Prince Philip to have no fuss funeral at Windsor Castle

The pandemic and the UK’s lockdown will impact on Prince Philip’s funeral even beyond the low key arrangements he had helped organise.

Philip wanted to be buried at Frogmore House. Picture: Karen Roe/Flickr

The coronavirus pandemic and current tight lockdown restrictions across Britain will impact on Prince Philip’s funeral even beyond the relatively low key “no fuss’’ arrangements he himself had helped organise.

Philip’s funeral is expected to be held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in a little over a week’s time and will be televised.

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But significant elements of the pomp and ceremony that Britain does so well will be missing as government organisers try to avoid the gathering of large crowds.

Only on this Monday will England’s shops be allowed to reopen after five long months of being shut and people are still not allowed to visit other households indoors.

Philip had resisted having a state funeral, wanting instead a less fussy military style funeral at Windsor and a burial at Frogmore House, near to Windsor Castle.

But it appears the military procession of carrying Philip’s coffin through the streets of Windsor, will be greatly pared back. Organisers are said to be “desperately anxious” not to stage any funeral that will see any crowds form.

Current government rules state that only 30 people may attend a funeral and they must socially distance if they do not live together or share a support bubble.

It is uncertain if the rules will be relaxed so that the much larger Royal Family, and the heads of state of Commonwealth nations, will be able to attend Philip’s funeral.

During the period of mourning, the Queen will not carry out any duties, meaning that no new laws will be passed.