Boris Johnson's office apologizes for throwing parties the night before the queen sat alone at Prince Philip's funeral

Boris Johnson
(Image credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office has apologized to Buckingham Palace for two parties held the night before Prince Philip's funeral, when COVID-19 restrictions were in effect.

The Telegraph reported that Downing Street staff held two parties the night before Philip's funeral in April 2021, though Johnson was not there, according to BBC News. Restrictions were in place at the time calling for people to not socialize indoors with those outside their household or support bubble, and the U.K. was also in a period of mourning, BBC notes. Prince Philip's funeral the following day was scaled back due to the pandemic, with Queen Elizabeth II sitting alone as a result.

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.