Queen Elizabeth II Makes Emotional Journey to Sandringham Ahead of Father’s Death Anniversary

Queen Elizabeth II has made an emotional journey to Sandringham in Norfolk, leaving behind Windsor Castle where she has been staying for months.

The visit comes ahead of the 70th anniversary of her father's death.

On Sunday, Her Majesty traveled to the estate using a combination of helicopter and car, and it is reported that she will be staying at Wood Farm, the place where her late husband, Prince Philip, spent a significant amount of time after retiring from public life.

Usually, the Queen spends the festive period at Sandringham, but due to Covid precautions, she remained at Windsor Castle during the autumn and had muted Christmas celebrations with her immediate family last month.

In the final years of Prince Philip's life, the Queen and he lived apart, with the Duke of Edinburgh residing at Wood Farm while the Queen stayed at Buckingham Palace.

However, she would frequently visit him whenever she didn't have official engagements.

At Wood Farm, the Queen and the Duke had a small team of staff who did not wear uniforms, as Prince Philip preferred a more informal atmosphere.

The five-bedroom cottage is situated in a peaceful area of the estate and allowed the couple to engage in everyday activities.

It is believed that the Queen herself cooked and did the washing up during her stays there.

Before Prince Philip permanently moved into Wood Farm, other members of the royal family often used it.

For instance, the Duchess of Cambridge stayed there on visits to the estate before her marriage to Prince William.

Additionally, Sarah Ferguson was required to stay there after her divorce from Prince Andrew.

Although she wasn't permitted to attend the Christmas celebrations in the main house, she wanted to remain close to her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Prince Philip enjoyed his time at Wood Farm, which he transformed into a private retreat.

He relished being away from the other members of the royal family and spent his days reading, painting watercolors, and hosting friends.

A source revealed, “Everything is being put in order for the Queen's visit.

We've been told that she will stay at Wood Farm rather than in the main house, which is nice as that always had a special place in his heart.”

Traditionally, the Queen commemorates the anniversary of her father's death at Sandringham, staying there after the royal family's Christmas break.

However, due to the surge in Covid cases, she decided against the usual family vacation in 2021 and spent the holiday at Windsor instead.

It is expected that during an extended break at the cottage, the monarch will spend a session day with her family on February 6 and privately celebrate her platinum jubilee.

Public celebrations lasting four days will be held nationwide in June.

Considering the 140-mile journey from Windsor to Sandringham, whether by helicopter or car, can be quite arduous, especially for a 95-year-old.