Queen Elizabeth returned to work on Tuesday after the two week period of mourning for her late husband of 73 years Prince Philip, who died on April 9 at the age of 99, came to an end.
Good Morning America reported that the 95 year-old Queen met with two incoming ambassadors to the United Kingdom. The Queen held the virtual meeting via video from Windsor Castle with Her Excellency Mrs. Ivita Burmistre, ambassador from the Republic of Latvia and Her Excellency Mrs. Sara Affoue Amani, ambassador from the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
Today The Queen held Audiences with incoming Ambassadors via video link from Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace.
🇱🇻Her Excellency Mrs Ivita Burmistre, Ambassador from the Republic of Latvia.
🇨🇮Her Excellency Mrs Sara Affoue Amani, Ambassador from the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. pic.twitter.com/LIjQWwacLp— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 27, 2021
This was the first time that the Queen had been seen in public since Philip’s funeral on April 17. She celebrated her 95th birthday four days later on April 21, releasing a rarely personal statement to let the world know that she is touched by the support she’s received in the wake of Philip’s death.
“I have, on the occasion of my 95th birthday today, received many messages of good wishes, which I very much appreciate,” the Queen said. “While as a family we are in a period of great sadness, it has been a comfort to us all to see and to hear the tributes paid to my husband, from those within the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world.”
“My family and I would like to thank you all for the support and kindness shown to us in recent days,” she added. “We have been deeply touched, and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life.”
Today is The Queen’s 95th birthday.
HM was born on 21 April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in London, the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York.
This year The Queen remains at Windsor Castle during a period of Royal Mourning following the death of The Duke of Edinburgh. pic.twitter.com/kOeH399Ndp
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2021
Despite the Queen’s devastation at Philip’s death, which came just two months shy of his 100th birthday, sources have assured the public that she will not be abdicating the throne.
“Her family will step up and be by her side, but she will carry on. She understands that she has a job to do, and [Philip] would have wanted her to crack on. She did do so when he retired from public life,” said one senior aide, with a close royal insider adding, “She will never abdicate because of duty and honor and public service is so deep in her, as it was for him.”
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