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Susanna Reid criticises social distancing as Queen sits alone at Prince Philip’s funeral: ‘Someone should have been there with her’

Dr Hilary explains why Queen sat alone at Prince Philip's funeral

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.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II sits alone in St. George's Chapel during the funeral of Prince Philip, the man who had been by her side for 73 years, at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, Saturday April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. (Jonathan Brady/Pool via AP)
Queen Elizabeth II sat alone in St. George’s Chapel during the funeral of Prince Philip (Picture: AP)
Susanna Reid
Susanna felt the Queen should have been allowed to have someone with her if people are allowed to go to pub gardens (Picture: ITV)

‘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.

The Funeral of The Duke of Edinburgh / Prince Philip at Windsor
The Queen sat with her head bowed in grief during the service

‘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.

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