Queen Elizabeth’s husband, Prince Philip the Duke Of Edinburgh is celebrating his 99th birthday today. After spending the past few months self-isolating with the Queen at Windsor Castle during the coronavirus lockdown, the Palace has released a new picture of the couple of commemorate the occasion.
 
The rare public photo – which is the first public sighting of the Duke since he was seen leaving hospital in December last year – was taken in the grounds of Windsor Castle. Taken during the sunny spell of weather that the UK enjoyed last week, the Queen and Prince Philip are photographed standing side by side on the lawn, with a glimpse of the castle behind them.
 
The Queen wears a heart-shaped Cullinan V 18.8 carat diamond brooch, while the Duke wears a Household Division tie. The poignant photograph is the first public sighting of the couple – who have been married since 1947 – together since 2019.
 
Traditionally, the Duke's birthday would be celebrated with gun salutes in London, but due to the coronavirus pandemic and the continued ban on social gatherings, the Queen felt such celebrations would be inappropriate. Similar royal celebrations for her own birthday in April were also cancelled, the first time in her 68-year reign.
 
The photograph follows on from another recent sighting of the Queen, who was seen riding her horse Balmoral Fern in Windsor Home Park last week.

See also: 5 Queen Elizabeth II Brooches And The Stories Behind Them