Prince Philip Joins the Queen for a Rare Outing Where She Answers a Question about Baby Sussex

Prince Philip made a rare public appearance alongside the Queen on Tuesday as they attended the Order of Merit service.

The 97-year-old royal had rarely attended any royal outings since he retired from public duties in 2017 and looked dapper in his suit. The service took place at Windsor Castle not far from their new grandson’s home at Frogmore Cottage.

Early on Monday morning, the Royals welcomed Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor to the fold, news Buckingham Palace announced the Queen and duke to be “delighted” with.

“The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and Earl Spencer have been informed and are delighted with the news,” the Palace said in a statement.

The duke last attended a public event when Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank got married at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in October, while he last got spotted in public in January after the car accident he had.

He miraculously escaped the flipped Land Rover unharmed and turned in his driver's license voluntarily a month later.

On a more official side of things, Prince Philip last attended an engagement in November last year at Windsor Castle when he met with the captain of the Royal Canadian Regiment Guard.

During the Order of Merit luncheon, the former Prime Minister of Canada, Rt Hon Jean Chretien couldn’t help but ask the Queen about her newborn great-grandson.

“Life is good for Your Majesty?” Mr. Chretien asked the Queen who smilingly replied, “Yes, thank you.” When the Queen offered nothing extra, Mr. Chretien added, “Congratulations. Another great-grandchild!” Gleefully the Queen replied, “Yes, I know.”

When Mr. Chretien asked how many great-grandchildren she has in total, the Queen merely replied, “Eight,” after which Mr. Chretien quipped, “You beat me by one.”

Members of the Order of Merit that attended the luncheon also gathered for a group photograph alongside Prince Phillip and the Queen and included former Commons Speaker Baroness Boothroyd, the naturalist Sir David Attenborough, artist David Hockney, and Timothy Berners-Lee the inventor of the World Wide Web, among others.

To honor leaders in sciences, arts, culture, and military, Edward VII created the Order of Merit in 1902 and carries a limit of 24 living members, and order Prince Phillip had been part of since 1968.

Meanwhile, Prince Charles and Camilla are currently in Germany and unable to share the joy with his son and daughter-in-law in person but shared a sweet message after he heard the good news.

Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla’s trip ends on Thursday, after which they will return home, no doubt eager to meet and spend time with their new grandchild.