The Queen signalled a "highly significant show of support" for her beleaguered son Prince Andrew at Prince Philip's memorial service today, an expert has said.
There had been doubts over whether the monarch, 95, would be able to attend the service at Westminster Abbey after a bout of ill health.
However, she decided early this morning that she was determined to attend the service for her beloved husband and was escorted into the Abbey on the arm of Andrew.
It was the first time the Duke of York has broken cover publicly since his civil sex case.
And according to royal author and former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, the Queen was loyal to her much-loved husband right until the end - and beyond.
She told the Mirror: "It was the very essence of her. Stalwart, dignified and loyal to her beloved husband to the very end — and beyond. This was an occasion the Queen had been determined to attend, despite her growing problems with mobility.
"If our hearts went out to her when she sat alone at the Duke’s funeral because of Covid rules, it was surely equally poignant to see her battle her frailty to give public thanks for his life.
"It was a question of mind over matter — and probably a considerable level of discomfort — for her to make the journey from Windsor Castle, where she now lives permanently, to London.
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"Almost 75 years since she walked down the long aisle of Westminster Abbey to become his wife, she took the shorter route, through a side door, to honour the man who had won her heart when she was just a teenager.
"She walked with a stick and, in a highly significant show of support for her beleaguered son, Prince Andrew, she held his arm for added stability. Her shoulders now are stooped, her back probably painful, but this was a day more important to her than any other.
"The decision about whether she would be able to make it to the Abbey was not made until the last moment. Even a couple of hours before the service, the Palace would only say that the Queen 'intended to attend'.
"She is a proud woman and does not want to be seen in a wheelchair. This may, though, become inevitable.
"After rummaging in her handbag, she found her glasses, opened the order of service and instead of sitting down, as might have been expected, she stood at the head of her family. Quiet and solemn."
Meanwhile, Jennie says it has been tough few months for the Queen - but today she took her rightful place in the Abbey alongside royalty from across the world.
She added: "In the year since his death the Queen has shown extraordinary fortitude, attending as many engagements as she could after the Covid lockdown ended. So many, in fact, that she was ordered to rest by her doctors. There was an overnight stay in hospital and tests to ascertain if there were underlying problems.
"She was forced to miss some of the most important events in her calendar: the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph and the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. And, gradually, we all became used to her conducting her meetings via video calls.
"In February, at one of her rare face to face meetings, she stood to greet two senior military officers but said: 'As you can see, I can’t move!'
"If that wasn’t bad enough, she then caught Covid. And, of course, she has had to confront the allegations made against Prince Andrew and strip him of his royal patronages and military appointments.
"It has not been an easy year for our 95 year old monarch.
"Today, though, we saw her take her rightful place amongst her extended family, Kings and Queens of Europe, and hundreds of people who shared her love and respect for the man she called 'her strength and stay'."
