LONDON: Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday laid to rest her late husband, Prince Philip, in a royal funeral like no other curtailed by COVID-19 restrictions but reflecting his long life of military and public service.
Prince Philip began his final journey today, as his coffin was taken to his funeral, followed slowly by his grieving children and widow, Queen Elizabeth II.
The couple’s four children — Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward — walked behind the coffin, borne on a modified Land Rover hearse, through the grounds of Windsor Castle to St George’s Chapel.
Accompanying them were his grandsons, princes William and Harry, and the Queen, who was in a Bentley car.
Queen Elizabeth II led Britain in one minute of silence in memory of her late husband, Prince Philip, before his funeral and burial at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
As a mark of respect for His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on the day of the Ceremonial Royal Funeral, the #PL will not be publishing any content on our channels from 14:45 – 16:15 BST pic.twitter.com/Ys1bsIGbJi
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 17, 2021
The 94-year-old monarch, dressed in mourning black, joined other senior royals at the chapel as the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin arrived and a military gun fired to signal the start of the solemn tribute.
Philip was interred in the Royal Vault at St George’s Chapel, at Windsor Castle, west of London, after a 50-minute service attended by just 30 guests however watched by millions on television.
Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who had been by his wife’s side throughout her record-breaking 69-year reign, died peacefully at the age of 99 last week at the castle where the royal couple had been staying during a recent lockdown.
A decorated Royal Navy veteran of World War Two, his funeral, much of which was planned in meticulous detail by the prince himself, has a strong military feel, with personnel from across the armed forces playing prominent roles.
Army bands, Navy pipers and Royal Marine buglers took part, while his coffin conveyed from its resting place inside the castle to the chapel on the back of a specially converted Land Rover that he helped design himself.
The congregation limited to members of the royal family and Philip’s family, with no place for political figures such as Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who will watch the event live on television.
The entire event held within the walls of Windsor Castle and the public has been asked not to congregate outside or at any other royal residences to show their respects.
A montage to commemorate the extraordinary life of The Duke of Edinburgh, made unique by its sheer breadth of experience, and the wartime generation he was part of.
With words by the Poet Laureate,
The Patriarchs – An Elegy. pic.twitter.com/rUr1cNi8lS— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 17, 2021
Last month, the royals faced their greatest such tumult in decades when their grandson Prince Harry gave an explosive interview to Oprah Winfrey with his wife Meghan, who is not attending the funeral as she is pregnant and was advised not to travel.
The media attention will focus on the royals’ behavior towards Harry, as it will be his first public appearance with his family since that interview. He will walk apart from his brother Prince William in the procession behind Philip’s coffin, separated by their cousin Peter Phillips.
Mourners will eschew the tradition of wearing military uniforms, with newspapers saying that was to prevent embarrassment to Harry. Despite serving two tours in Afghanistan during his army career, he would not be entitled to wear a uniform having been stripped of his honorary military titles.
