In her hour of need THE QUEEN TURNS ΤΟ ANDREW

Her Majesty made her true feelings known as she honoured Philip

- Judy Kean

It was a moving, respectful and totally fitting tribute to the late Prince Philip that saw the usually stoic Queen in tears several times.

But the memorial service to Her Majesty's husband, who died last April, was overshadowed by the grieving widow's decision to give her disgraced son Prince Andrew a prominent role in the proceedings.

Princess Beatrice (left) - seen arriving with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, sister Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank got particularly emotional, at one stage sobbing and covering her face with the Order of Service.

The monarch's second son, who no longer carries out official engagements after he was sued for sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre, travelled to the service with the Queen, 95, and walked his mother into Westminster Abbey. They left together afterwards, returning to Windsor rather than attending any of the receptions in Philip's honour.

Zara and Mike Tindall were joined by their eldest daughter Mia.

Royal experts say the Queen's decision to let Andrew, 62, play a pivotal part would partly have been due to practical considerations - they both live in Windsor, so travelling together made sense; they were both on their own (Andrew's ex, Sarah, Duchess of York did not attend); and now that Her Majesty is increasingly frail, she needed someone to escort her into the abbey. But it was also a clear sign that she believes Andrew still deserves to be part of family occasions.