‘Business as usual’ for Queen following Prince Philip’s funeral, royal expert predicts

Monarch is expected to return to public life after ‘brief period of mourning’

The Queen will return to “business as usual” in her public life following the funeral of her husband Prince Philip next week, a royal expert has predicted.

The monarch, who will turn 95 later this month, is facing a future without her life-long companion following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh on Friday, but she is expected to remain committed to her role as the UK’s head of state.

Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said he believed the Queen would return to her public duties once the two-week period of royal mourning is over.

“I think when you get to a certain age you become accustomed to people close to you dying and it certainly isn’t a surprise, although it’s terribly upsetting, it’s just part of life’s rich tapestry,” Mr Little said.

“I suppose one way of looking at it was she was very fortunate to have the duke for so long. But I think as far as she’s concerned as monarch it will be very much business as usual after this brief period of mourning.”

The monarch pledged her life to the Commonwealth in a radio address from Cape Town, South Africa, on her 21st birthday, when she was only a princess, in 1947.

She said: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”

Although there have been reports over the years suggesting that the Queen could consider allowing Prince Charles to become a stand-in sovereign following her 95th birthday, it is not expected that she will give up her public duties in the near future.

“I think the fact the palace announced a while ago what the intention was for the Platinum Jubilee [the Queen’s 70th year as monarch], next year, suggests she’s very much intending to be in the hot seat, at least until then,” Mr Little added.

The royal expert also noted that the lack of regular public events, due to the coronavirus pandemic, could give her time to mourn the loss of her husband in private - something that she might not have had in normal times.

Additional reporting by PA