Five-minute guide to Prince Philip’s funeral service
From how to watch and pay respects to the plan for William and Harry, here’s everything you need to know about Prince Philip’s funeral service.
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When is Prince Philip’s funeral being held?
Prince Philip’s funeral is being held on Saturday April 17, and begins at midnight Australian eastern time.
Where is the funeral being held?
The service will take place at St George’s Chapel, which is on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
What is the significance of St George’s Chapel?
In addition to being the backdrop for the recent weddings of Princess Eugenie to Jack Brooksbank and Prince Harry to Meghan Markle, St George’s Chapel is also the resting place of countless royals.
Interred in the King George VI Memorial Chapel within St George’s is the Queen’s father, mother, and sister. Prince Philip is set to be interred within the same memorial chapel.
Who are the pallbearers?
Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William, Prince Harry and Peter Phillips will serve as pallbearers.
Will Prince Harry and Prince William walk shoulder to shoulder in the funeral procession?
No. They will walk on either side of the Prince’s coffin, with Peter Phillips – the oldest son of Princess Anne and William and Harry’s first cousin – between them.
How many people are attending the funeral?
In line with current COVID-19 restrictions across the UK, only 30 mourners, including the Queen, will attend the funeral.
Who is attending the funeral?
The 30 guests will be made up of immediate family, including the Prince’s children and grandchildren, a handful of outer relatives from British and German royal families, and a close friend.
Why is Prince Harry allowed to attend the funeral without undertaking 10 days of quarantine?
Prince Harry undertook five days of isolation at Frogmore Cottage, which is on the grounds of Windsor Castle, before attending his grandfather’s funeral. The UK’s quarantine laws are more relaxed than Australia’s, and has an exemption clause for those attending funerals.
Where is Meghan Markle?
Upon medical advice, Meghan did not travel to the UK with Prince Harry and will not attend the funeral on account of being heavily pregnant. Women are generally advised against long-haul travel during their third trimester, and pregnant women are also being advised to take additional precautions for their health and safety during COVID-19.
Will the Queen wear a face mask during the service?
Yes. All mourners will be required to wear a mask inside under COVID-19 safety rules.
How will the service begin?
The funeral will begin with the duke’s coffin being led by an on-foot procession from Windsor Castle to St George’s Chapel, which takes approximately eight minutes. During this time, the national anthem will play and there will be a guard of honour.
The coffin will be transported upon a customised open top hybrid Land Rover which the duke helped design.
Who will take part in the funeral procession?
The procession will be led by the band of Grenadier Guards, followed by military commanders and chiefs of staff. The Prince’s coffin will then follow upon the Prince’s coffin and Land Rover, where Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William, Prince Harry and Peter Phillips will serve as pallbearers. Following on from the Land Rover are further members of the royal family and staff from the royal households, and finally the Queen, who will travel by car.
The route will be lined with personnel from the Royal Marines, Royal Navy, Royal Airforce, the Highlanders, and the 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.
The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will fire guns and the castle bells will toll.
Prince Philip’s carriage and two of his ponies, Balmoral Nevis and Notlaw Storm, will be stood in the Windsor Castle quadrangle where the funeral procession will start.
What happens once the procession reaches the chapel?
The Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury will meet the procession at the chapel, where the coffin will be carried up the west steps, through the nave and onto a platform within the quire of the chapel.
While this takes place the Household Cavalry will line the west steps and the Royal Navy will pipe ‘The Still’, a nautical call.
The service will include several prayers and readings, and a four-person choir will sing a reading from Job.
“We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord,” the choir will sing.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will thank God for the duke’s “resolute faith and loyalty, for his high sense of duty and integrity, for his life of service to the Nation and Commonwealth, and for the courage and inspiration of his leadership.”
As Prince Philip’s coffin is lowered into the Royal Vault at St George’s Chapel, Reverend Conner will pray for the duke.
“May thy portion this day be in peace, and thy dwelling in the heavenly Jerusalem,” he will say.
The Last Post will also be played by Royal Marine buglers as part of the service.
Will guests be able to sing?
No, only the choir will sing due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
Who will conduct the service?
The Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct the service.
Will there be a eulogy?
No, Prince Philip opted not to have a eulogy.
Where is Prince Philip currently?
Prince Philip’s body is resting in the private chapel at Windsor Castle.
Why wasn’t the duke laid in state?
Will there be a minute’s silence?
Yes, a minute of silence will be held across the United Kingdom at the beginning of the service – 3pm local time – after the coffin has been placed upon the platform within the chapel’s quire.
Why did Prince Philip plan his own funeral?
It may sound macabre to some, but it is tradition for members of the British royal family to be involved in the planning of their funeral. Both the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret before him were actively involved in planning the details for their funerals.
What kind of coffin did he choose?
The duke selected a lead-lined English oak coffin, which was made around 30 years ago. The Queen has a matching casket.
Will the coffin be dressed?
Yes. The coffin will be draped with the duke’s standard, naval cap and sword, and a wreath.
The Duke’s insignia will also appear on a number of cushions at the altar of the chapel, which will display a number of his medals and decorations awarded to him by the UK and Commonwealth countries, as well as his Royal Air Force wings, and insignia from Denmark and Greece – the nations of his family.
How long will the funeral service run?
50 minutes, excluding processions.
Will there be a wake?
It is understood that a private function will take place for members of the royal family, however this is not confirmed.
Will there be a period of mourning?
While the royal family will observe a period of mourning for two weeks, national mourning will end following the end of the service.
How are members of the public being encouraged to mark the occasion?
In Britain, members of the public are being asked to stay at home, and instead of paying their resppsects in person to consider donating to one of the Prince’s selected charities.
Australians can register their condolences, which will be passed onto the Queen, on the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet website.
How can you watch in Australia?
Via any News Corp Australia homepage or free-to-air TV.
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