Prince Philip funeral: Grieving Queen farewells husband of 73 years

London: It was, to the people who knew him best and those only ever from a distance, a farewell of many meanings.

For the public, Prince Philip’s funeral at Windsor Castle on Saturday was one last goodbye to a towering figure emblematic of a generation never to be seen again. For the Duke of Edinburgh’s family, it was the departure of a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

But for the Queen the service was a reminder that, for the first time since ascending to the throne nearly seven decades ago, she now carries the weight of the monarchy alone. The longest royal partnership in British history is over after 73 years.

The Queen takes her seat ahead of the funeral service for Prince Philip. Credit: AP

The 94-year-old viewed Philip’s coffin for a private moment of reflection before the casket – draped in the duke’s personal standard and topped by his naval cap and sword – was lifted onto the back of a specially modified Land Rover and driven to St George’s Chapel.

The Land Rover, which Philip designed over 18 years, was driven into the castle’s quadrangle as I Vow to Thee, My Country was played by a military band.

An ashen-faced Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward walked behind the procession - so too feuding brothers William and Harry. The Queen followed in the state Bentley dressed entirely in black and wearing a face mask.

Prince Philip’s coffin is loaded onto the specially modified Land Rover. Credit: Getty

The night before, the monarch released a previously unseen photograph of herself and Philip smiling and relaxing on a mountain in Scotland in 2003. She also spoke on Friday with Governor-General David Hurley, who said Australians were thinking of her.

Coronavirus restrictions meant just 30 guests could attend Saturday’s funeral instead of the planned 800.

The recently vaccinated Queen sat on her own, two metres apart from other family members, due to coronavirus rules.

There was no eulogy, sermon or readings, however David Conner, the Dean of Windsor, opened with a tribute to Philip’s decades of public service.

“With grateful hearts, we remember the many ways in which his long life has been a blessing to us,” Conner said.

“Our lives have been enriched through the challenges that he has set us, the encouragement that he has given us, his kindness, humour and humanity.”

The eight-minute ceremonial procession from Windsor Castle, where Philip had been lying-in-rest since his death on April 9, to St George’s Chapel featured references to his service in the Royal Navy during World War II and lifelong passion for the military.

Four Defence Advisors from the Commonwealth nations of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Trinidad and Tobago were positioned outside the 15th century chapel to watch as the coffin paused on the steps for a national minute’s silence. Philip wanted Australia’s representative, Commodore Guy Holthouse, there as a nod to his long links to the country.

Prince Charles sheds a tear as he follows the coffin at Windsor Castle.Credit: Getty Images

People who gathered outside the walls of Windsor Castle were politely asked to go home and watch the service on television.

“He was a character, an absolute character,” said Jenny Jeeves, who briefly inspected floral tributes.

“He was fun, he was funny. Yes, he made quite a few gaffes, but it depends which way you took it really. Just a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather, and a good example to all of us.”

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said ahead of the funeral: “The royal family just kept to the rules and that means they’ve gone through what millions of others have gone through which is not really being able to say goodbye in the way they’d hoped or planned”.

“We can never fail to be admiring of the way Her Majesty behaved.”

The Queen arrives for the funeral in the state Bentley. Credit: Getty Images

With the congregation also banned from singing, four members of the St George’s Chapel choir performed William Whiting’s hymn Eternal Father, Strong to Save, and three other songs - two of which were composed at Philip’s request.

Australian Jason Groves, a trustee of Britain’s Cathedral Music Trust, said of the repertoire: “The choice of music clearly reflects Prince Philip’s love of the English choral music tradition. While Robert Stone’s Lord’s Prayer will be familiar to anyone who’s been to Evensong in the last 400 years, Benjamin Britten’s Jubilate in C is an exuberant example of how this glorious tradition has evolved.

“The strikingly beautiful Russian Kontakion for the Departed, increasingly sung at Anglican funerals, is a nod to his baptismal Orthodox faith.”

A lift powered by an electric motor lowered Philip’s coffin from the chapel’s Quire to the royal vault below. He will be interred there until the Queen dies and the pair are buried together in the King George VI memorial chapel, a tiny stone annex which is also the resting place of the Queen’s father, mother and sister Princess Margaret.

Prince Harry walked with Prince William after their grandfather’s funeral, talking with his brother and William’s wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.

As the service drew to a close, The Last Post rang out across the grounds of Windsor Castle, and the Queen exited the chapel which has hosted dozens of important royal occasions during her reign. This time, though, Philip was not walking two steps behind.

What in the World

A note direct from our foreign correspondents about what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly newsletter here.