Queen Elizabeth to hold special service in honour of Prince Philip next year

Queen Elizabeth will hold a special service in honour of her late husband Prince Philip next year.

Buckingham Palace announced the addition to the 2022 royal calendar on Thursday (Friday morning) but will share an exact date "in due course".

"The Queen has agreed that a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh will take place in the spring of 2022 at Westminster Abbey," a short statement announced.

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April 9 will mark the one-year anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh's death. The 99-year-old passed away at Windsor Castle of old age, just two months shy of his 100th birthday on June 10.

It's expected the service will be held to coincide with this anniversary, which will be during the UK's spring (March - May).

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The service will differ from the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral at St George's Chapel in Windsor in many ways, not least because it will be held at London's Westminster Abbey.

Prince Philip's pared back funeral on April 17 included only 30 guests due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time.

It's anticipated there will be more attendees at the thanksgiving service.

Royal sources say the guest list will comprise of family, friends, dignitaries and representatives of many charities and organisations with which The Duke of Edinburgh was associated.

Speaking of the family's loss and "period of great sadness" after the Duke's death, the Queen said she had been comforted by the outpouring of tributes paid to her husband.

"My family and I would like to thank you all for the support and kindness shown to us in recent days," she said on the occasion of her 95th birthday on April 21.

"We have been deeply touched, and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life."

2022 is set to be a big year for the royal family with Britain's longest-reigning monarch celebrating her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70-years on the throne.

However, Her Majesty will mark the milestone without her 'strength and stay', as she dubbed her husband on their golden wedding anniversary in 1997, by her side.