Queen sits with her family at Philip's memorial one year on from loneliness of lockdown funeral

Watch: Queen joins royals for Prince Philip's memorial service

The Queen was supported by her closest family as senior royals paid their respects to the Duke of Edinburgh at a poignant memorial service at Westminster Abbey.

The Monarch, who sat alongside Prince Charles throughout the service, had been determined to appear at the occasion in honour of her “strength and stay” Philip.

She has endured a period of illness that has seen her step back from public appearances in recent months and her attendance was only confirmed on Tuesday morning.

She was escorted by Prince Andrew, making his first public appearance since agreeing an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre.

The pictures of the Queen are in stark contrast to those at the funeral of Philip, who died on 9 April last year while England was under COVID lockdown rules.

His funeral was limited to just 30 people, and strict social distancing rules meant individual households were required to sit separated from one another.

One of the defining images of the pandemic became the image of the Queen sat on her own, having to be distanced from her own family as she grieved the loss of her husband of over 70 years.

In contrast, over 1,800 people packed Westminster Abbey on Tuesday to mark the life of the duke, her Majesty's family packing the seats around her.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall sat next to the Queen, alongside Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Behind her sat the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by their two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

In the row behind them Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank were joined by Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

Prince Andrew took a seat in the front row, next to his younger brother the Earl of Wessex, the Countess of Wessex and their two children Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn.

The service was the Queen’s first major official engagement outside one of her homes for nearly six months, since she travelled to Cardiff to deliver a speech at the Welsh Senedd on October 14.

Andrew, in his first public appearance since the settlement to his accuser Virginia Giuffre, escorted his mother into Westminster Abbey.

They entered via Poets Corner – a shorter route for the Queen’s comfort – in a small procession.

The monarch’s state limousine had arrived at Poets’ Yard entrance with Andrew sat beside her after they travelled from Windsor together.

Inside the abbey, they walked at a slow but steady pace, both looking ahead, and at the end of the aisle they separated – with Andrew giving a last glance to his mother as she turned right.

It came just hours after the Metropolitan Police announced 20 fixed penalty notices will be issued for breaches of COVID regulations following allegations of lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street.

One of the parties investigated was held the night before Philip's funeral, when drinks were held in Downing Street for the outgoing director of communications, James Slack.

The party was said to become so raucous a staff member went to the shops with a suitcase to buy alcohol, and a swing used by the PM's toddler son was broken in the garden during the gathering.

Slack, who now works as the deputy editor-in-chief of The Sun, issued an apology for the event and said: “I wish to apologise unreservedly for the anger and hurt caused. This event should not have happened at the time that it did. I am deeply sorry, and take full responsibility.”