Downing Street offered to ease Covid restrictions so that more people could attend Prince Philip’s funeral, but the Queen declined as it ‘wasn’t fair’, new reports claim.
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, died on 9 April 2021 and it is reported in Private Eye magazine that Number 10 contacted the Queen to offer a temporary lifting of restrictions for his funeral on 17 April.
However, the offer was rejected by the monarch who reportedly wanted to set an example to the nation. Private Eye reports that she said no on the grounds that it would be unfair to other people who were grieving loved ones in lockdown.
The revelation comes amid growing outrage over the fact multiple social events were allegedly held in Downing Street as the rest of the country faced tough Covid restrictions.
One of these took place on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral and allegedly saw Downing Street staff drinking and dancing into the early hours of 17 April.
Boris Johnson has apologised to the Queen, but the prime minister is also facing calls to resign over the so called ‘Partygate’ row.
At the time of the funeral, England was in step two of Boris’ lockdown exit plan. Funerals were not allowed more than 30 attendees and wakes were limited to just 15 people. There was a ban on non-household socialising indoors and the ‘rule of six’ applied to any outdoor gatherings.
Government guidance at the time read: 'You must not socialise indoors except with your household or support bubble. You can meet outdoors, including in gardens, in groups of six people or two households.'
Without lockdown restrictions, the funeral would have been attended by around 800 people.
When asked about the incidents by Sky News’ Political Editor Beth Rigby, the Prime Minister could be heard sighing behind his facemask.
“I deeply and bitterly regret that that happened,” he said.
Boris continued: "I can only renew my apologies both to Her Majesty and to the country for misjudgments that were made, and for which I take full responsibility."
The Queen sat alone in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for the funeral of her husband of 73 years in what’s become one of the most poignant moments of the pandemic.
Piers Morgan joined in tweeting: “This says everything about the Queen… and everything about those at Downing St.”
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