Senior royals gather to honour Prince Philip at memorial

Queen Elizabeth II walked into Westminster Abbey through a side door Tuesday, making good on her wish to attend a memorial service for her beloved husband Prince Philip.

The monarch entered the church on the arm of her second son, Prince Andrew, then separated from him to walk to her seat alone, easing concerns about her health that had raised questions about whether she would attend.

The 95-year-old monarch was deeply involved in planning the event, but she has experienced unspecified mobility issues in recent weeks and her presence at the event was unclear.

Elizabeth, who recently recovered from COVID-19, didn't go to a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey earlier this month, but she continued with other scheduled engagements, including in-person audiences.

About 1,800 family members and guests have been invited to the memorial. Only 30 people attended last year's funeral, conducted under the strict COVID-19 lockdown rules then in place that forced the queen to sit alone wearing a black mask as she mourned the loss of her husband, who she called her rock.

Philip died on April 9 at age 99.

Tuesday's service will feature the hymn Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, fulfilling one of Philip's wishes for his funeral that wasn't carried out because of restrictions that banned singing.

Young people participating in programs run by the prince's Duke of Edinburgh charity and youth cadet associations will line the steps of the abbey to greet guests for the service.

Britain's royal family will attend, together with about 30 foreign royals, including Prince Albert of Monaco, Denmark's Queen Margrethe, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, and King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.

Philip's wider family and friends are also expected to attend, along with 500 representatives charities and other groups he supported.

Andrew has stepped back from royal duties, but his presence at his father's memorial had been widely expected after he settled a lawsuit connected to his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.