Queen Died of 'Broken Heart' – After Nearly 74 Years of Love She Reunited with Spouse in 1st Pics of the Grave
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"They are together forever now," the first images of the Queen's grave and her husband's grave have been publicly released.
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"Something in her died when he went," The Royal Expert discusses the possible cause of Queen Elizabeth's death.
Queen Elizabeth was the longest-serving monarch for 70 years, but she and Prince Phillip also had the longest-standing royal marriage of 73 years.
Prince Phillip died in 2021 at 99 from old age, reported 7News. The Duke of Edinburgh was said to have been the Queen's rock and biggest supporter, especially after she lost those closest to her, Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother, in 2002.
Queen Elizabeth II at Prince Phillip's funeral in Windsor 2021. | Source: Getty Images
According to Lord Charteris, the Queen's former private secretary, Prince Phillip was the only person who treated her like an actual human being. Therefore, one can imagine that her beloved husband's death was not an easy loss for the Queen.
On the first Christmas the monarch spent without Prince Phillip, 7News reported that Queen Elizabeth II shared a heartfelt message.
Her Majesty expressed that she was comforted by the tributes and the work he did in his life, but despite her sadness, she said, "As much as my family and I miss him, I know he would want us to enjoy Christmas."
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip in London 1968. | Source: Getty Images
However, 7News also mentioned that before the death of Prince Phillip, Queen Elizabeth II had remained in good health and was persistent about attending royal engagements despite her old age.
But 7News reported that the Queen's health started to decline during the strict COVID-19 restrictions, and she started developing mobility issues. This led to Her Majesty cutting down many appearances and showing at the next royal engagement with a cane.
Soon after, it was reported that the Queen was hospitalized for "preliminary investigations", which was allegedly the first time since 2013.
Queen Elizabeth II in London 2020. | Source: Getty Images
Prince Phillip was a partner to the Queen for 73 years; thus, his death greatly affected the Queen in ways that also attacked her health.
Royal Experts Try to Find Reasons Behind the Queen's Passing
Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest on Monday, September 19, 2022. The royal family only reported that the monarch died peacefully at her Balmoral Estate, but no information about her cause of death has been released.
However, royal experts have tried to speculate what could have gone wrong for Queen Health to take such a drastic turn. Royal expert Katie Nicholl told ET-Online that she believed Prince Phillips's death impacted the Queen's eventual passing.
Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth II in Hampshire 2007. | Source: Getty Images
Nicholl speculated that after 73 years of sharing life with her husband, the loss of Prince Phillip must have left a void in the Queen's heart. She explained:
"I think she ultimately died of a broken heart, really. She was never the same after Philip went. They'd been together for 74 years. He was, her strength and stay. He supported her in everything she did in life. I think it's fair to say that she wouldn't be the Queen that she was without the support of Philip, and I think something in her died when he went."
Additionally, Nicholl spoke about one of the difficult parts of Queen Elizabeth's funeral that were not easy for the rest of the family to witness.
Queen Elizabeth II at Prince Phillip's funeral in Windsor 2021. | Source: Getty Images
The royal expert referred to the moment the Queen's coffin was lowered into the royal vault and revealed that it was a moment that was too heartbreaking for King Charles III to watch.
Nicholl also revealed that this was something that Queen Elizabeth II had planned because that was the same vault where Prince Phillip was also buried.
The royal family released photos of the Queen's resting place. A new ledger was replaced with a new black slab with the Queen's name alongside George VI Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and Prince Phillip, and a metal star divided their names.
The reunion of the Queen and her husband was an intimate ceremony with only the immediate family, said Nicholl. Since the Queen's funeral, Cosmopolitan reported that people have wondered if they would be allowed to visit the monarch's grave.
Well, good news, because Cosmopolitan stated that the chapel's website had released information that people will be able to view the Queen's burial site from Thursday, the day the chapel is open to the public.
Queen Elizabeth II's coffin at her state funeral in Westminster 2022. | Source: Getty Images
The Queen's ledger site is situated at Windsor Castle, and the public will have to pay to see it. It costs £28.50 for adults on Saturdays and £26.50 for other days.
A Special Gift That Prince Phillip Gifted the Queen
Prince Phillip gave Queen Elizabeth a special gift that was reportedly one of her most cherished presents from her husband. When the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh married, he gave her something special to commemorate their next step.
According to Vogue, Prince Phillip designed a bracelet made out of diamonds from her mother's dismantled tiara. He reportedly followed the special gift with a sweet message he wrote to the Queen's mother about Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth II in her royall attire wearing a diamond bracelet gifted to her by Prince Phillip in circa 1955. | Source: Getty Images
Prince Phillip explained what the bracelet represented and what he hoped his union with Queen Elizabeth would be. He wrote:
“Lilibet is the only ‘thing’ in the world which is absolutely real to me, and my ambition is to weld the two of us into a new combined existence that will not only be able to withstand the shocks directed at us, but will also have a positive existence for the good.”
Vogue also reported that the Queen wore the bracelet in Canada in 1957 and several times more after that. However, the special bracelet is reportedly borrowed from Kate Middleton.