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Queen wears honeymoon brooch as husband Philip spends another weekend in hospital

Watch: The Queen delivers annual Commonwealth message

The Queen wore her honeymoon brooch as she addressed the Commonwealth while her husband Prince Philip spent another weekend in hospital.

The 94-year-old monarch donned the brooch which she first wore when she and the Duke of Edinburgh went to Broadlands in Hampshire after their wedding in 1947.

She wore it again in November 2020 when the palace released images of her and the duke on their 73rd wedding anniversary.

But wearing it on Sunday, as she addressed the nation and the Commonwealth at the annual Commonwealth Day service, had a particularly special meaning as her husband spent another weekend in hospital.

Philip, 99, was taken to King Edward VII hospital on 16 February, on his doctor's advice, but walked in unaided and was said to be in "good spirits".

However he was taken to St Bartholomew's in the City of London on 1 March, where he then underwent a procedure on his heart.

On Friday morning, he was moved back to the private hospital at King Edward VII, with the palace explaining: "Following the Duke of Edinburgh’s successful procedure at St Bartholomew’s Hospital on Wednesday, His Royal Highness has been transferred to King Edward VII’s Hospital this morning.

“The Duke is expected to remain in hospital for continuing treatment for a number of days.”

UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 23:  Princess ELIZABETH and the Duke of EDINBURGH make a charming picture when they specially posed for the camera at Broadlands, Romsey, where they are spending their honeymoon.  (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)
Then-Princess Elizabeth with Prince Philip on honeymoon at Broadlands, Romsey, in 1947. (Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)
NOTE: RETRANSMITTED AMENDING EMBARGO FROM 2200HRS TO 1700HRS GMT SUNDAY MARCH 7 Embargoed to 1700hrs GMT Sunday March 7 2021 Queen Elizabeth II signs her annual Commonwealth Day Message in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle.
The Queen signed her annual Commonwealth Day Message in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle. (PA Images)

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The Queen wore the brooch on an Angela Kelly delphinium blue dress and jacket, and was seen walking through the Commonwealth flags before sitting at an ornate desk to sign the message.

In the message, she address the "testing times" of the year, while noting the technology which allowed people to stay in contact while having to remain in their own homes.

She also spoke of how technology brought "an immediacy that transcends boundaries or division" in keeping in touch with friends and family, and added: "I hope we shall maintain this renewed sense of closeness and community."

The Queen and Prince Philip have been together in Windsor Castle since March 2020 when he was flown down from Sandringham for lockdown.

It's longer than they would usually be able to spend together, as he retired in 2017, and she spends most of her working weeks in London at Buckingham Palace.

But this hospital stay has now become the Duke of Edinburgh's longest, at nearly three weeks.

The duke was last in hospital just before Christmas in 2019, when he was taken in on his doctor's advice as a precaution.

He was there for four days before leaving in time for Christmas at Sandringham.

He had a hip operation in September 2018 at the same hospital and was there for 10 days. It was a planned operation.

In June 2017, he spent three days in the hospital with an infection.

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