IT WAS a royal gathering of the highest order even if the occasion was a sombre one. And for fans starved of occasions brimming with pomp and ceremony, the thanksgiving service for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey in London pulled out all the stops.
There was the splendour of the ancient church, the fashion finery that saw many of the women choosing dark green - the livery colour of the late Duke and the dazzling parade of royals that included members of the royal households of Europe.
Some 1800 guests attended the cerecry from the Duke of Edinburgh's Covid-restricted funeral in April last year when only 30 people were allowed to attend.
Like then, all eyes were on Her Majesty, whose health woes had sparked doubt she would attend. But the monarch is made of stern stuff and insiders say she was determined to honour the man who had been her “strength and stay” for 73 years.
Certainly, the service was a sign of unity for the royal family - although the glaring omission of Prince Harry and the pivotal role taken by Prince Andrew also shone a harsh light on the fissures and fracturing within The Firm.
Nothing from the memorial set tongues wagging as much as the 62-year-old Duke of York's front-and-centre presence. While few will argue he didn't have every right to pay homage to his father, it was expected the disgraced royal would make a lowkey appearance.
Instead, the opposite occurred. He rode with his mother in a car to the service, then confidently escorted her to her seat in full view of the congregation and broadcast cameras. As Peter Hunt, a former BBC News royal correspondent put it, “This was rehabilitation on speed"
Senior members of the royal family, in particular, future kings Prince Charles (73) and Prince William (39), were said to have been shocked and dismayed by his "unnecessary role".
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