Tomorrow won't be an ordinary birthday for the Queen, who will be turning 95, not only due to the very sad and recent loss of her husband, Prince Philip, but because coronavirus-related restrictions also dictate that any large-scale celebrations are unable to go ahead.
The COVID-19 rules also impacted on Prince Philip's funeral, which took place last Saturday, and meant that Her Majesty had to sit by herself throughout the poignant service – the stark image of which will no doubt remain with the 13 million viewers who tuned in for a long while.
Now, it's reported, that for her birthday, the Royal Family are making an extra special effort to ensure that the Queen feels supported and won't be alone at any point throughout the day.
According to The Mirror, the family have all agreed to put a rota system in place (apparently spearheaded by Sophie Wessex, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall), so that Her Majesty is continually surrounded by loved ones. It's also believed that the Queen has two new corgi puppies to keep her busy during this initial period of mourning too.
"The Queen will not be alone," a source is reported to have said of the decision. "She will have others who care about her deeply and want to be there to support her in her most pressing hour."
The source added that Her Majesty is coping as well as can be expected during such a sad time. "In typical fashion the Queen has insisted she is coping and despite the suggestion she had prepared herself for this day to come, everyone is well aware there is nothing like the experience when it comes."
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As part of the rota system, Prince Charles is expected to visit his mother, making the hour and a half-long drive to Windsor Castle from his country home, Highgrove in Gloucester, as will his sister, Princess Anne (who shared an incredibly touching tribute to her father).
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, will drop by with her two children, Lady Louise Windsor (who was especially close to Prince Philip) and James, Viscount Severn too. Unable to be there in person due to the children having school, the Cambridges have also scheduled in video calls with the Queen, so that she may still 'see' three of her great-grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis on the day.
Our thoughts remain with the entire Royal Family at this time.
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Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
