The Queen pays sweet tribute to Prince Philip in emotional COP26 speech

2 November 2021, 08:35

By Alice Dear

The Queen sat next to a picture of her late husband Prince Philip as she addressed COP26 from Windsor Castle.

The Queen’s speech at the COP26 Evening Reception

Queen Elizabeth II, 95, paid tribute to her late husband Prince Philip during her speech to the Convention on Climate Change.

Her Majesty was meant to attend the event, held in Scotland, but was forced to cancel after doctors advised her to rest for another two weeks following her hospital stay.

While not in attendance, the Queen sent a heartfelt address all the way from Windsor Castle, which was viewed by the delegates at the summit last night.

During speech, the Queen kept the Duke of Edinburgh close to her, placing a picture of her late husband on the desk to the left of her.

• The Queen is asked if she believes in Santa Claus by child in heartwarming old video
• Princess Charlotte set to inherit Princess Diana's most iconic heirloom
• Queen pulls out of COP26 climate summit following night in hospital

The stunning photograph was taken in 1988, and shows Philip watching the Monarch Butterfly's migration.

The Royal Family shared the picture for the first time in April this year following the Duke of Edinburgh's passing, where they explained that the "passionate advocate for conservation, wildlife and the environment" had supported efforts by a conversation group in Mexico to help protect the species from deforestation.

The Queen also referenced Philip in her speech, calling him he “dear late husband” as she spoke about his years of dedication to the environment.

In another link to her husband, the Queen wore a butterfly brooch during the speech.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)

The Monarch also referenced her son, Prince Charles, and grandson, Prince William, in the speech, saying: "It is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet, lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William."

She added: "I could not be more proud of them."

Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Kate Middleton are all in attendance at the summit, which will continue throughout the week.

Read the Queen's full COP26 speech here:

"I am delighted to welcome you all to the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference; and it is perhaps fitting that you have come together in Glasgow, once a heartland of the industrial revolution, but now a place to address climate change.

"This is a duty I am especially happy to discharge, as the impact of the environment on human progress was a subject close to the heart of my dear late husband, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.

"I remember well that in 1969, he told an academic gathering: 'If the world pollution situation is not critical at the moment, it is as certain as anything can be, that the situation will become increasingly intolerable within a very short time… If we fail to cope with this challenge, all the other problems will pale into insignificance.'

"It is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet, lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William. I could not be more proud of them.

"Indeed, I have drawn great comfort and inspiration from the relentless enthusiasm of people of all ages – especially the young – in calling for everyone to play their part.

"In the coming days, the world has the chance to join in the shared objective of creating a safer, stabler future for our people and for the planet on which we depend.

"None of us underestimates the challenges ahead: but history has shown that when nations come together in common cause, there is always room for hope. Working side by side, we have the ability to solve the most insurmountable problems and to triumph over the greatest of adversities.

"For more than seventy years, I have been lucky to meet and to know many of the world’s great leaders. And I have perhaps come to understand a little about what made them special.

"It has sometimes been observed that what leaders do for their people today is government and politics. But what they do for the people of tomorrow - that is statesmanship.

"I, for one, hope that this conference will be one of those rare occasions where everyone will have the chance to rise above the politics of the moment, and achieve true statesmanship.

"It is the hope of many that the legacy of this summit – written in history books yet to be printed – will describe you as the leaders who did not pass up the opportunity; and that you answered the call of those future generations. That you left this conference as a community of nations with a determination, a desire, and a plan, to address the impact of climate change; and to recognise that the time for words has now moved to the time for action.

"Of course, the benefits of such actions will not be there to enjoy for all of us here today: we none of us will live forever. But we are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our children’s children, and those who will follow in their footsteps.

"And so, I wish you every good fortune in this significant endeavour."

Read more Royal Family news:

• The Queen 'set up secret signal' with aides in case she 'felt fatigued' at event
• Ant McPartlin speaks candidly to Kate Middleton about his addiction struggles
• Are Kate and William planning to have a fourth child?