Queen’s Speech: “Dressed” Monarch Makes First Major Engagement Since Husband Philip’s Death | UK News

The Queen is said to have “still felt the stability” of Prince Phillip at her side during the Queen’s speech on Tuesday, a royal expert said.

It was his first major engagement on the national scene since the death of her husband Prince Philip last month, but Sky News commentator on royal and national events Alastair Bruce said that after decades of the Duke’s presence by her side, she would still have felt his “encouragement.”

This year’s Queen’s Speech – which was part of the opening ceremony of Parliament in which the government outlines its priorities for the coming months – was a more restrained event, due to the precautions to be taken in the event of pandemic.

Follow the analysis of the Queen’s speech

Normally, the ceremony begins with a procession in which the Queen travels from Buckingham Palace to Westminster – usually by horse-drawn carriage.

It is one of the most colorful events of the parliamentary year and is steeped in traditions and customs dating back centuries.

Today, however, the Queen arrived in a Bentley limousine less people attended and all must have shown a negative COVID test and wear a face shield.

She also wore a “day dress”, hat and coat instead of the usual formal dresses to be “COVID appropriate”.

But despite the restrictions, Mr Bruce said it was a “key moment” for the Queen as head of state and “nothing would have stopped her from doing it”.

He said before the speech: “The Duke of Edinburgh will not be by her side but she will have her son (Prince Charles) and her daughter-in-law (Camilla) with her.

“It’s a very small event, but it offers this useful and one-off constitutional moment before the start of the new session.

“Nothing would have stopped her from doing it.

“The queen saw people everywhere …