The sad way the Queen spent her first Sunday without Prince Philip

The Queen faced her first Sunday without her husband, Prince Philip, yesterday - following his death last week.

• The poignant way the Queen spent her first Sunday without Prince Philip has been revealed.
• Her Majesty is said to have described Philip's death as having left a "huge void" in her life.
• This royal news (opens in new tab) comes after it was explained that Prince Philip's Duke of Edinburgh title will be passed down (opens in new tab) after another huge royal loss.

It was confirmed on Friday that Prince Philip had died (opens in new tab) aged 99 at Windsor Castle.

In a statement issued by Buckingham Palace, it was announced that the Duke of Edinburgh - who was married to the Queen (opens in new tab) for 73 years and described as her "strength and stay" - had passed away peacefully at the royal residence.

After Prince Philip's funeral (opens in new tab), which is planned for Saturday, the Queen will complete her reign as a widow (opens in new tab), in the same sad way as her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria.

As Her Majesty spent her first Sunday without her husband yesterday, she kept herself in solitude, reportedly attending a private church service and walking her two new Corgi puppies (opens in new tab) alone.

Her two youngest sons, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew attended prayers at All Saints Chapel yesterday morning along with Sophie Wessex, but the Queen did not join them.

Instead she is understood to have had a private mass at Windsor Castle, before having lunch at 1pm.

Palace sources report that she later took her personal Jaguar to the grounds of Frogmore House to walk her new Corgis, named Muick and Fergus, and returned by 3pm.

"The Queen is the epitome of keeping calm and carrying on and went about her usual Sunday habits," a royal insider told The Sun.

Prince Andrew has revealed that the Queen has described the loss of Philip as "a huge void in her life".

"The Queen as you would expect is an incredibly stoic person. And she described his passing as a miracle. And she's contemplating," he explained as he appeared outside church yesterday.

"She described it as having left a huge void in her life," he said, adding that the family is "rallying around to make sure that we're there to support her."