"Philip's retirement had allowed her time to adjust to doing things alone. But provided he was at the end of the phone after a trying day, the world's best-known double act could still function behind the scenes," the royal expert said in the Daily Mail.
"Covid changed everything but, crucially, it brought an unexpected dividend in that she and Philip were together for the last 13 months of his life," he continued.
Princess Elizabeth and The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh waving to a crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London shortly after their wedding at Westminster Abbey in 1947. Photo / Getty Images
"The two had often discussed how each would cope without the other at their side, and it boiled down to this: whoever was left should mourn, but not for too long, then enjoy what remained of their life."
The Queen returned to royal duties just four days after the death of Prince Philip in April and has maintained a steady schedule of public duties, including the G7 summit, the Royal Windsor Horse Show and a recent visit to the set of Coronation Street.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, the Queen's grandson-in-law Mike Tindall said she was "amazing" during what was undoubtedly her darkest hour.
The Queen sat alone at Prince Philip's funeral. Photo / Getty Images
"Having to see the Queen make a stand in terms of having to show what the world is at the moment and sit on her own and be as brave as she was, I thought, just summed up her up as a lady. She was amazing," he said.
