Tributes to Philip’s loyalty and faith at service
THE DUKE of Edinburgh’s “unwavering loyalty” to the Queen and “courage, fortitude and faith” will be praised at his funeral service in St George’s Chapel, Windsor today – the burial place of kings and their consorts down the years.
No sermon will be delivered during the Royal service, in keeping with Philip’s wishes.
His love of the sea and long association with the Royal Navy permeates the Order of Service, which has been released by Buckingham Palace ahead of today’s proceedings.
Music chosen by the Duke includes the hymn Eternal Father, Strong to Save – traditionally associated with seafarers and the maritime armed services.
Written in 1860 by William Whiting, it was inspired by the dangers of the sea described in Psalm 107.
It was also sung at the funeral of Philip’s beloved uncle, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who was murdered by the IRA in 1979.
The Dean of Windsor, in the Bidding, will also pay tribute to Philip’s “kindness, humour and humanity.”
“With grateful hearts, we remember the many ways in which his long life has been a blessing to us,” he will say of Philip, who died aged 99 last Friday.
“We have been inspired by his unwavering loyalty to our Queen, by his service to the nation and the commonwealth, by his courage, fortitude and faith.
“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.”
Other elements of the deeply religious service will include:
■ A psalm which Philip requested should be set to music and was first sung in honour of his 75th birthday.
■ A lesson by the Dean of Windsor, which tells of “those who sail the sea tell stories of its dangers, which astonish all who hear them; in it are strange and wonderful creatures, all kinds of living things and huge sea monsters”.
■ A Jubilate which was written for St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, at Philip’s request.
No members of the Royal Family will read lessons or give readings and there is no eulogy. This is in keeping with the Queen Mother’s funeral in 2002 when the delivery of readings was left to the clergy and there was no eulogy.
It is not common for eulogies to take place at Royal funerals or for family members to do readings.
A sermon at the Queen Mother’s service was carried out by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The lack of sermon for the Duke perhaps fits in with his desire to get things done in a speedy, efficient manner.
His grandson, the Duke of Sussex, said as he paid tribute earlier in the week: “I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, ‘Oh, do get on with it!’”
It will be a Royal funeral like no other, with coronavirus restrictions meaning the congregation will be limited to 30. The Queen must sit alone and socially distanced, with all guests wearing face masks and sitting two metres apart from those not in their household.
The songs will be performed by a choir of just three choristers and one soprano, with the congregation forbidden from singing.
As final preparations were put in place at Windsor yesterday, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their teenage daughter Lady Louise Windsor gathered to view flowers left outside the chapel.