How the pandemic brought Queen Elizabeth one unexpected blessing as the UK marks five years since lockdown

Five years ago today, a grim-faced Prime Minister Boris Johnson sat behind a desk at 10 Downing Street to address the nation and make a dramatic lockdown announcement.

‘From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home,’ he said.

As households up and down the UK hunkered down, the Queen made her way from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle in order to conserve staff resources.

At the time she was 93 and at higher risk of serious illness as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

A couple of weeks later, in a rare speech, the Queen addressed the nation to thank people for following the Government’s rules during the first national lockdown. It was watched by almost 24million viewers.

‘I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time,’ she said. ‘A time of disruption in the life of our country: a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all.’

Invoking the spirit of the Second World War and echoing Dame Vera Lynn’s famous words, the Queen promised the nation: ‘We will meet again.’

But lockdown brought the Queen an unexpected blessing – she was able to spend one final year alone with the ‘love of her life’ Prince Philip.

Five years ago today, Boris Johnson made a dramatic lockdown announcement to the nation from behind a desk in Downing Street

In an effort to raise morale, the Queen delivered an unprecedented speech to the nation on April 5, 2020

After the Duke of Edinburgh retired from public life in 2017 at the impressive age of 96, he moved to Wood Farm – a five-bedroom farmhouse on the Sandringham Estate close to the Norfolk coastline.

There he would be able to enjoy the quiet away from the pomp and glamour of royal life. Meanwhile, the Queen lived out of Buckingham Palace so it would be easy for her to undertake her many duties. 

She would speak to Philip regularly on the phone, but weeks would go by without them seeing one another.

However, when lockdown was called, the pair were reunited at Windsor Castle where they enjoyed daily walks around the private garden and made a point of dining together in the evenings.

Royal biographer Hugo Vickers suggested lockdown likely proved to be the longest time the Queen and Prince Philip spent together under one roof during their 74-year marriage.

In agreement, Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said it was ‘an opportunity for them in their later years to reconnect’ and the ‘perfect royal cocooning’.

A source told The Sun that the Queen appeared ‘to have a new lease of life because she loved the chance to spend quality time with Philip again’.

‘They have been able to relax and finally have the chance to live like regular people aged in their 90s should be able to,’ the source added. 

The Duke of Edinburgh takes off his hat as a mark of respect at his last individual public engagement in 2017

Prince Philip retired to Wood Farm (pictured) on the Sandringham Estate

The Queen leaving Buckingham Palace to join Philip at Windsor Castle for lockdown

Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth during their honeymoon at the Broadlands Estate in Romsey, Hampshire, in 1947

The couple walking through Broadlands Estate to mark their diamond wedding anniversary in November 2007

Despite being home to 150 people, including staff and the Military Knights of Windsor – retired officers given a pension and a home in the castle – no one outside a very small group was allowed access to the Upper Ward where the Queen lived with her husband.

The couple were attended to by a reduced household of about 20 staff members, known as HMS Bubble.

Angela Kelly, the Queen’s senior dresser and personal adviser, was part of the small team who isolated with the head of state during the pandemic.

In her book The Other Side Of The Coin: The Queen, The Dresser And The Wardrobe, Ms Kelly revealed how she learned how to set and cut the Queen’s hair as there was no hairdresser on staff.

‘The Queen knew I was nervous, and during the first two weeks I was shaking,’ she said. ‘I had only done her hair once or twice before, while on board the Royal Yacht Britannia. 

‘The Queen was so kind as she advised me on the very specific way to put the rollers in.’

But she added: ‘As I grew in confidence I’m sure the Queen thought I was a professional and started shouting at me, “Don’t do that, do it this way. That’s right, you’ve got it, don’t change it.” I was thinking, goodness me, I need a gin and tonic.’

Once her hair was done to her liking, the Queen passed the time during lockdown at her desk, reading newspapers and was an avid viewer of television news. 

While Prince Philip retired from public life at Sandringham, the Queen lived at Buckingham Palace

No one outside HMS Bubble was allowed access to the Queen’s private apartments

The Queen rides Balmoral Fern, a 14-year-old Fell pony, in Windsor Home Park on May 31, 2020

Ms Kelly also revealed in her book that the Queen’s corgis were a ‘godsend’ during Covid, allowing the monarch to go on long walks with them in Windsor Home Park. 

Horses, like dogs, were the Queen’s lifelong love, and she would ride Balmoral Fern, a 14-year-old Fell pony.

Her Majesty even spent her 94th birthday in lockdown and saw the cancellation of a number of royal events, including Trooping the Colour – but Prince Philip was by her side through it all.

The pair remained in good spirits as they kept in contact with family over video call, although a hilarious clip shows the moment the Queen’s daughter Princess Anne had to teach Her Majesty how to use Zoom.

Meanwhile the Queen’s son, Prince Charles, spent lockdown with his wife Camilla at their home Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland.

Biographer Angela Levin revealed that Camilla ‘shared daily Zoom calls with the Queen during lockdown’ to distract the monarch from Prince Philip’s ailing health by talking about their shared love of horses.

Charles kept himself entertained with ‘some of the funniest videos’ he had ever seen, praising the creators for lifting the spirits of the nation.

Prince William, his wife Catherine and their children George, Charlotte and Louis spent lockdown in Anmer Hall, their Norfolk home in the Sandringham Estate. 

Prince Charles spent lockdown at his home on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland with the Duchess of Cornwall

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, had daily calls with the Queen to distract her from Prince Philip’s ailing health

The Royal Family, pictured on International Nurses Day, adapted to an unprecedented change in their duties during lockdown, with public appearances swapped for online video calls

Catherine spoke to other parents about how parenting during the pandemic had been ‘exhausting’ and how her husband William had been her biggest support.

While on a Zoom call, she said: ‘I think as parents you’ve the day-to-day elements of being a parent, but I suppose during lockdown we have had to take on additional roles that perhaps others in our communities, or in our lives, would have perhaps supported us and helped us with.’

Chuckling, she added: ‘I’ve become a hairdresser this lockdown, much to my children’s horror. 

‘We’ve had to become a teacher – and I think, personally, I feel pulled in so many different directions and you try your best with everything, but at the end of the day I do feel exhausted.’

Across the pond, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry walked the streets around their new home in Los Angeles, as they delivered packages for the needy after volunteering for a charity.

The loved-up couple linked arms and held hands as they delivered packages to critically ill residents who were at a greater risk amid the Covid pandemic from the back of their $35,000 Cadillac XT5.

Meghan told friends it felt good to finally be out and about connecting with people after delivering charity meals with Prince Harry, an insider exclusively told MailOnline.

When the first lockdown was finally lifted, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, having spent more time close together than they had done in years, decided it rather suited them. They left Windsor together and travelled up to Balmoral together for their traditional summer break. 

Prince William, Catherine and their children George, Charlotte and Louis, spent lockdown in Anmer Hall, their ­Norfolk home

Catherine revealed that parenting during lockdown had left her ‘exhausted’ and joked about her children recoiling in ‘horror’ when she became their hairdresser

Kate took part in a discussion with three parents, whose children attend Roe Green Junior School in Kingsbury, north-west London, alongside headteacher Melissa Loosemore

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry walk the streets around their new home in Los Angeles, as they deliver packages to critically ill residents who were at a greater risk amid the pandemic

When the summer sun came to an end, they parted ways briefly as Philip made his way back to Woods Farm in Sandringham.

But when a second national lockdown came into force in England on November 4, 2020, later that month, in a sweet, romantic gesture, he travelled back to Windsor to be with his wife on their 73rd wedding anniversary.

In a break from tradition, the Queen and Prince Philip spent Christmas Day alone at Windsor Castle instead of Sandringham, and attended a private church service as they continued to shield from the virus.

While she usually placed a series of family photos on her desk during the Christmas broadcast, the Queen only displayed a picture of Prince Philip in 2020. It reflected their time spent together in lockdown and their decision to have a quiet Christmas together as a couple at Windsor – which would also be their last. 

After being admitted to hospital and undergoing a procedure for an existing heart condition, Prince Phillip died peacefully at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2021.

The Queen, who described Prince Philip as her ‘strength and stay’ during their long marriage, sat alone at his funeral on April 17, 2021, and wore a black face mask.

Only 29 other mourners – including Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry – were allowed inside St George’s Chapel as social distancing rules were still in place.

Immediately after Prince Philip’s funeral, the Queen returned to her apartment in Windsor Castle in silence.

The Queen, 94, spoke of the coming of ‘light and hope’ as she gave her Christmas message at a time when many of her subjects remained apart from their families due to the pandemic

Alone in grief, the Queen sat alone to say goodbye to her husband at Prince Philip’s funeral on April 17, 2021

Philip’s coffin had his standard, navy cap and a sword given to him by the Queen’s father when they had married 73 years before. The Queen, all in black, sat alone as it was placed ahead of the altar

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they were then, look towards Philip’s coffin before it was lowered into the Royal Vault

‘I helped her off with her coat and hat and no words were spoken,’ senior dresser Ms Kelly told royal expert Gyles Brandreth.

‘The Queen then walked to her sitting room, closed the door behind her, and she was alone with her thoughts.’

Though her grief was private, in public the Queen was determined to carry on as normal. ‘Life goes on,’ she said. ‘It has to.’