Entertainment
Susanna Reid criticises social distancing as Queen sits alone at Prince Philip’s funeral: ‘Someone should have been there with her’
Susanna Reid criticised social distancing after witnessing the Queen having to sit alone at her husband Prince Philip’s funeral on Saturday, saying she should have been allowed to be ‘comforted’ if people are allowed to go to pub gardens.
The 30 guests who attended the scaled-down event at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, followed Covid-19 guidelines, keeping their distance from those outside of their household and wearing face masks.
The nation watched the Queen sitting by herself in the chapel throughout the service, at one point bowing her head in grief as she said goodbye to her husband of 73 years.
Susanna and co-host Adil Ray were joined by Dr Hilary on Monday’s Good Morning Britain to discuss the funeral, and Susanna said it was upsetting to see the queen ‘not being comforted’.
She also compared it to the reopening of outdoor dining and beer gardens as the UK makes its way towards easing lockdown restrictions completely.
She said on the programme: ‘Everybody’s heart broke when we saw the Queen on her own.
‘I think a lot of people wonder now, when you’ve got everything opening up, you’ve got a huge cavernous place like the chapel at Windsor, why does the Queen have to be alone and not comforted, or at least have someone there a metre away or at least have somebody there to be with her?’
Dr Hilary said she was accompanied by someone in the car, adding that she simply may have preferred to be alone at that moment.
He said: ‘Somebody could have been within a metre of her with personal protection.
‘When we see those scenes in London, things are opening up but we should stress that with the advice of keeping your distance, washing your hands and wearing masks, a lot of people weren’t doing that, they think it’s all over.
‘As things opened up people were taking a few liberties.’
Turning back to the funeral, Susanna replied: ‘The Queen, seeing the Queen there on her own compared to those scenes of hospitality, people think, “hang on a moment, have we got the priorities right here?”‘
The Duke was laid to rest underneath the chapel, in a vault which contains 24 other royals. He will remain there until the Queen dies, when he will be moved to the King George VI Memorial Chapel to rest alongside her.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Prince Philip funeral: Key details
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh passed away on Friday April 9, just two months shy of his 100th birthday.
Today, the Duke was interred in the Royal Vault at St George’s Chapel – where he will remain until his wife of 73 years dies, whereupon they will be buried together.
Although well-wishers were urged to not line the streets of Windsor, they could watch the ceremony on TV.
Here are the key details:
