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Prince Harry And Prince William Won't Walk Next To Each At Prince Philip's Funeral

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has passed away aged 99, making him the longest serving consort in British history.

Buckingham Palace announced the news about Queen Elizabeth II 's husband on Friday April 9, 2021, stating: 'It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

'His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will be made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.'

Shortly after the news hit the headlines, the flags in Downing Street were lowered to half-mast. With Covid-19 guidelines in mind, the Palace asked members of the public not to gather in crowds at Royal Residences and to leave messages in an online Book of Condolence available here.

In the hours that have followed, members of the public grew curious as to the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral arrangements and which members of his family will be able to attend his funeral during the UK’s ongoing lockdown.

Photo credit: TOLGA AKMEN - Getty Images
Photo credit: TOLGA AKMEN - Getty Images

Here’s what you need to know about Prince Philip’s funeral arrangements:

Will the royal family be able to attend the funeral?

The UK is still in a national lockdown until June 21 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, so funeral arrangements under current health crisis guidelines will presumably affect how the Royal Family will be able to pay their respects at a funeral to the Duke.

During Covid-19, the UK government has advised that those with increased risk of severe illness from Coronavirus to be particularly careful in following social distancing measures.

Under official guidelines, a maximum of 30 people are allowed to attend funerals in the UK and they must socially distance if they do not live together or share a support bubble.

On Thursday April 15, Buckingham Palace revealed the 30 guests who will attend the funeral.

Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images
Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images

The procession will be led by Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

The Guardian reports Prince Harry and Prince William will be separated by their cousin Peter Phillips as they walk behind the coffin as it is carried by a modified Land Rover to the chapel. The publication added that the Palace would not be involved on the 'perceptions of drama' anyone might have from the order in which the royals will behind the coffin A spokesperson reportedly said: 'The arrangements have been agreed, and they represent Her Majesty’s wishes.'

The Queen will attend along with the Duchess of Cornwall, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, the Duchess of Cambridge, Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapello Mozzi, Princess Eugenie, Jack Brooksbank , Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, Lady Sarah and Mr Daniel Chatto, the Earl of Snowdon, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy, the Hereditary Prince of Baden, the Landgrave of Hesse, Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and the Countess Mountbatten of Burma.

While Prince Philip has 10 great-grandchildren, the Royal Family has considered them too young to attend the ceremony as they are all under the age of 10.

Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the funeral?

After stepping back as senior royals last March ahead of their move to the US, it was unknown whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be able to attend the Duke’s funeral due to travel restrictions during the pandemic.

According to the Government’s guidelines, it is illegal to travel abroad from the UK for holidays. However, in England, you must have a permitted reason to travel abroad and complete the declaration form.

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

‘If you’re travelling to England you must either quarantine in the place you’re staying or in a managed quarantine hotel for 10 days because of coronavirus (COVID-19). What you need to do depends on where you travel in the 10 days before you arrive in England,’ states the .Gov website.

‘You must also get two coronavirus tests after you arrive in England. You’ll need to book these before you travel.’

Days after the duke's death, it was understood that Prince Harry would attend the funeral but his wife, who is pregnant with her second child, would not travel from the US, on medical advice. The visit marks the Duke of Sussex's first back to the UK since moving Stateside.

On Sunday, Prince Harry was photographed at Heathrow Airport after flying to the UK for the funeral. HELLO! reports the royal was met by security off the plane and driven to his former home in Kensington Palace, Nottingham Cottage.

Under the government's 'Test to Release' scheme, Prince Harry is allowed to pay for a private Covid test to be taken five days into quarantine. If the results are negative, he is permitted to stop isolating. If the test is positive, he would need to self-isolate for another 10 days.

Following the duke's death on April 9, his grandson and Markle updated their Archewell website to a memorial page for the late royal with the message: 'Thank you for your service, you will be greatly missed.'

Photo credit: Archewell
Photo credit: Archewell

Will Prince Philip have a state funeral?

As consort to the Queen, the Duke is entitled to a state funeral.

However, hours after his passing it was announced that Prince Philip will not have a state funeral and he will not lie in state.

According to the College of Arms' statement, the Duke of Edinburgh's body will lie at rest in Windsor Castle until the day of the funeral at St George's Chapel 'in line with custom and with His Royal Highness's wishes'.

The ceremony will day place at 3pm on Saturday, April 17 and will be televised. A minute's silence will be take place nationwide, in memory of the royal.

Photo credit: Chris Jackson - Getty Images
Photo credit: Chris Jackson - Getty Images

The statement reads: 'The funeral arrangements have been revised in view of the prevailing circumstances arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and it is regretfully requested that members of the public do not attempt to attend or participate in any of the events that make up the funeral.'

'The duke's coffin is draped in his personal flag, his standard. The flag represents elements of his life, from his Greek heritage to his British titles. A wreath of flowers has also been placed on the coffin,' reports the BBC.

The publication also reports that on the day of the funeral, the coffin will be moved from the private chapel to the State Entrance of Windsor Castle on a modified Land Rover, that the duke himself helped design.

'The Land Rover, will be flanked by pallbearers from the Royal Marines and other regiments and corps associated with the duke,' the BBC states. 'Members of the Royal Family, including the Prince of Wales, will walk behind the coffin. The Queen will travel separately to the chapel for the service.'

After the ceremony, the duke will be interred in the royal vault.

Photo credit: Epics - Getty Images
Photo credit: Epics - Getty Images

The Sun previously reported that it was believed the Duke had previously requested funeral arrangements similar to that of a military funeral, with a private service held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor before his body is buried in Frogmore Gardens.

A state funeral, meanwhile, would have entailed a military procession to Westminster Abbey where members of the public would have been able to pay their respects. A service at Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s Cathedral, before burial in St. George’s Chapel, would naturally have followed but it’s unknown how this would have proceeded during the pandemic.

King George VI was the last royal to have a state funeral 1952.

Photo credit: Jeff Spicer - Getty Images
Photo credit: Jeff Spicer - Getty Images

It's expected that after the Queen’s passes away, the UK will go into a 12-day mourning period, during which her body would be moved to Buckingham Palace. Thereafter, it’s thought her coffin will move Westminster Hall for four days and then be laid to rest in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where the Queen Mother and King George VI are buried.

Will funeral attendees wear military uniform?

While numbers on funeral attendees are likely to be restricted due to the pandemic, it’s believed that some family members and a handful of heads of state will attend the service.

However, according to The Guardian, senior members of the royal family will not wear military uniform, in a break with royal tradition. As a result, Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Andrew are expected to wear suits to Saturday's ceremony.

Previously, the Duke of Sussex - who was stripped of his military titles after stepping down as a senior working royal last March - would have been the only senior male royal not in uniform, despite having served two tours in Afghanistan. Instead, protocol dictates that he will wear 'civilian dress' in the form of a formal suit, although he would be allowed to wear his medals.

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