April 17: Prince Philip funeral guide – as Royals and nation prepare to bid farewell!
Prince Philip’s funeral arrangements have been scaled down due to current Covid-19 restrictions.
You will be able to watch the live broadcast on the BBC on April 17.
It is understood the Duke of Edinburgh didn’t want a big fuss at the service and is not having a state funeral in line with his wishes.
He will not lie in state and his body remains at rest within a private chapel at Windsor Castle.
Prince Philip’s funeral arrangements are codenamed Forth Bridge, after the Scottish landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The plans have been in place for many years and were often updated and reviewed by Buckingham Palace staff in consultation with the Queen and Prince Philip himself.
Final changes were made in line with current Covid-19 guidelines.
Where will Prince Philip’s funeral take place?
Buckingham Palace said the ceremonial royal funeral will take place on Saturday 17 April in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
What coronavirus measures will be in place at the service?
The arrangements will be in line with government guidance and guests will follow social distancing rules.
Under current COVID rules, only 30 people can attend a funeral.
It is believed around 800 people were to be invited under plans before the pandemic.
Boris Johnson will not be attending, he chose to give up his seat so more members of the family can attend.
There will be no public processions and people being told not to turn up to Windsor Castle.
Prince Harry is currently in quarantine, after flying in from California – according to The Sun.
Buckingham Palace confirmed Harry would be travelling in for the funeral, but Meghan did not get clearance to travel from her doctor due to being heavily pregnant.
There is no confirmation yet on the rest of the guest list.
What will happen on the day?
Buckingham Palace has shared the following timeline of what will happen at the funeral.
Palace officials say broadcasters will have positions in Windsor allowing them to provide “dignified media coverage.”
The duke’s coffin, accompanied by the Dean of Windsor and the Lord Chamberlain, will be moved to the state entrance of Windsor Castle by a Bearer Party of The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
The coffin will emerge and the Bearer Party will place it onto a specially modified Land Rover, which Philip helped design, to transport it to St George’s Chapel.
The procession from the state entrance to the West Steps of the chapel will take eight minutes.
Prince Charles and members of the Royal Family will take part in the procession on foot, immediately behind the duke’s coffin, together with staff from Philip’s household.
The route of the procession will be lined by representatives drawn from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Highlanders, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Air Force.
The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will fire Minute guns from the east lawn of Windsor Castle for the duration of the procession, and the Curfew Tower Bell will toll.
A Guard of Honour and Band from The Rifles will receive the coffin at the foot of the West Steps, with the national anthem being played as the coffin enters Horseshoe Cloister.
A bearing party of Royal Marines will carry the coffin up the steps and pause for a minute’s silence.
Following that, the Dean of Windsor, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury, will receive the coffin at the top of the West Steps.
In keeping with Covid rules to limit guests inside the chapel, most of the procession will not enter the chapel – except members of the Royal Family, and the duke’s private secretary Archie Miller Bakewell.
The funeral service will begin as the coffin enters St George’s Chapel.
Where will the Prince be buried?
The Duke of Edinburgh will be privately interred in the Royal Vault of St George’s Chapel at Windsor after the funeral – but this will not be his final resting place.
When the Queen dies, Philip will be transferred to the gothic church’s King George’s VI memorial chapel to lie alongside the Queen.
The tiny chapel houses the remains of the Queen’s father George VI, her mother the Queen Mother and sister Princess Margaret.
Period of mourning for the royals
Boris Johnson has approved a recommendation for a period of national mourning until the day of the funeral, according to a Palace source.
They also said the Royal Family will observe two weeks of royal mourning until 22 April, when they will continue engagements where appropriate.
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