'Shameful image of Queen grieving alone after Downing Street partied last Christmas'

It was a picture that broke the nation's heart. Our Queen, sat on an empty pew, lamenting the man she loved for 73 years. Isolated. Grieving.

Little did we know that while the lonely monarch was spending her last Christmas with Prince Phillip without their family around them - our own Prime Minister's staff were scoffing wine and cheese and he was giving speeches at No 10's series of secret festive bashes.

Boris Johnson finally issued a measly apology after a video of his staff joking about their "not socially distanced" party held on December 18 - when London had been put in Tier 3 restrictions with indoor events prohibited.

It has now been confirmed that an inquiry will be held to look at another alleged gathering that the PM attended in November.

It's one rule for them and another for us.

And while I'm no royalist (in fact, I've been very vocal in criticising the Crown and everything it stands for), I can't help but feel anguish for the Queen.

There she was, all alone, distanced from her family at the time she needed them most as the man she swore in to lead our country flouted the rules he himself created.

The Queen abided by the rules at Philip's funeral in April, sitting alone and picking just a handful of guests to mourn him at the ceremony (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

It's unfathomable. He's making a mockery out of her, and he's making a mockery out of us all.

Because as solemn as the Queen looked in that photograph - thousands of us have been in that exact position.

During the lockdown period of the pandemic, many were told we couldn't go into hospital and say our final goodbyes to our friends and family members who were dying.

We couldn't hold their hands as they were scared, fighting for their lives, desperate for words of reassurance.

We then attended socially distanced funerals with limited numbers and limited time - unable to grieve in the way we wanted to, unable to actually process death in the way we should.

Allegra Stratton, who worked as the PM's personal spokeswoman last Christmas, was caught on camera joking about the party staff had thrown at No 10 Downing Street four days previously (ITV)

And yet we obeyed the rules. We wore masks in the church, skipped the hymns and said "sorry" as we walked past those mourning when all we wanted to do was squeeze them tight.

Because as hard as it was - we understood why. We didn't want to make the situation worse - and we didn't want to be in this situation again.

It's clear this Covid flood has impacted us all - even if you do own the Crown Jewels. But Boris Johnson is sheltered in his bunker while the rest of us are drowning.