Buckingham Palace confirms details for Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral
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Buckingham Palace announced on Saturday, April 10 that Prince Philip’s ceremonial royal funeral will take place on Saturday, April 17 in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, and a national minute’s silence will be observed as it begins at 3pm.
The Duke’s coffin will be transported from the castle to the chapel in a specially modified Land Rover he helped to design, and followed by the Prince of Wales and senior royals on foot, a senior Palace official said.
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Hide AdThe Queen has approved the Prime Minister’s recommendation of national mourning, which began on Friday, April 9 and runs until and including the day of the funeral.
The Duke died peacefully in his sleep at Windsor Castle on Friday, two months before his 100th birthday, leaving the Queen and the royal family “mourning his loss”.
Only 30 people – expected to be the Duke’s children, grandchildren and other close family – will attend as guests, but the Duchess of Sussex has been advised by her physician not to travel to the UK for the funeral, a Palace spokesman added.
It is understood Meghan made every effort to be able to travel with Harry, who will be among the mourners, but has not received the medical clearance to board a plane.
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Hide AdOriginally 800 people would have been due to gather to pay their respects to the nation’s longest serving consort, but Philip is known to have wanted a low-key affair.
All public elements of the funeral have been cancelled, it will be televised but take place entirely in the grounds of the castle, the Palace said.
The Queen has decided the royal family will enter two weeks of royal mourning, and engagements will continue appropriate to the circumstances, a senior royal official confirmed.
Public elements of Operation Forth Bridge – the codename for the duke’s funeral plans – were abandoned for fear of drawing crowds including the long held arrangements for military processions through London and Windsor.