
Queen Elizabeth is known to be fond of these handbags and is said to own around 200 in various styles.
They have often been used to carry precious objects, including a collection of good luck charms given to her by her children and grandchildren.
However, the mementos she carried to bid her husband farewell hold an unparalleled significance and sentimentality.
In addition to the handkerchief and photograph, the Queen also displayed the diamond Richmond brooch.
This precious piece was a wedding gift to her great-grandmother, Queen Mary, from the town of Richmond in 1893, and it has been passed down through the generations.
The brooch added a touch of elegance and remembrance to the funeral ceremony.
During the Covid-secure funeral at Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth left a personal handwritten note for her late husband.
It is reported that she signed the note with her sentimental nickname, Lilibet.
The note was placed alongside a wreath of white lilies, small white roses, and white freesia, carefully chosen by the Queen herself.
The gesture symbolized the Queen's final farewell to her husband of 73 years, whom she mourned in solitude away from her family within the hallowed walls of St George's Chapel.
As the funeral service unfolded, the Queen wiped away tears and bowed her head in reverence while accompanying Prince Philip's coffin on its final journey.
Their eldest son, Prince Charles, also shed tears as he walked behind the casket into the church.
Joining him were other devastated members of the royal family, including Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.
The Land Rover Defender hearse, a vehicle Prince Philip helped design, carried the Duke's coffin during the funeral procession.
Following closely behind were Prince Harry, Prince William, Peter Phillips, Vice-Admiral Tim Lawrence (Princess Anne's husband), and Antony Armstrong-Jones (the Queen's nephew).
