Did The Queen Have A Blue Christmas Without Prince Philip?

For Queen Elizabeth II, the holiday season may have been bittersweet. The monarch, 95, was forced to spend her first Christmas without her beloved husband, Prince Philip, who died back in April at the age of 99. Of course, Elizabeth put on a brave face and delivered her annual holiday message. She even got personal and touched on missing her late husband during the festive time of the year, per People Magazine.

"Although it's a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones. This year, especially, I understand why," she said. "But for me, in the months since the death of my beloved Philip, I have drawn great comfort from the warmth and affection of the many tributes to his life and work — from around the country, the Commonwealth and the world. His sense of service, intellectual curiosity and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation — were all irrepressible. That mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him. But life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings; and as much as I and my family miss him, I know he would want us to enjoy Christmas."

Following the Christmas holiday, sources are revealing how the queen really got along without Philip by her side.

According to Us Weekly, Queen Elizabeth was a bit melancholy this Christmas, as she celebrated without her late husband Prince Philip for the first time in over 70 years. "Christmas was a bit of a struggle for the queen without Prince Philip by her side," a source told the magazine. "And not being able to spend it with her whole family [didn't help]. She's not one to wallow in self-pity and kept her chin up," the insider revealed, adding that Prince Charles did visit his mother on Christmas. 

However, Prince William and Kate Middleton didn't spend the holiday with the queen. They organized a video call so that the monarch could chat with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. "Obviously, the Cambridges were disappointed not to be spending the day with the queen, but thanks to modern technology, they video called her first thing in the morning to wish her a Merry Christmas," the source said. "And the kids excitedly told their great-grandmother about their gifts."

While the queen still seems to be adjusting to life without her beloved husband, she appears to be determined to continue on with her duties while honoring Philip and the work he's done over the years.