Queen Elizabeth II has canceled several engagements in the past weeks and there are fears that she may cancel her attendance at Prince Philip's memorial service. However, Buckingham Palace is allegedly planning a "military-style" operation to get her to her late husband's upcoming Thanksgiving while keeping her from the paparazzi.
Buckingham Palace Plans A Military-Style Operation To Get Queen Elizabeth To Prince Philip's Memorial Service
The Queen is determined to attend Prince Philip's Thanksgiving memorial service. However, she doesn't want the public, especially the press, to see her in a wheelchair for fears that it will replicate a "haunting photo" taken of her late sister Princess Margeret months before her death, a source told Daily Mail.
Since the Queen is reportedly desperate to be present at the event, the palace is exploring various options to get her into the event. The palace will launch a major operation to get the Queen into the event.
They are also looking for ways whether she can be seated before the audience arrives rather than last, as is the tradition.
"Everything is being looked at to make sure the Queen makes it to Philip’s service. But the most important thing is to make sure she is comfortable," a source told The Sun. "She must be there, and the best and most capable minds are hard at work doing their very best to make it work."
Here's an overview of the plan to get the Queen to the memorial service.
First, a helicopter will get the Queen from Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace. It's the best way because it's the quickest. A royal car will fetch her at the back of Abbey. She doesn't want to use a wheelchair, but her assistance could help her get through the side entrance and into the Abbey to speed up the process. The vehicle will go through the Dean's Yard.
It will go through cloisters using a tunnel screen. The Queen will be assisted through Abbey cloisters. She will enter the Abbey through Poet's Corner to take her seat.
"Help and consideration from broadcasters will also be sought and required," the insider added. "This is the only way she can get into the Abbey. It needs to be as simple as possible and out of the public eye."
Queen Elizabeth Really Wants To Be Present At Prince Philip's Thanksgiving Memorial Service
Royal experts are convinced that the Queen wants to be present at Prince Philip's memorial service later this month. And yes, they believed that she would do everything to make it possible.
"Clearly she would like to be there but, on the other hand, she spent a lifetime with him. This is more a public ceremony for other people and not specifically for her," royal biographer Penny Junor told The Sun on Sunday. "If she doesn’t make it, then it is not the end of the world. But I would imagine they will move Heaven and Earth to try to get her there."
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Junor said that there is no doubt about the Queen's love for her late husband. Also, the Duke of Edinburgh was laid to rest last year and the upcoming ceremony is for the other people to bid their goodbye to him.
Majesty Magazine’s editor-in-chief Ingrid Seward also believed that the Queen doesn't want to be photographed in a wheelchair but wants to be present at the event.
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"Understandably, the Queen doesn’t want to be seen in a wheelchair. But as the Head of State and someone who wants to be seen and needs to be seen, she might concede to a wheelchair. The best way of doing that is to make sure there are no photographs taken," she said.
"She will be thinking that if it was her thanksgiving ceremony, he would move Heaven and Earth to make sure he was there," Seward continued. "She would really hate to miss it. It is a headache for her staff as it would be difficult for anyone of her age who suffers mobility problems. It would be a painful process for her."
Stay tuned for more news and updates about the Queen and Prince Philip's funeral.
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