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Buckingham Palace confirms final details for Prince Philip's funeral

Photo credit: Topical Press Agency - Getty Images
Photo credit: Topical Press Agency - Getty Images

Updated story Friday 16 April: Buckingham Palace has announced the final details for Prince Philip's funeral, which will take place tomorrow, 17 April, at 3pm. The duke's coffin will emerge from the State Entrance of Windsor Castle into the Quadrangle at 2.40pm, followed by members of the royal family who will walk behind in a procession. Those whom will follow the Land Rover hearse will include his four children, Prince Andrew, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, as well as Prince Harry and Prince William.

There will be a National Minute Silence at 3pm, as The Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury receive the coffin. The Royal Navy Piping Party will pipe the Carry On upon the closing of the doors to St. George’s Chapel. The ceremony, which will be led by the Dean of Windsor, is expected to last 50 minutes. A small choir of four will sing pieces of music personally chosen by the Duke of Edinburgh.

Members of the royal family present for the service will include:

  • The Duchess of Cornwall

  • The Countess of Wessex and Forfar

  • Viscount Severn

  • The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor

  • The Duchess of Cambridge

  • Mr. and Mrs. Mike Tindall

  • Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

  • Mr. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

  • Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank

  • Mr. Jack Brooksbank

  • The Lady Sarah and Mr. Daniel Chatto

  • The Duke of Gloucester

  • The Duke of Kent

  • Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy

  • The Hereditary Prince of Baden The Landgrave of Hesse The Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg

  • The Countess Mountbatten of Burma

The funeral will be broadcast live on television and radio.

Original story Saturday 10 April: The initial details of Prince Philip's funeral have been announced, including that it will take place on Saturday 17th April and be televised, reports the BBC. The late royal "passed away peacefully" at Windsor Castle at the age of 99, the royal family confirmed yesterday (9 April).

Prince Philip was the longest serving royal consort in British history, having been by the Queen's side for more than 70 years. He was just months away from celebrating his 100th birthday in June.

“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh," Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement. The announcement was posted outside the palace gates in London, where hundreds of people have already laid flowers in tribute.

Photo credit: Joseph Okpako - Getty Images
Photo credit: Joseph Okpako - Getty Images

As a mark of respect, all royal duties have been postponed - as has activity on their official websites and social media accounts. The Queen will then enter a 30-day period of mourning, which will be reflected by staff wearing black armbands across all royal households.

Flags on government buildings and royal palaces across the country are also expected to fly at half-mast until after the duke's funeral.

Photo credit: Richard Baker - Getty Images
Photo credit: Richard Baker - Getty Images

Palace officials have confirmed that Philip will have a royal ceremonial funeral - rather than a grand State funeral - but that it will be a much more intimate affair than was originally planned; partly due to his personal wishes for it to be simple, but also due to Covid health and safety restrictions. Buckingham Palace has confirmed that they will stick to current pandemic guidelines, which only permits 30 guests, reports The Telegraph. Members of the public have been asked not to attempt to attend.

"While this is a time of sadness and mourning, the coming days will be an opportunity to celebrate a remarkable life," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson told the BBC.

Photo credit: Tim Graham - Getty Images
Photo credit: Tim Graham - Getty Images

The ceremony will take place at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle at 3pm next Saturday (17 April). The chapel was more recently the site of happier times, having played host to the royal weddings of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. It's believed that the funeral will take place in around a week's time.

Rather than lying in state at Westminster Abbey, as is custom, the Royal College of Arms confirms that Philip’s coffin — which will not be viewable to the public — will lie at Windsor Castle until his funeral.

The royal left strict instructions that he should have a relatively low-key funeral in his final wishes, swapping a formal lying-in-state for commemorations remembering his military ties and charity patronages, The Telegraph adds. The ceremony will "celebrate" a life of service and "very much" reflect the duke's wishes for a more low-key event.

Prince Philip, who famously hated any fuss, had planned a royal ceremonial funeral, rather than a State funeral, giving him the same status as Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

Photo credit: NurPhoto - Getty Images
Photo credit: NurPhoto - Getty Images

The BBC has confirmed that Prince Harry will be flying in to attend the funeral. He's currently residing in Montecito, California, with his wife Meghan and their son Archie. It's unknown as to whether Meghan will be joining him, as she's currently heavily pregnant with their second child.

Photo credit: Phil Walter - Getty Images
Photo credit: Phil Walter - Getty Images

Other guests expected to join the Queen at the funeral are close senior members of the royal family only, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Prince Andrew and his children, Princess Eugenie and Beatrice; and Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. As is custom, it's also expected that Boris Johnson will be in attendance.

The service will be televised. More details will be announced in due course.

Photo credit: Topical Press Agency - Getty Images
Photo credit: Topical Press Agency - Getty Images

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