PRINCE PHILIP will be laid to rest today (Saturday, April 17) after passing away at the age of 99. The Duke of Edinburgh – who was married to Queen Elizabeth II for more than 73 years – will get his dying wish of a small “no-fuss” funeral, thanks to ongoing Covid restrictions. What time is […]
PRINCE PHILIP will be laid to rest today (Saturday, April 17) after passing away at the age of 99.
The Duke of Edinburgh – who was married to Queen Elizabeth II for more than 73 years – will get his dying wish of a small “no-fuss” funeral, thanks to ongoing Covid restrictions.
Read our Prince Philip funeral live blog for the latest updates
The funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh will take place at St George’s Chapel at 3pm today (Saturday April 17).
The Queen‘s husband of 73 years passed away on Friday, April 9, 2021.
As the consort of the Queen, Prince Philip is entitled to a state funeral.
But the Duke of Edinburgh will not be given one as expressed by his own wishes.
Instead, he will be given a military funeral, with a private service held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor with 30 mourners and burial in Frogmore Gardens.
Had the Duke requested a state funeral, it would have likely involved a military procession to Westminster Abbey where his body would lie in state for members of the public to pay their respects.
A service at either Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s Cathedral would have followed, before burial in St George’s Chapel.
But even before Covid, humble Prince Philip had turned down the opportunity for a full State Funeral.
The Duke will be given a military funeral, with a private service held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle and burial in Frogmore Gardens.
Sadly there will be no public procession.
Prince Philip’s body is currently resting in the private chapel at Windsor Castle and will be moved on Saturday to St George’s Chapel ahead of the funeral.
The funeral will begin with a national minute’s silence at 3pm and will be broadcast live on TV.
The poignant ceremony will end with his body being taken to lie in the Royal Vault within St George’s chapel.
The coffin will be moved to the state entrance of Windsor Castle on April 17 by a bearer party from the Grenadier Guards – the elite Queen’s Company regiment at Windsor.
The ceremonial procession will set off from the state entrance at 14.45pm with the Prince of Wales and members of Royal Family following on foot behind the coffin.
The Queen approved Boris Johnson‘s recommendation to have a period of national mourning starting on Friday April 9 and ending on Saturday April 17.
The Royal Family will observe two weeks of mourning.
Before the funeral, Prince Philip’s body will be examined by a member of the Medical Household, where they will determine his cause of death.
Although details are few and far between, it is likely this will be in the medical wing of Windsor Castle.
The Royal Family will not wear military uniforms, Buckingham Palace have confirmed.
The Queen will sit alone at the funeral after arriving in a Bentley with her Lady in Waiting.
Just 30 people will be allowed to attend the duke’s funeral on Saturday, April 17 as a result of tough coronavirus restrictions.
Close family members have been chosen to attend the service, with Prince Philip’s great-grandchildren, all of whom are under 10, staying at home.
The full list of attendees, along with the Queen, was released on April 15.
The Queen’s four children will attend with their spouses – Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles; Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence; Prince Andrew; and Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex.
Prince Philip’s eight grandchildren are also guests at the funeral – Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn.
Their spouses will also attend, including Mike Tindall, Kate Middleton Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank.
However, pregnant Meghan Markle remains at home in LA after medics said she shouldn’t travel – although Prince Harry has returned for the service.
But The Duchess will make “private arrangements” to remember the Duke of Edinburgh as she is unable to attend.
Harry and William will not stand together and will be separated by their cousin Peter.
The Queen has also invited Princess Alexandra, the Duke of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent, all of whom have offered loyal support and service over the years.
Three of Philip’s German relatives – Bernhard, the Hereditary Prince of Baden; Donatus, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse; and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg – are among the attendees.
Also invited is a close friend of the duke, Countess Mountbatten of Burma.
Princess Margaret‘s children – the Earl of Snowdon, David Armstrong-Jones, and Lady Sarah Chatto – will also attend the funeral, along with Sarah’s husband Daniel.
The Prime Minister won’t be a part of the restricted group of 30 allowed to attend the funeral, No10 has said.
The decision has been made so that the limited spaces can be taken up by grieving members of the Royal Family.
