In a revealing new biography, royal biographer Hugo Vickers sheds light on the latter years of Queen Elizabeth II and her relationship with her husband, Prince Philip, offering intimate insights from personal accounts and extensive observations. The book, aptly titled “Elizabeth II,” is set for release later this month and is anticipated to offer a poignant portrayal of the late monarch’s final years alongside the Duke of Edinburgh.
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Vickers discloses a significant detail regarding Prince Philip’s health; he was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer in 2013. This diagnosis, combined with a series of heart procedures, severely impacted his ability to fulfil royal responsibilities, culminating in his retreat from public duties in August 2017. The author remarks that during this time, the Queen allowed her husband to enjoy life on his own terms, with Philip finding contentment at Wood Farm, located on the Sandringham estate.
Following their longstanding companionship, Prince Philip opted to live alone at Wood Farm, often visited by close friend Penny Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Vickers notes that Philip took solace in activities like carriage driving, reading, and painting. The Queen, on occasion, would visit for weekends, reflecting their evolving yet amicable relationship, characterised by a newfound distance.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 prompted another shift in their living arrangements. The Queen moved from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle and brought Philip back from Wood Farm. The couple entered a state of strict isolation, amusingly dubbed “HMS Bubble” by Tony Johnstone-Burt, the Master of the Household. Their tight-knit environment had minimal staff, and as a result, the couple opted for a quiet Christmas, an unusual departure from royal tradition.
As 2021 began, allegations of Philip’s declining health surfaced, with numerous hospital visits and a close call during heart surgery in March. Vickers reveals that the Duke was not keen on celebrating his upcoming milestone 100th birthday, preferring to avoid the fuss that frequently accompanies such occasions.
On his final night, tragedy struck as the 99-year-old prince “gave his nurses the slip” and ventured out for a beer, showing a semblance of independence before passing away quietly the next morning. Notably, the Queen did not get the chance to bid farewell to her husband. Vickers highlights that she was “absolutely furious that, as so often in life, he left without saying goodbye.”
Due to COVID restrictions, only a limited number of mourners could attend Prince Philip’s funeral. The solitude of the occasion, with the Queen seated alone and masked at St. George’s Chapel, aligned with what the Duke would have preferred, according to Vickers. The simplicity of a reduced farewell was perhaps a blessing amid the sombreness of the situation, resonating with Philip’s aversion to grand gestures.
After Philip’s passing, Queen Elizabeth never returned to Buckingham Palace, instead moving to Windsor Castle, where her health began to decline significantly. Vickers speculates that during a subdued summer at Balmoral Castle in 2022, she was likely diagnosed with bone cancer. Conversations with her longtime friend, Prue Penn, revealed a candid reflection on mortality, as the Queen remarked, “I feel as if I’m in the departure lounge.”
The Queen had an awareness of her own fate, expressing a belief that she, like her husband, would not reach the age of 100. Indeed, she passed away on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, concluding a historic reign of over seven decades. As the nation mourned the loss of its longest-reigning monarch, Vickers relays how she appeared to harbour resentment towards the public fascination with her demise, stating, “At least you don’t have to do it as publicly as me.”
Hugo Vickers’ biography promises to encapsulate the shared experiences, both emotional and relatable, of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during their final years together, providing readers a thoughtful reflection on their enduring legacy within the royal family and the broader context of British history.