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Religious leaders, charities and MPs last night demanded an end to the ‘inhumane’ restrictions on funerals.
They called for the limit of 30 mourners to be raised to allow more friends and relatives to say farewell to loved ones.
The plight of grieving families was highlighted by the sight of the Queen sitting alone at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on Saturday.
One MP said it was ‘absolutely atrocious’ that the monarch was left by herself as she bid a final farewell to her husband of 73 years, unable to be comforted by family. Mourners must remain socially distanced from anyone outside their household or support bubble at a funeral.
As a woman whose entire life has embodied public service, the Queen would never have considered any tweaking of the Covid restrictions, even for the funeral of her husband of 73 years.
So on Saturday she sat masked and socially isolated in St George s Chapel looking both bereft and stoical, though most strikingly of all I thought, utterly alone.
The worst part is that this was wholly unnecessary.
There was no scientific basis for so few members of her family to be there, dotted along the vast empty pews; nor for them having to wear masks at this important moment in our history, the death of the longest serving royal consort.
How you, our generous readers, raised over £830,000 for the Telegraph Christmas Charity appeal
Here s how your donations will make a difference to carers, cancer patients, the bereaved and victims of domestic abuse
2 February 2021 • 2:11pm
Associate Editor Camilla Tominey at our annual charity phone-in, which raised more than £124,000 in just one day
Credit: Jeff Gilbert
This year’s Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal, which closed on 31 January, has raised a grand total of £836,691.86 for our four chosen charities: Refuge, Carers UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and Cruse Bereavement Care.
A heartfelt thank you to you, our readers, is in order for the compassion you have shown in response to the appeal - in a year in which charities have needed our support more than ever before.