Queen Elizabeth II attends Prince Philip's memorial

The monarch, who turns 96 in April, has not attended a high-profile event outside her homes since her hospital admission in October. Ill health, including testing positive for COVID-19, and difficulties walking and standing forced her to pull out of the Commonwealth Day service on March 14. Her attendance was only confirmed two hours before the memorial began in Westminster Abbey, London.

An estimated 1,800 family members and guests came to Prince Philip's memorial. Only 30 people could attend his funeral in 2021 under the strict pandemic rules in place at the time. As a result, the queen had to sit alone wearing a black mask as she mourned the loss of her husband, whom she called her rock.

Prince William, along with his wife, Kate, and their children, also attended the memorial. With eyes increasingly on the succession, there have been clear signs that future issues loom. William's tour of Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas last week was criticized for being a throwback to colonialism, and afterward the prince acknowledged calls for the British monarch to be replaced as head of state.

Prince Andrew, the monarch's second-eldest son, was also present. Andrew's attendance at the memorial marked his first public event since he made an undisclosed payment to settle a US lawsuit following reports of sexual assault decades ago, which he denies. The monarch entered the church on the arm of Andrew, then separated from him to walk to her seat alone.

Queen Elizabeth's eldest son, Prince Charles, attended with his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The Prince of Wales is next in line to the throne.

The queen and king of Sweden, Silvia and Carl XVI Gustav, paid their respects at the memorial, along with about 30 foreign royals, including Prince Albert of Monaco, Denmark's Queen Margrethe, and King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain. Philip's wider family and friends were also there, along with 500 representatives from charities and other groups he supported.