![The Queen: A Life in Jewels](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/alifeinjewels.jpg?resize=1200%2C713&ssl=1)
The Queen spent the last year of her life as a widow, but in the weeks and months before the Duke of Edinburgh’s death, the couple were able to spend some happy final moments together at Windsor Castle.
![The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in an image released to celebrate his 99th birthday, 2020](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-0409-duke01.jpg?resize=1200%2C1444&ssl=1)
Following the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh relocated to Windsor Castle. By all accounts, the time they spent in lockdown, dubbed “HMS Bubble,” was a particularly pleasant time for the two, who were able to spend much more time together than they had in a long while. We got several glimpses of the couple together during that last year, including this photograph, released to celebrate the Duke’s 99th birthday in June 2020. The Queen wears the Cullinan V Brooch with her pearls in the image.
![Princess Beatrice's royal wedding, July 2020](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2011-0429-weddings13.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
Because Princess Beatrice moved her July 2020 wedding to Windsor, the Queen and the Duke were able to be among the small number of guests in attendance. It was one of their last major family occasions together, made particularly special by the fact that Beatrice borrowed her grandmother’s wedding tiara for her big day. The Queen wore the Rose of England Brooch for the ceremony.
![In this handout image released on November 19, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh look at their homemade wedding anniversary card, given to them by their great grandchildren Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle ahead of their 73rd wedding anniversary, on November 17, 2020 in Windsor, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-0409-duke02.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&ssl=1)
This special photograph was also released during the couple’s last year at Windsor. Taken in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle on November 17, 2020, the photo shows the Queen and the Duke just a few days before their 73rd wedding anniversary. They’re perusing a card handmade for the occasion by three of their great-grandchildren, Prince George, Prince Charlotte, and Prince Louis. For the photograph, the Queen wore the Sapphire Chrysanthemum Brooch, a memorable jewel which she also wore during the couple’s honeymoon in 1947.
![Pallbearers of the Royal Marines carry the coffin into St George's Chapel to mark the start of the funeral service of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London, on April 17, 2021](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-0409-duke03.jpg?resize=1200%2C1803&ssl=1)
But by the following spring, the Duke’s health had taken a turn for the worse, and he passed away peacefully at Windsor on April 9, 2021. On April 17, a small ceremonial funeral was held for him at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. Just a few guests, including his children and grandchildren, were able to attend.
![The coffin is carried into The Quire during the funeral service of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh inside St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London, on April 17, 2021](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-0409-duke04.jpg?resize=1200%2C1219&ssl=1)
The long-established plans for the service had to be scaled back considerably because of the pandemic, but the spare, precise funeral ended up being incredibly meaningful (and perhaps reflecting the Duke himself better than a grand service might have).
![Queen Elizabeth II arrives for the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021 in Windsor, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-0409-duke05.jpg?resize=1200%2C1612&ssl=1)
For the service, the Queen wore pearls with a diamond and pearl brooch—a long-established custom of hers for funeral occasions. She chose Queen Mary’s Richmond Brooch, wearing it without its pendant.
![Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew, Duke of York attend the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021 in Windsor, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-0409-duke06.jpg?resize=1200%2C1668&ssl=1)
The solitary figure of the Queen sitting during the service was the lasting image of the day, something particularly resonant with those who had lost loved ones during the pandemic period.
![Queen Elizabeth II meeting personnel during a visit to HMS Queen Elizabeth at HM Naval Base during a visit to HMS Queen Elizabeth at HM Naval Base ahead of the ship's maiden deployment on May 22, 2021 in Portsmouth, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-0409-duke07.jpg?resize=1200%2C973&ssl=1)
A few weeks after the funeral, in May 2021, the Queen made a visit to HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth ahead of the ship’s maiden voyage.
![Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to HMS Queen Elizabeth at HM Naval Base ahead of the ship's maiden deployment on May 22, 2021 in Portsmouth, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-0409-duke08.jpg?resize=1200%2C1601&ssl=1)
The Duke of Edinburgh was a decorated naval officer, so the occasion provided another opportunity for remembrance. Fittingly, the Queen chose to wear the Grima Ruby Brooch, which had been given to her by her husband in 1966.
![Queen Elizabeth II receives a Duke of Edinburgh rose, given to her by Keith Weed, President of the Royal Horticultural Society, at Windsor Castle on June 9, 2021 in Windsor, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-0409-duke09.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
On June 9, 2021—a day before what would have been the Duke’s 100th birthday—the Queen received Keith Weed, President of the Royal Horticultural Society, at Windsor Castle. He presented her with the new Duke of Edinburgh Rose, which had been named in honor of her late husband.
![Britain's Queen Elizabeth II reacts after she was presented with a Duke of Edinburgh rose, named in memory of her late husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, by the President of the Royal Horticultural Society, Keith Weed (unseen), at Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London, on June 2, 2021](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-0409-duke10.jpg?resize=1200%2C1715&ssl=1)
For the casual audience, the Queen wore small pearl stud earrings and a single strand of pearls.
![Queen Elizabeth II records her annual Christmas broadcast in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle on December 23, 2021 in Windsor, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-0409-duke11.jpg?resize=1200%2C795&ssl=1)
For that year’s Christmas Broadcast, filmed on December 23, 2021, the Queen also paid tribute to the memory of the late Duke. A photograph of them together, taken at the time of their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in 2007, was placed beside her on the table. In both the photograph and in the broadcast, the Queen again wore the sentimental Sapphire Chrysanthemum Brooch.
![Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (L), and front row (L to R) Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal, and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Britain's Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Britain's Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Britain's Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount James Mountbatten-Windsor attend a Service of Thanksgiving for Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey in central London on March 29, 2022](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-0409-duke12.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
The Duke of Edinburgh’s life was celebrated with a large memorial service at Westminster Abbey on March 29, 2022. The special service provided a sort of “do-over” for the funeral that wasn’t able to happen in 2021. The extended royal family was in attendance, as were members of foreign royal families.
![Britain's Queen Elizabeth II attends a Service of Thanksgiving for her late husband, Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey in central London on March 29, 2022](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-0409-duke13.jpg?resize=1200%2C1686&ssl=1)
For that service, one of the Queen’s last major high-profile appearances, she again honored Philip’s memory by wearing a jewel that he chose for and gave her personally: the Grima Ruby Brooch.
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