The Queen had just a single photograph of Prince Philip on her desk this year in a heartwarming gesture to her husband as she addressed the nation on Christmas Day.
In a somewhat symbolic move thought to represent how many are separated from their families this year, the photo frame with an image of her husband stood alone.
But in a year which has seen many changes in the Royal Family, images of family members including the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Prince Andrew were notably absent.
Last year the Queen had three photographs alongside her, one of son Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, another of grandson Prince William, wife Kate and their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, and a third of her dad King George VI.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were said to be "delighted to be able to spend the time together" this year, according to royal sources after the pair began a bubble due to coronavirus.
Dubbed ‘HMS Bubble’, they royal pair quarantined with 22 staff at their Berkshire residence.
Philip was said to have given the Queen a 'new lease of life' in lockdown as the couple spent more time than ever together.
They were said to have realised what a 'good team' they are in lockdown, as they were able to spend quality time together for the first time in years, a royal source claimed.
The couple are as close as they ever have been during their 73-year marriage, royal insiders told a newspaper.
The Duke of Edinburgh, 99, has apparently given the monarch the strength to continue in the face of a series of setbacks for The Firm, including Megxit.
They have also had the opportunity to relax and now want to avoid spending long stints apart from each other, it is claimed.
Back in July, a royal source told the Sun : "Everyone who has seen her recently says the Queen appears to have a new lease of life because she loved the chance to spend quality time with Philip again.
“Obviously she has been gravely worried about the nation during the pandemic but those around her have seen how amazing they have been together.
“Because of self-isolation and with only a small team of loyal staff, dubbed ‘HMS Bubble’, this is the first time the Queen has been able to spend quality time with her husband for years."
The Queen, 94, continued to work during the pandemic and still receives her red boxes with official government business.
In today's speech she thanked those who had cared for others during the pandemic and praised those who came together to help their communities saying it has "brought us closer".
