Queen faces another day of grief after Prince Philip's memorial service

The Queen has woken up to yet another emotional day, as she commemorates the 20th anniversary of her mother's death. 

The Queen faces more grief in the aftermath of Prince Philip's memorial service, with today marking the 20th anniversary of her beloved mother's death. 

The Queen Mother died in her sleep at the Royal Lodge on 30 March 2002, after four months of nursing a nasty cold. At 101 years old, she outlived her husband, King George VI, by an incredible five decades. Her eldest and only surviving daughter, Queen Elizabeth, was by her bedside at the time. 

Her Majesty paid tribute to the Queen Mother on Twitter this morning, sharing a series of touching posts in honor of her legacy.

The Queen Mother was famously close to Queen Elizabeth II, having built a strong bond with her over their mutual love of horse racing and a cheeky nightcap. It's understood that the royal matriarch spoke to her daughter on the phone every day after King George VI died, despite living just across the street from her at Clarence House. 

It remains unclear how the Queen will mark the poignant occasion, which comes just one day after the Duke of Edinburgh's Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London.  

The monarch was escorted by Prince Andrew to the front pews of the church yesterday morning, where she sat beside Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, and Princess Anne for the 45-minute-long ceremony. 

The event was also attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The youngest of the Queen's children, Prince Edward, was joined by his wife, Sophie Wessex, and their teenage children, Lady Louise Windsor and  James, Viscount Severen. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who withdrew as senior royals in 2020 and emigrated to the US, were not at the memorial. It's understood that Prince Harry's security concerns over returning to the UK were the driving reason behind his refusal to show up at the historic event.