This thread!
mobile.twitter.com/Tony_Diver/status/1481741337951195136
EXCLUSIVE
"Number 10 held two boozy parties the night before the Queen mourned Prince Philip alone.
Staff drank and at points danced until the early hours of the night of April 16.
Hours later, the Queen went to a socially-distanced funeral for Philip.
We have spoken to eyewitnesses. At a leaving do for a No10 photographer it’s alleged:
🥂Staff partied in the basement of No10, to music DJd by a special adviser.
🥂One broke Wilf Johnson’s swing in the No10 garden.
🥂Another was sent to the Co-op with a suitcase to buy booze.
Another event held to mark the departure of James Slack, Mr Johnson’s chief spinner, saw:
🍻 Staff gathered for a speech from Slack, with others dialling in via Zoom.
🍻Booze drunk and attendees spilling into the garden.
🍻Chatting and drinking into the early hours.
At the time Britain was in Step 2 of lockdown easing - which banned indoor gatherings and imposed the rule of six outside.
But the celebrations in No10 meant around 30 people were gathered for what a source declares were definitely parties.
Can No10 claim they were work events?
This was the scene in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle the next day.
Prince Philip’s funeral was restricted to 30 people, and the PM declined to attend, to make more space for family.
The Queen did not participate in the service. "