Prince Charles' Tears For His 'Dear Papa' at Philip Memorial Service

Prince Charles was seen to wipe away a tear during the service of thanksgiving for the life of his father, Prince Philip, on Tuesday.

Charles, the heir to the British throne, had enjoyed a closer relationship with his father during the latter years of his life after stating publicly in an authorized biography in the 1990s that his parents had been lacking in emotional affection.

Philip died at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2021, just weeks before his 100th birthday. Due to COVID-19 public safety restrictions enforced by the U.K government at the time, Charles spoke with reporters from his home at Highgrove in Gloucestershire instead of being with the Queen at Windsor.

"My dear Papa was a very special person who I think above all else would have been amazed by the reaction and the touching things that have been said about him and from that point of view we are, my family, deeply grateful for all that," Charles said, speaking the day after his father's death.

Philip's funeral was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, later that month but again, owing to COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings, the number of mourners was limited to 30. This allowed only the closest of family to attend in their household "bubbles" and so the Queen, 95, was left to sit alone in the chapel.

Tuesday's service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey was announced after the funeral and was attended by those who knew the prince at home and abroad, from family to staff and charity members.

The service was held in the presence of the greatest assemblage of European royalty since the 2012 diamond jubilee with the monarchs of Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands all flying to Britain to pay their respects.

Nearly all members of the British royal family were present at the abbey on Tuesday with notable exemptions being Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle. Newsweek was told earlier this month that Harry would not be flying to the U.K from his home in California for the memorial as he had done for the funeral last year. This is amid the prince's ongoing lawsuit with the U.K Home Office regarding security arrangements for him and his family when they visit Britain.

Charles attended the service alongside his wife Camilla and Prince William and Kate Middleton who were accompanied by their children Prince George, 8, and Princess Charlotte, 6.

The Queen was escorted to the service and to her seat by Prince Andrew which surprised onlookers because the event marked the first public occasion at which the prince has been seen since settling out of court a sexual abuse lawsuit lodged against him in the United States. Andrew was seated away from Charles and the Queen in another block of seating with the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Emotions ran high during the service with keen observers reporting that the Queen's eyes grew moist at one point. Prince Charles sat next to his mother and offered her a word of comfort as she took her seat before the service.

After the service, the Queen left through the side door through which she came, avoiding a long walk up the abbey aisle in front of the congregation and television cameras. The 95-year-old monarch has taken to using a walking stick in recent months and has complained about suffering from reduced mobility.

As Charles left the abbey, he appeared with his eyes slightly reddened and speaking with members of the clergy and his family. The service of thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip marked the closing of a remarkable life. Speaking about his father shortly after his death, Charles said:

"As you can imagine... I miss my father enormously."