Queen Elizabeth II, 94, and Prince Philip, 99, have spent most of the pandemic isolating at Windsor Castle. While the Duke made Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate his main base following his retirement in 2017, he reunited with the Queen at Windsor ahead of the first lockdown last March.
Despite the Duke’s withdrawal from public life, last year the elderly royal made several important outings.
In July he stepped out at Windsor Castle for a ceremony to hand over his honorary role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Rifles to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, 73.
The Duke also joined the Queen to attend their granddaughter Princess Beatrice’s wedding on July 17.
2021 is a significant year for Prince Philip as he is due to celebrate his 100th birthday on June 10.
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While duke is famously not one to make a fuss, the impressive milestone is expected to be marked by some kind of national celebration.
The Queen’s official birthday parade is called Trooping the Colour and usually takes place on the second Saturday of June.
This year Trooping the Colour is expected to be held on June 12 – just two days after Philip’s 100th birthday.
Will Prince Philip join the Queen on the balcony this year?
A key part of the Queen’s Trooping the Colour parade is the Royal Family gathering on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch the flypast.
The duke has not joined the royals for the special outing since his retirement but could make an exception this year given it falls so soon after his milestone birthday.
Other royals expected to join the Queen for Trooping the Colour include heir apparent Prince Charles, 72, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, 73.
Prince William, 38, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, 39, and their three children – Prince George, seven, Prince Louis, two, and Princess Charlotte, five, are also like to be there.
The Queen’s eldest daughter Princess Anne is also a regular as is her youngest son Prince Edward, 56, his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex and their two children.
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The Sussexes have kept their UK home Frogmore Cottage and are expected to make use of it next spring.
Harry and Meghan are thought likely to return to the UK with their son Archie Harrison in order to celebrate Prince Philip’s birthday.
Harry is due back in Europe in March to oversee the Invictus Games in the Hague.
The duke and his brother William are also scheduled to unveil a new statue of their late mother Princess Diana in the grounds of Kensington Palace in July.
