“I have,on the occasion of my 95th birthday today,received many messages of good wishes,which I very much appreciate,” she said.
“While as a family we are in a period of great sadness,it has been a comfort to us all to see and to hear the tributes paid to my husband,from those within the United Kingdom,the Commonwealth and around the world.
“My family and I would like to thank you all for the support and kindness shown to us in recent days. We have been deeply touched,and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life.”
Images of the widowed monarch sitting alone at the Windsor Castle funeral to comply with coronavirus restrictions prompted an outpouring of public sympathy.
A maximum of 30 people can attend funerals in England and they must sit at least two metres apart from others. The government is under pressure to relax the rules,given infections,hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 have plummeted over recent weeks.
Philip,the longest-serving consort in British history,died at Windsor Castle just two months short of his 100th birthday.