This is the emotional moment Princess Beatrice broke down after she caught sight of her father Prince Andrew walking the Queen to her seat at the service of thanksgiving in memory of her grandfather Prince Philip.

Beatrice, 33, began to tear up as she watched her father the Duke of York accompanied the monarch down the aisle at Westminster Abbey, seemingly overcome by the significance of the moment. 

To the shock of many in the congregation, including, apparently, Beatrice, the shamed royal, 62, escorted his mother, 95, all the way down to her front-row position - in full view of the live broadcast cameras - after travelling with her from Windsor.

It had been expected that the Dean of Westminster would take the Queen to her seat, with Andrew behind. The decision to have Andrew walk her down the aisle instead is being interpreted as an 'endorsement' by Her Majesty.

Shortly after laying eyes on her father and the Queen, Beatrice covered her face with the order of service. She then stood mutely while others around her sang, apparently trying to hold in tears. 

The emotion would have also been driven by the personal loss she felt at the death of her beloved grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh, with whom she shared a close relationship. 

As Camilla Tominey noted in the : 'The very personal nature of such a public commemoration hit home when Beatrice, 33, started sobbing upon sight of her grandmother and father, arm in arm, covering her tearful face with her order of service.'

The princess then reached into her handbag for a tissue.

It's been a difficult period for Beatrice, who royal commentators have previously said has been 'devastated' by accusations by Virginia Giuffre that the Duke of York sexually assaulted her. Prince Andrew has categorically denied the accusations.

Beatrice and her mother Sarah Ferguson were said to have been among the key figures pressing Andrew to go ahead with the disastrous BBC interview in November 2019 about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. 

But the Princess, with the benefit of hindsight, was left mortified that she did not do more to stop the interview going ahead - and it also left her and younger sister Eugenie in a difficult position as members of the Royal Family.  

One of the most infamous moments of the interview, which saw Andrew deny sleeping with then 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, included how had spent the day in question with Beatrice at a Pizza Express in Woking. 

The Duke of York had a front row seat at the service, sitting close to his other siblings, with his daughters Princess Eugenie and Princess also in attendance - but there was no sign of his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York. 

The Queen's decision to have Andrew accompany her comes despite him paying up to £12million earlier this month to settle a US civil sexual assault case - and it will be seen as a major signal of support to her second - and some say 'favourite' - son.

The Daily Mail revealed today that senior royals had 'reluctantly' accepted Andrew would travel with the Queen to London because they live so close to each other.

But they had hoped 'common sense' would prevail and that Andrew would not seek to play a prominent role in his first public appearance since he struck the out-of-court settlement with Epstein victim Mrs Giuffre, 38.

A family source said that senior royals - including Prince Charles and the Duke of Cambridge - were 'dismayed' by events and that Andrew's decision to put himself 'front and centre' of the service had caused 'consternation'.

'It would be a great shame if the service was overshadowed by all of this. There is a strong sense of regret that this has happened,' they said.

Meanwhile, Royal experts suggested The Queen's decision to give Andrew a front-and-centre role at the service was a sign of 'endorsement' in her disgraced son.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told The Express: 'This was her way of quietly showing "OK, he messed up really badly, this was a disgrace, but he is my son".'

Peter Hunt, another ex-royal correspondent for the broadcaster, said it was a sign of the Queen 'endorsing' Andrew, adding: 'It didn't happen by chance. He could have sat in the congregation with others, with his relatives, but they actively decided that he would have this role of supporting her.

'She's very clearly stating that he has a role at family occasions. It's one thing to accept that he should attend his father's memorial service, it's quite another thing to then give him quite a prominent role so it was an active choice to give him such a prominent role.'

Another source told the Daily Telegraph: esenyurt escort 'Given that nothing happens by accident when it comes to the Royal family, the Duke of York's supporting role allowed him to both slip in and out of the Abbey by the side door and send a thinly disguised message that as far as the Queen is concerned he still has a role to play." 

Princess Eugenie, 32, who was comforted by husband Jack Brooksbank, 35, cut a stylish figure in a floral midi dress by British fashion designer Erdem worth £1,695.

She teamed the look with a cropped black jacket and matching headband that swept her hair off her face. 

Meanwhile, Eugenie stood on the other side of their cousin with a sombre expression as she attempted to join the congregation with singing. 

They sat behind the Queen, Prince Charles, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Anne at the service that was packed with European royals among attendees. 

Prince Philip, who was seen as the patriarch of the family, showed support for his granddaughters by attending both of their weddings.

Despite having officially retired in August 2017, he made a rare public appearance at Beatrice's wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in 2020.