Queen Elizabeth Left Handwritten Note for Prince Philip on His Coffin — Signed with Sentimental Nickname
PA Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth honored her late husband Prince Philip with a personal touch.
In a loving gesture to her husband of 73 years, the Queen placed a handwritten note on top of the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin throughout his funeral services on Saturday. The monarch signed the note with the nickname "Lilibet" — a nickname she was given as a child.
In another heartbreaking touch, Philip is thought to be the last person who called by her childhood moniker.
The palace would not comment on the personal detail as it's "private."
During the funeral, the monarch mourned her husband, sitting alone in the pews of St. George's Chapel.
NBC Queen Elizabeth's letter
The arresting image, a poignant coda to the couple's enduring union, was one of many heartbreaking moments throughout the funeral of Prince Philip, who died at age 99 on April 9.
In keeping with pandemic guidelines, the Queen and members of the congregation wore face masks and sat six feet apart. Sitting inside the chapel, the Queen could be seen with her face down, only the top of her black hat visible.
Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth at the funeral of Prince Philip, her late husband.
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The day after Prince Philip's death on April 9 at the age of 99, the Queen's daughter-in-law Sophie, Countess of Wessex tearfully told people gathered outside Windsor Castle that "the Queen has been amazing."
Prince Philip's casket, adorned with his personal flag.
Amid reports that the 94-year-old monarch will be accompanied by family members at future engagements, a former senior aide at the palace told PEOPLE, "Her family will step up and be by her side, but she will carry on. She understands that she has a job to do, and [Philip] would have wanted her to crack on. She did do so when he retired from public life."
"She will never abdicate because of duty and honor and public service is so deep in her, as it was for him," added a close royal insider.
