Queen Elizabeth II, 94, has had a difficult start to the year with Meghan Markle, 39, and Prince Harry, 36, having officially severed ties with the Royal Family for good and Prince Philip, 99, having been admitted to hospital for non-emergency treatment.
The Queen has been isolating at Windsor Castle for the best part of the pandemic having moved her main base from Buckingham Palace last March.
The Queen’s husband Prince Philip, 99, joined her at Windsor ahead of the first lockdown and the pair had been living together up until the Duke of Edinburgh’s hospital admission on Tuesday last week.
The Duke of Edinburgh is expected to remain at King Edward VII’s hospital for several more days as he is treated for an infection.
Despite his internment, Philip is said to “remain in good spirits2 and is looking forward to being able to return home.
While 2021 has got off to something of a rocky start, the Queen shared her sweet wish for the coming year in a kind thank you note to one royal fan.
The Queen has made time to reply to the hundreds of Christmas cards she received last year and relayed her wishes for the coming months.
In one letter shared by royal fan Katsroyalletters on Instagram, the Queen wrote: “The Queen thanks you for the message you sent for Christmas and the New Year.
“Her Majesty greatly appreciates your kind thought at this time and hopes 2021 will be a happier year for us all.”
While the Queen may be worried as the Duke remains in hospital, 2021 has already brought some happy news with the arrival of her granddaughter Princess Eugenie’s first child.
Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank welcomed a son to the world on February 9 and the baby boy is the Queen’s ninth great-grandchild.
The new parents shared their son’s name with fans last weekend and it contains a touching nod to Prince Philip.
In an adorable Instagram post, Princess Eugenie wrote: We wanted to introduce you to August Philip Hawke Brooksbank…”