London (PA Media/dpa/GNA) – Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office, on Friday apologized to Buckingham Palace after it emerged staff parties were held in Downing Street the day before Prince Philip’s funeral last year.
Two gatherings reportedly took place at Johnson’s Downing Street office, with the prime minister’s former director of communications James Slack apologizing for the “anger and hurt” one of the events, a goodbye party held for him had caused.
A spokesman for the prime minister said: “It is deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning and No 10 has apologised to the Palace. You heard from the PM this week, he’s recognized No 10 should be held to the highest standards, and take responsibility for things we did not get right.”
The day after the events on April 16, 2021, the queen attended her husband Philip’s funeral wearing a face mask and socially distanced from her family at Windsor Castle, in line with Covid-19 restrictions.
GNA