No 10 ‘partied’ on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral – 27 funniest and most furious reactions

Another day, another party held at Downing Street during the height of lockdown.

Not one but two leaving dos are alleged to have taken place at No 10 the day before Prince Philip’s funeral at a private chapel at Windsor Castle in April last year.

The picture of the Queen at her husband’s funeral, wearing a face mask and sitting alone to maintain social distancing, became one of the defining images of the national lockdown.

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. https://t.co/sWrFcOrplE

— Tony Diver (@Tony_Diver) January 13, 2022

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.

— Tony Diver (@Tony_Diver) January 13, 2022

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.

— Tony Diver (@Tony_Diver) January 13, 2022

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?

— Tony Diver (@Tony_Diver) January 13, 2022

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. pic.twitter.com/czH2r6JzRZ

— Tony Diver (@Tony_Diver) January 13, 2022

And here are 27 of the funniest and most furious reactions.

1.

Incredible really. Years of these guys banging on about flags and love of country. But behind closed doors they're getting shitfaced and dancing as the Queen mourns alone.

— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) January 13, 2022

2.

It looks like we might be moving from the Pandemic to Endemic phase of Downing St apologies, and will just have to learn to live with them on a daily basis.

— Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) January 13, 2022

3.

Sue Gray tonight pic.twitter.com/7LjakUF5Xd

— Declan Cashin (@Tweet_Dec) January 13, 2022

4.

And who, precisely, is behind all these leaks? Well, they've been playing a long game for sure, but ultimately my guess is the marketing manager at the Co-op on The Strand.

— Chris Addison💙 (@mrchrisaddison) January 13, 2022

5.

unbelievable that for nearly two years Downing Street’s default response to criticism was that it was busy focusing on the job

— Henry Mance (@henrymance) January 13, 2022

6.

What I really don’t understand about the No 10 thing is: who even likes parties that much? Especially work ones? Who the fuck wants to go to one of those, every, as seems to be the case, night?

— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) January 14, 2022

7.

"While employed by Downing Street, I was sent to the Co-op on the Strand to fill a suitcase with bottles of wine for a lockdown-busting party held at Number 10 in honour of the future deputy editor of the Sun." pic.twitter.com/qzABbU5Wjl

— Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) January 13, 2022

8.

They should call the final report 'Shifty Charades Of Gray'.

— Richard Osman (@richardosman) January 13, 2022

9.

Is there a day when there wasn’t a party in Downing St.? https://t.co/uBfrfQ0LW0

— Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) January 13, 2022

10.

I know it’s a serious issue of lying, trust and hypocrisy but this made me laugh pic.twitter.com/us1sy7qGxd

— Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) January 13, 2022

11.

Prescient. https://t.co/cI6V9kcr7Z

— James Oh Brien (@mrjamesob) January 13, 2022

12.

When they talked about sacrifice did they mean we sacrifice all our parties so Downing St could have them all

— Rosie Holt (@RosieisaHolt) January 13, 2022

13.

Can we all agree that, as of now, we’ll never again elect a prime minister purely on the basis that the blokes down the pub reckon he’s ‘a bit of a laugh’?

— Tim Walker (@ThatTimWalker) January 13, 2022

14.

We should’ve clapped for whoever had to put out No 10’s recycling pic.twitter.com/HYVzceR5Nb

— Pierre Novellie (@pierrenovellie) January 13, 2022

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