Duke of Edinburgh goes home today
The Duke of Edinburgh,His Royal Highness Prince Philip, who died last Friday at the age of 99, will be laid to rest today at 3 p.m. (10 a.m. ET) at the St George's Chapel in Windsor, West of London.
His funeral will be a “Ceremonial Royal Funeral”, the same as that of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. It will not be a “State Funeral” - something that is generally reserved for Monarchs.
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Arrangements for the funeral have been in the works for many years but the memorial service has had to be modified in light of the pandemic and the congregation of mourners will, therefore, only consist of close family and friends of the beloved patriarch.
However, the remembrance will retain the colourful traditions of a royal funeral and will be a reflection of The Duke's military affiliations and personal elements of His Royal Highness's life.
The Dean of Windsor will conduct the funeral service and the Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the Blessing and the funeral will be broadcast live on television and radio to allow people around the world to take part in mourning The Duke.
Running Order
At exactly 2:40pm, today, April 17, 2021, the coffin will emerge from the State Entrance of Windsor Castle into the Quadrangle, followed by the members of the Royal Family who will be walking in the procession. All those in the Quadrangle will give the coffin a Royal Salute before the coffin is placed onto the Land Rover.
The Queen will depart from the Sovereign’s Entrance in the State Bentley, while the Procession will move towards the St George’s Chapel, through Engine Court, Chapel Hill Parade Ground and into Horseshoe Cloister, arriving at the West Steps.
The procession route will be lined by over 700 representatives from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Highlanders and 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Air Force. Minute Guns will be fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn of Windsor Castle for the duration of the Procession. The Curfew Tower Bell will also toll.
Royal Family behind coffin
The members of the Royal Family who will follow on foot behind the coffin are as follows: The Princess Royal, The Prince of Wales, The Earl of Wessex and Forfar The Duke of York, The Duke of Sussex, Mr Peter Phillips The Duke of Cambridge, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and The Earl of Snowdon.
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The National Anthem will play as the coffin arrives at Horseshoe Cloister, to be met by representatives from the Commonwealth and a Dismounted Detachment of the Household Cavalry.
The Bearer Party will carry the coffin up the West Steps of the Chapel before pausing for a National Minute Silence at 3p.m. The Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury will then receive the coffin. As the doors to St George’s Chapel close, the Royal Navy Piping Party will pipe the ‘Carry On’.
List of 30 royal guests
Here is the full list of 30 guests who will attend the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral, The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke of Cambridge,The Duchess of Cambridge,The Duke of Sussex, The Duke of York, Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie.
The others are Jack Brooksbank, The Earl of Wessex, The Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, Viscount Severn, The Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Peter Phillips, Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall.
The rest are Earl of Snowdon, Lady Sarah Chatto, Daniel Chatto, Duke of Gloucester, Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden, Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse, Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and
The Countess Mountbatten of Burma.
The main service
The congregation will wear masks for the service and members of the Royal Family will wear Day Dress or Morning Coat with medals.
During the service, a small choir of four will sing pieces of music chosen by The Duke of Edinburgh. The choir will be located in the Nave, away from the seated congregation, and in line with public health guidelines there will be no congregational singing.
The funeral service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor and is expected to last for approximately 50 minutes. At the conclusion of the service, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Coffin will be lowered into the Royal Vault. The Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the Blessing and the National Anthem will be sung by the choir.
Her Majesty The Queen, Members of the Royal Family and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Family will then depart the Chapel via Galilee Porch.
Brief biography
Born on the Greek island of Corfu on June 10, 1921, The Duke of Edinburgh was named Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. His early life had often been described as turbulent and he spent much of his younger years moving from one home to another.
His Royal Highness was the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece, who was the younger brother of King Constantine I of Greece. His paternal family is of Danish descent, as Prince Andrew was the grandson of King Christian IX of Denmark.
Prince Philip started school in France but went to England to attend the Cheam Preparatory School, Surrey in 1928. He left at the age of 12 to spend a year at Salem School in southern Germany, run by the famous educationalist, Kurt Hah.
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His Royal Highness then went to the newly opened Gordonstoun School in Morayshire (which all three of his own sons also attended), also founded by Kurt Hahn, who had moved to Scotland after being arrested by the Nazis for speaking out against their regime. At the start of his education at Gordonstoun, he was one of only 21 boys at the school.
Prince Philip became Head of the School and Captain of Hockey and Cricket during his time at Gordonstoun. He also took part in sailing expeditions around the coast of Scotland and to Norway.
The Queen's Consort
The engagement of Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten to Princess Elizabeth was announced in July 1947 and the marriage took place in Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947.
The Duke of Edinburgh was devoted consort (companion to the Sovereign) for over 60 years, from Her Majesty’s Accession in 1952 until his death.
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The consort does not hold a formal position in the structure of government and The Duke did not see State papers or hold official audiences. However, Prince Philip established a significant role for himself in his own right, creating an extensive and important portfolio, based on his personal interests, all of which he carried out in support of Her Majesty's duties.
The Duke and the Commonwealth
Over 67 years, between 1949 and 2016, The Duke of Edinburgh made 229 visits to 67 Commonwealth countries on solo visits without The Queen and this is in addition to the visits he made to Commonwealth countries accompanying Her Majesty.
The Royal family was "grateful" for the condolence messages sent from across the globe, "The tributes received from young and old are truly a testament to the remarkable life and lasting endeavours of His Royal Highness.