They were the longest-married couple in royal history. But after 73 years of companionship, love and mutual respect, the Queen said goodbye to her husband, Prince Philip, last April.
One image from the funeral at St George’s Chapel, Windsor is lodged in our collective memory. Her Majesty, dressed all in black, sitting alone in accordance with Covid-19 restrictions, a pillar of duty until the end.
Today’s memorial service is a further opportunity to pay tribute to Philip, who supported the Queen in public and private, a man who she called her “strength and stay all these years”.
In her Platinum Jubilee year, and despite declining health and mobility, she was determined to be there. And she can take strength from her family, many of whom will be around her.
Britain is fortunate to have the Queen, and today we remember the life and legacy of a man who gave exemplary service to her.
Art for Ukraine
The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine shows no sign of abating. Our Investigations Editor David Cohen has been reporting from the Romanian-Hungarian border, where a flow of exhausted but determined Ukrainian women and children are seeking safety and the opportunity to reach the Schengen area.
“It’s a lottery,” said Anastasia, 30, describing the risks of fleeing Kyiv with her mother. “Bombs can land on your house at any time. One bomb was so close, it made our house shake and that was the signal for us to leave.”
Sadly, their story is one of many, and that is why Britons and millions around the world have been moved to raise money and even open their homes to Ukrainians.
One way the Evening Standard is doing so is by offering our readers the chance to win a limited-edition print of Idris Khan’s artwork in support of Ukraine.
I Thought We Had More Time… features the colours of the Ukrainian flag on collaged music paper. The piece, which Khan was inspired to create after seeing harrowing pictures of families leaving their homes, has already raised £137,000 for our Ukraine Appeal.
It is being sold as a timed-edition print for £300 or readers can donate £10 to our appeal to be entered into a prize draw. All profits will go towards the Disasters Emergency Committee. Please do donate if you can: migrateart.com/products/idriskhan
Legacy of partygate
It may have been overtaken by events, but Partygate is back. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it will hand out a first wave of fixed penalty notices to Downing Street staff found to have broken lockdown rules.
The return of Number 10 parties to the agenda is a reminder that, although the Prime Minister has successfully bolstered his position within the Tory Party since the wobbly days of winter, the issue remains a thorny one.
Whether or not Boris Johnson is himself fined, the culture of illegality that permeated his Downing Street will hang over his administration. He now seems likely to lead the Conservatives into the next election.
But he can expect Partygate to act as exhibit A in questions over his probity, integrity and respect for the law in any future campaign.
