Queen shares private photo of Prince Philip on eve of his funeral

Rebecca Taylor
·Royal Correspondent
·2-min read

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The Queen has shared a picture with the Duke of Edinburgh from her private collection as she prepares for his funeral.

Prince Philip, who died on 9 April at the age of 99, will be laid to rest in a ceremony which he helped to plan on Saturday, with the Queen to sit alone in St George's Chapel, following coronavirus restrictions.

On the eve of the funeral, the Queen shared a new image of her with the duke, taken in 2003 by their daughter-in-law, the Countess of Wessex.

In the image, the Queen beams as she sits on a hill next to her husband, who looks relaxed as he reclines next to her.

RETRANSMITTING AMENDING EMBARGO TIME TO 2200 FRIDAY APRIL 16 MANDATORY CREDIT: The Countess of Wessex. Not for use after December 31, 2021. NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE (including any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-editorial use including, for example, calendars, books and supplements). This photograph is provided to you strictly on condition that you will make no charge for the supply, release or publication of it and that these conditions and restrictions will apply (and that you will pass these on) to any organisation to whom you supply it. The photograph must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published. The photograph shall not be used after 31st December 2021, without prior permission from Buckingham Palace. Any questions relating to the use of the photograph should be first referred to Buckingham Palace before publication. Handout image released by Buckingham Palace on 16/04/21 of a personal photograph of the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at the top of the Coyles of Muick, taken by The Countess of Wessex in 2003. Issue date: Friday April 16, 2021.
A personal photograph of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the top of the Coyles of Muick, taken by The Countess of Wessex in 2003. (Buckingham Palace)

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He has taken off his hat, which is resting on his knee, and smiles at the camera.

The picture was taken in Coyles of Muick, a beauty spot near the town of Ballater in Aberdeenshire. The couple enjoyed their summer holidays in Scotland, on the Balmoral estate.

It shows the private side of the Queen and the duke, and how she will remember her husband of 73 years.

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The Queen, now 94, wears a tartan skirt, blouse and cardigan and a string of pearls in the picture and is sat on a rug.

Philip is propped up on his left elbow in the picture, also on the rug.

The area where the photo is taken may be a favourite spot for the Queen, as she recently named one of her two new corgis after the region - calling him Muick.

It has a dorgi puppy playmate called Fergus, also a Scottish name.

The area has been painted by the Prince of Wales whose Scottish summer retreat of Birkhall is close to the area where the Queen and Philip were photographed.

The Duke of Edinburgh's funeral will be held at 3pm on Saturday, preceded by a procession at 2.40pm through the grounds of Windsor Castle.

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