The heartbreaking moment Princess Beatrice broke down in tears at Prince Philip’s memorial

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, passed away early in the morning at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2021. He was 99 years old and survived by his wife Queen Elizabeth, his four children and eight grandchildren.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, his funeral had to be scaled down, with only 30 guests allowed to mourn him in the pews of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

His partner of more than 70 years, there was no doubt that Queen Elizabeth would be in attendance, as well as his children Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Also part of the slimmed down contingent of funeral guests were Philip’s eight grandchildren: Prince William, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

But a picture of the Queen sitting six-feet away from her family members as she mourned the death of her husband served as somewhat of an allegory of the times.

Three years ago today on March 29, 2022, the Royal Family – with the exception of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – came together to properly celebrate the life of the late Duke of Edinburgh as restrictions were lifted. 

Looked up to as the patriarch of his family, Prince Philip became a mentor for younger royals who continued to turn to him over the years. Although he shared a close bond with all of his grandchildren, it was Prince Andrew’s eldest daughter Beatrice who seemed most overcome with emotion at his memorial.

As a fanfare sounded and the Queen entered Westminster Abbey on her father Prince Andrew’s arm, Princess Beatrice started to cry as she stared up at the decorated ceiling.

Queen Elizabeth sits alone at the funeral of Prince Philip in April 2021 due to coronavirus restrictions

Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince Charles and Princess Anne stand behind the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin

The Queen arrives to Philip’s memorial with Prince Andrew on March 29, 2022 

Princess Beatrice was overwhelmed by the service. Stood behind the Queen she cried and covered her face with the order of service as her grandmother removed her glasses

Her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, noticed her tears and placed a hand on her lower back to comfort her before the princess shielded her face from view with the Order of Service booklet.

Later in the hymn, Beatrice sniffed as she dug around in her handbag for a tissue.

Prince Phillip was a dependable presence in Princess Beatrice’s life. He was one of the few guests who attended her lockdown wedding to property developer Edoardo.

Sadly, Phillip died just five months before he got to meet Beatrice’s daughter Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi.

This year, the princess gave birth to her second daughter Athena Elizabeth Rose and royal fans suggested that the gorgeous name Athena points to her late grandfather Phillip, who was born in Corfu, as it is derived from Greek mythology.

In 2016, Beatrice became emotional as she spoke about her beloved grandfather in the ITV documentary Our Queen at Ninety.

She told the cameras: ‘My fabulous grandfather. When I talk about my grandfather, I really get quite emotional.’

Wiping away a tear, Beatrice added: ‘Because he is the most unique person and I’m very lucky there have been so many times where I have been able to share some quite magical moments with my grandfather.’

Her Majesty sat next to Charles, Camilla, Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. Across the aisle was Prince Andrew

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Beatrice file into the main church 

Princess Eugenie (left) and Princess Beatrice (right) pictured arriving at a service of thanksgiving for late Prince Philip

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were married on July 18, 2020

Prince Phillip and the Queen were among the very few guests at the socially distanced service

In the documentary, her younger sister Eugenie agreed and said: ‘I think grandpa is incredible. He really is strong and consistent. He’s been there for all the years and I think he’s the rock for all of us.’

Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank, who married in October 2018, named their first child, a son born on February 9, 2021, August Philip Hawke Brooksbank.

Due to lockdown restrictions, it is thought that Eugenie never had the opportunity to introduce her newborn son to her grandfather before his death in April 2021.  

Posting on Instagram, she wrote: ‘⁣Dearest Grandpa, we all miss you. ⁣You would be so touched by all the tributes that have been shared with me the past few days. ⁣

⁣’People remember sitting next to you at a dinner, or shaking your hand once, who remember you saying hello in passing, or remember how much their DofE award meant to them. 

⁣’I remember learning how to cook, how to paint, what to read. I remember laughing at your jokes and asking about your spectacular life and service in the navy. ⁣

‘I remember incinerating the sausages and you swooping in to save the day.⁣ I remember your hands and your laugh and your favourite beer. ⁣I will remember you in your children, your grandchildren and great grandchildren.’

She finished the post by thanking the Duke for his service, before signing off: ‘With all my love, Eugenie.’

Prince Philip sits with the Queen at the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in 2018

Prince Philip patting Eugenie affectionately on the head outside church in Sandringham in 1998 

Beatrice, Eugenie and Prince Phillip watch the racing from the Royal Box at Epsom in June 2012

Eugenie shared a lengthy tribute online as she said she ‘would remember’ her grandfather’s ‘spectacular life’

The royal shared two images alongside the emotional post, including one with sister Princess Beatrice on The Royal Balcony At The Investec Derby Festival At Epsom In Surrey in 2017.

Another shows Prince Philip patting a then eight-year-old Eugenie affectionately on the head on Christmas Day at Sandringham in 1998.  

The Duke of Edinburgh was a big fan of carriage racing, passing on his passion to Lady Louise Windsor, one of his youngest grandchildren.

He also enjoyed the outdoors and taught his grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry their country crafts, from fly fishing to and barbecuing a steak on an open grill in the Scottish Highlands.

For William and Harry, the Duke was said to be a guiding presence, offering them counsel and support in the dark days after their mother, Princess Diana‘s death.

To avoid the pervasive gaze of the world’s media, it was decided that William, then 15, and Harry, then 12, should stay at Balmoral where Prince Phillip took them under his wing.

Writing in her book The Diana Chronicles, royal biographer Tina Brown, who was a close confidante of the late Princess of Wales, revealed: ‘A member of the Balmoral staff noted that Prince Phillip, who had effectively lost his own mother at the age of ten when she was committed for three years to an asylum in Switzerland, was brilliantly effective with his grandsons, offering them gruff tenderness and outdoor activities like stalking and hiking to tire them out.’

During this difficult time, Phillip stood by William and Harry’s side through it all, including walking with them behind Diana’s coffin at her funeral in September 1997. 

Prince Phillip was a big fan of the outdoors and passed his love of fly fishing, hiking and barbecuing in the Scottish Highlands on to his grandchildren

Phillip (right) was a big fan of carriage racing, passing on his passion to his granddaughter Lady Louise Windsor (left)

A young Prince William in Aberdeen with his grandfather waves to the crowds at Crathie Church 

It was reported that William did not want to walk in the cortege alongside his father and maternal uncle Charles Spencer, but it was the influence of his grandfather that changed his mind.

Ingrid Seward in her book My Husband And I: The Inside Story of the Royal Marriage, writes: ‘At first William flatly refused. Charles pleaded with him and said that it would be utterly wrong of him not to accompany them.

‘Prince Philip weighed into the argument and eventually William agreed to take part – but only on the condition that his grandfather walked beside him.’

Philip reportedly said ‘it’s about the boys. They’ve lost their mother,’ before telling his grandson ‘I’ll walk if you walk’.

‘I seem to remember him saying that in fact, it was a question of, “If you’ll do it, I’ll do it,”‘ Princess Anne confirmed to ITV News in 2021 after Prince Phillip’s death.

‘And that was him as a grandfather saying to them, “If you want me to be there, if that’s what you want to do and if you want me to be there, I will be there.”‘

On the day of the funeral, when he thought no cameras would be able to see, he whispered something in William’s ear, gently placing his arm around him as they passed underneath the arches of Horse Guard’s Parade.

Martin Palmer, who co-founded The Alliance of Religions and Conservation with the Duke of Edinburgh, explained: ‘You’ve just got to watch that moment and realise here is a grandfather who is trying to help his young, very vulnerable grandson struggle through this awful awful moment.

The Duke of Edinburgh joined his grandsons, his son Charles, and Earl Spencer as they walked behind Princess Diana’s coffin

The Duke and his grandson at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales

The Duke of Edinburgh and Prince William joking together at Runnymede in 2015

‘He knew what it was like to be a member of a dysfunctional family and he tried his hardest that this would not happen to his grandchildren.’

Paying tribute to his grandfather after his death, Prince William released a statement which read: ‘My grandfather’s century of life was defined by service – to his country and Commonwealth, to his wife and Queen, and to our family.

‘I feel lucky to have not just had his example to guide me, but his enduring presence well into my own adult life – both through good times and the hardest days.’