The office of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologised to the Queen after it emerged that staff had been celebrating late on Downing Street the night before Prince Philip’s funeral. At the same time, it was forbidden to be on the premises.
Mr Johnson is facing his prime minister’s worst crisis following near-daily revelations about a series of public gatherings during the COVID-19 lockdown, some of which were held when ordinary people could not say goodbye to dying relatives in person.
Having built a political career that violated conventional wisdom, Mr Johnson is now under increasing pressure from some of his MPs to step down. Opponents say he has no right to rule and has misled Parliament into denying that the COVID-19 guidelines have been violated.
In a stunning twist on a saga that comedians and cartoonists have widely derided, The Daily Telegraph reported that drinking parties were held on Downing Street on April 16, 2021, the day before Prince Philip’s funeral. “It is regrettable that this happened at a time of national mourning and that Number 10 (Downing Street) apologized to the building,” a spokesman for Johnson told reporters.
According to his representative, Mr. Johnson was at his country residence in Checkers that day and was not invited to any meetings.