London (CNN) – In keeping with his no-nonsense, no-nonsense approach to life, the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral next Saturday will be a quiet affair by royal standards, but it will show his military roots and influence in the British monarchy.
The ceremony will take place at St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle at 3:00 pm (10am Miami time). Many will remember it as the setting for more joyful royal moments, such as Meghan Markle’s wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 and Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank.
But unlike those events, there won’t be any crowds. As on many other occasions over the past year, Prince Philip’s funeral has been largely modified due to the coronavirus, with all public items removed.
Of course, your immediate family will be there, but the city rule of 30 places a strict limit on who else to come. However, Felipe’s other family, his military family, will play a vital role, involving about 730 members of the armed forces.
While last-minute changes were needed to ensure compliance with the pandemic measures, the schemes were carefully planned over the years, with Felipe himself heavily involved. The plan was signed by the queen and reflects the prince’s last wishes, Buckingham Palace said.
How will the day of the funeral go?
At the queen’s coronation, Philip “swore to become sovereign of life and members and of earthly worship; and faith and truth I will give you to live and die against all classes of people ”. And through his unwavering commitment as the longest-serving partner, he did just that.
He never wanted a state funeral, usually reserved for monarchs, and made that clear to the Lord Chamberlain’s Office, which organized the event. Instead, it will be a lower level, a royal ceremony, as awarded to the Queen Mother in 2002 and Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997. But it will remain a memento steeped in tradition and symbolism from the moment the chest is opened. is lifted. the state entrance of Windsor Castle and continues through the grounds to St George’s Chapel.
Felpe’s casket has been in the private chapel at Windsor Castle. On Saturday morning, head to the Inner Hall, where the Dean of Windsor will offer a prayer before the day’s events begin.
At 2:41 PM (9:41 AM Miami time), the chest, covered with the Duke’s personal banner, is carried to the state entrance by carriers of The Queen’s Company, 1st Guards Grenadier Battalion. His sword and navy cap are placed on top of it, along with a floral wreath.
At 2:45 PM (9:45 AM, Miami time), the procession leaves the ring, led by the Band of the Grenadier Guards regiment, of which Felipe was Colonel for 42 years.
The chest is carried the short distance to the chapel in a modified Land Rover, which Felipe helped design, and is flanked by carriers highlighting its relationship with the Royal Marines, Regiment, Corps and Air Stations. A decorated war hero for his service in World War II, Felipe gave up a burgeoning naval career to pursue his royal duties.
Military rehearsals for those involved in the ceremonial procession were held all week at Pirbright, an army training center southwest of London. An independent dress rehearsal, including all servants and the full funeral parade, was held at Windsor Castle on Thursday.
This Land Rover was modified to carry the duke’s chest.
Soldiers of the Welsh Guard bow their heads as they rehearse for Prince Philip’s funeral in Woking, England on Wednesday.
Prince Charles and other members of the royal family will follow the Land Rover on foot, while Philips household staff will follow after him. Princes William and Harry walk in the same row, but separated by cousin Peter Philips. The siblings walked shoulder to shoulder, but Buckingham Palace would not be drawn to ease the family tensions.
The Queen, accompanied by a maid of honor, will travel to the chapel in a Bentley State limousine.
Family members not taking part in the procession, such as the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge, will join the 94-year-old monarch to watch the funeral procession outside the veranda of the Galilee chapel. This also includes the Duke’s German relatives who will be in attendance, including his great-nephews, the Crown Prince of Baden and the Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.
In a break with tradition, the princes in the procession will not wear military uniforms, but instead coats with medals or dresses for the day.
Clothing has become a hot topic in recent days, after reports surfaced that Prince Andrew, who retired two years ago, was considering wearing an admiral’s uniform.
The decision to forgo military clothing will also keep Prince Harry from embarrassing himself, as he was stripped of his military honorary titles in March after retiring from the higher kingship.
At 2:53 PM (9:53 AM Miami time), the procession ends at the base of the Western Steps of St. George’s Chapel.
At 3:00 PM (10:00 AM Miami time), a national minute of silence is held before the chest continues to climb the steps and is greeted by the Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury in the upper area. The Archbishop will conduct the service. Due to covid-19 congregational boundaries, only family members involved in the funeral procession will enter the chapel after the coffin.
In accordance with public health regulations, the municipality wears a mask during the 50-minute shift.
A four-piece choir, away from the mourners on the ship, sings a selection of music chosen by the Duke.
The Dean will deliver the eulogy as the chest is lowered into the Royal Vault, where many members of the Royal Family are buried. The vault, located under the chapel, was built by George III, one of the many kings buried in it.
However, it won’t be Felipe’s final resting place. When the queen dies, Felipe will reunite with his 73-year-old former wife and move to the memorial chapel of King George VI (another part of the Gothic church) to rest with her. The Queen’s father, her mother Elizabeth and her sister Margaret are already buried in the vault.
The George VI Memorial Chapel in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Windsor Castle has had a lot of history and Saturday will be no different.
Felipe was a controversial figure at times, but the legacy to be celebrated on Saturday is his passion for innovation, from his drive to let cameras into the royal family to show that the family does normal things like organizing barbecues, to her determination to launch an official family website to spread her work to the rest of the world, leading to the creation of the Duke of Edinburgh’s awards program to inspire young people to realize their potential.
When he became a partner, he had no defined role, so he defined it himself. He used his profile to advocate for the issues that mattered to him. His place in British history is assured by what he did and not by what he was. He will be remembered as a man who not only supported but also advised one of the most successful monarchs in British history.
Reminiscent of Prince Philip
A grieving son receives tribute to his ‘dad’
Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, took a walk on Thursday to see the myriad of floral tributes left by the public to the Duke of Edinburgh. The flowers, cards and other gifts had initially been left outside Buckingham Palace but were moved along the road to Marlborough House. The queen is also expected to see them.
Royal family website issues condolences
An online condolence book has been launched on the Royal Family’s official website, where people can leave condolence messages. The family has asked members of the public to “consider making a donation to charity rather than leaving floral tributes in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh.”
Harry’s crazy flight back to the UK for the funeral
With the coronavirus wreaking havoc on air travel, many royal observers were concerned that the Duke of Sussex would not be able to attend his grandfather’s funeral. Fortunately, Prince Harry flew to London Heathrow Airport last weekend and spent the week in isolation at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate. The Duke likely wanted to follow pandemic-era travel rules and guarantee a quarantine period before attending the service this weekend. Like any other traveler returning to the UK, Harry can choose to prove their departure from the mandatory 10-day quarantine period. But UK rules for mourners arriving in the country allow him to attend the Saturday service for “compassionate reasons” regardless.
The Princess Royal on her visit to the Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
The queen returns to her duties
The 94-year-old monarch hosted a ceremony within the walls of Windsor Castle on Tuesday for Earl Peel, who recently stepped down as Lord Chamberlain. Her office manages the Queen’s program of ceremonial events, ranging from garden parties and state visits to royal weddings and the state opening of parliament. Princess Anne also made her first personal engagement since her father’s death this week, when she visited the Royal Victoria Yacht Club on the Isle of Wight, of which Philip was an admiral.
From the royal vault
Tributes have come from all over the world since Buckingham Palace announced Philip’s death last Friday. On Wednesday, the family chose to use their social media accounts to share fond memories of their beloved patriarch. Photographs from the royal family’s personal archives, some of which had never been seen before, showed the family’s beloved elder with an “ infectious sense of adventure, ” as William described it.
The family published this moving photo of Felipe and the Queen surrounded by seven of their great-grandchildren. The photo was taken in Balmoral Castle in Scotland by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in 2018.
Many of these family photos have been posted on the family’s various social accounts this week.
Answers to your questions
The flags of the entire United Kingdom were lowered to half-staff during the mourning period. But not all flags.
Only one flag is not half: the one that now flies over Windsor Castle. Why not? Because it is the Royal Standard. It belongs to the monarch and shows when she is “in residence”.
A word from the royal family
The Earl thought Thursday in a poignant tribute to his father, describing Felipe as someone who had “a unique ability to make a lasting impression in a remarkably short time.”
– Max and Lauren