DRAMA at Prince Philip's Memorial

Queen Elizabeth defies Prince Charles by putting Prince Andrew in the spotlight while Prince Harry is a no-show

- 

Until hours before the event, no one was sure the queen was even going to make it. But despite battling health problems recently, Queen Elizabeth II rallied and arrived at a memorial service for her beloved husband of 73 years, Prince Philip (who died last year at age 99), at London's Westminster Abbey on March 29 her first major public appearance in nearly six months. “The queen was determined not to miss this," says a source. "And when she sets her mind on something, there's no stopping her." That was certainly evident by her choice of escort: her scandal-plagued son, Prince Andrew.

"Prince Charles couldn't believe that Andrew had the audacity to show his face, but the queen wanted her favorite son by her side, so she completely ignored Charles' wishes," says the source, adding that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's absence also cast a pall over the ceremony. "There was a lot of drama behind the scenes," says the source, "and it almost ruined the day.”

BROTHER VS. BROTHER