Queen's brave face in philip's final days

* THE MONARCH TODAY ANNOUNCED WITH 'DEEP SORROW' THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND PRINCE PHILIP AT THE AGE OF 99 * SHE HAS CONTINUED CARRYING OUT HER DUTIES THROUGHOUT HER HUSBAND'S

ILLNESS BEFORE HIS 'PEACEFUL' DEATH  * HOSTED VIDEO CALLS, AND VISITED COMMONWEALTH AIR FORCES MEMORIAL IN RUNNYMEDE, SURREY, ON MARCH 31  * QUEEN ENJOYED AT EASTER WALK WITH

CHARLES ON MARCH 23, WITH AN OFFICIAL PHOTO RELEASED ON GOOD FRIDAY  By RORY TINGLE FOR MAILONLINE Published: 07:39 EDT, 9 April 2021 | Updated: 13:12 EDT, 9 April 2021 Prince Philip's

final weeks saw him visited by an emotional Prince Charles in hospital before being returned to the comfort of Windsor where his son enjoyed an Easter walk with the Queen - as the stoic

monarch carried on with her public duties throughout.  The Queen, 94, today announced with 'deep sorrow' the death of her husband at the age of 99, calling him her 'strength

and guide' throughout their 73-year marriage and her 69-year reign. The Duke of Edinburgh spent his final days at Windsor Castle with his wife after a 28-night stay in hospital having

been admitted in mid-February for an infection and a pre-existing heart condition. Philip's eldest son Prince Charles, 72, paid him a half-hour visit during the first week of his

treatment, making a 100-mile journey from Highgrove in Gloucestershire to the capital. Charles appeared emotional when he left.  The Queen spent the Easter Weekend at Windsor, and was seen

on a socially-distanced walk with Charles on March 23, in an image released on Good Friday. It is unclear if the Prince of Wales saw his father on the day and whether he has seen him since.

  Despite all the personal turmoil, which included Meghan and Harry's bombshell Oprah interview while Philip was still in hospital, the Queen has continued carrying out her duties,

mainly over video call due to Covid restrictions.  She last appeared in public March 31 to mark the centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force, and she has also held several meetings over

video call.   HOW THE QUEEN CARRIED ON HER DUTIES THROUGHOUT PHILIP'S ILLNESS  February 16 - The duke is admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital on a precautionary basis after

feeling unwell. Four days later he is visited by the Prince of Wales. February 20 -  Charles pays Philip a half-hour visit during the first week of his treatment, making a 100-mile journey

from Highgrove in Gloucestershire to the capital. Charles appeared emotional when he left February 23 - Seven days after the duke was admitted, the Palace say he is being treated for an

infection and is 'comfortable and responding to treatment', but is not expected to leave hospital for several days. The Earl of Wessex says the duke is a 'lot better' and

looking forward to getting out. March 1 - Philip is transferred in an ambulance to St Bartholomew's Hospital for treatment for an infection and testing and observation for a

pre-existing heart condition. March 1 - Queen speaks to the Governor of South Australia, Hieu Van Le, and Steven Marshall, Premier of South Australia, to watch the unveiling of a statue of

herself in Adelaide. March 3 - The duke has heart surgery. March 5 - Philip is moved back to King Edward VII's Hospital to recuperate. March 7 - Meghan and Harry give their bombshell

interview to Oprah.   March 16 - The duke leaves hospital after a month-long stay and reunites with the Queen at Windsor Castle. March 16 - On a video call, the Queen hails the

'wonderful' work of the army of volunteers who stepped forward during the pandemic, telling them they have been a 'great, great help over this difficult year'.  March 23

- Queen and Charles go on a socially-distanced walk at Windsor.   March 31 -  Queen visits the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial in Runnymede, Surrey, for the centenary of the Royal

Australian Air Force.   Until his death, Philip was the longest-serving consort in British history and the oldest partner of a reigning monarch.  Despite his ill health, the Queen remained

resolutely stoic in Prince Philip's final days and took part in her first royal engagement of 2021 last week.  On March 1, the Queen spoke over Zoom to the Governor of South Australia,

Hieu Van Le, and Steven Marshall, Premier of South Australia, to watch the unveiling of a statue of herself in Adelaide.  On March 16, the Queen hailed the 'wonderful' work of the

army of volunteers who stepped forward during the pandemic, telling them they have been a 'great, great help over this difficult year'. The monarch, who has been patron of the

Royal Voluntary Service for almost 70 years, held a video call with the Duchess of Cornwall, the organisation's president, and RVS volunteers.  Her Majesty, calling from Windsor Castle,

appeared thrilled to see her daughter-in-law, starting the call with a cheery: 'Ah good morning. Hello Camilla! '  On her last public appearance on March 31, the Queen visited the

Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial in Runnymede, Surrey, for the centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force.  While she had been seen in video calls this year, it was the first time the

Monarch has been seen in public since December, when she welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge back to Windsor after their whistle-stop tour of Britain. It was her first in-person

official engagement of 2021 - and the first since last October, when she visited the Defence Laboratory at Porton Down alongside her grandson Prince William. It was also the first time she

has been seen since Harry and Meghan's bombshell Oprah interview. But at the event, the Queen quizzed one Australian serviceman about his work with Typhoon jets and asked if they were

'being sent off to chase the Russians?' and was told, 'That's correct, ma'am, it's a lot of fun for us!' The Queen, who had her Covid vaccine in January,

did not wear a face covering but donned a bright spring-inspired ensemble; an ivory Angela Kelly dress, green coat and matching hat adorned with faux daffodils and orchids, and the

Australian wattle brooch presented to her on her first tour of the country in 1954. She joked: 'It's a very long time since I've been here,' as she arrived at the

memorial - which she had opened in her coronation year, on October 17, 1953. Her Majesty announced her husband's death at midday. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: 'It is with

deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. 'His Royal Highness passed away peacefully

this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss'. His death plunges the nation and

the Royal Family into mourning, and brings to an end Philip's lifetime of service to Britain and to Elizabeth, the Queen who adored him since her teens. 'He has, quite simply,

been my strength and stay all these years,' Her Majesty said at their Golden Wedding banquet in 1997. 'I and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt

greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.' The quizzical, witty, faithful - and often controversial - the Duke was the Queen's greatest source of support, her

confidant and the man she relied on above all others. Philip was a great-grandfather of ten, with the most recent addition to his wider family being Zara and Mike Tindall's baby son

Lucas Philip Tindall on March 21 - soon after Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's son August, who was born on February 9. Philip's lifelong role was to ensure that he never let

The Queen down and their long-lasting marriage was one of the world's best known relationships. Reflecting their love in her Diamond Jubilee speech to Parliament in 2012, the Elizabeth

said: 'During these years as your Queen, the support of my family has, across the generations, been beyond measure.  'Prince Philip is, I believe, well-known for declining

compliments of any kind. But throughout he has been a constant strength and guide.'