Land Rover customized by duke will carry coffin
LONDON • The Duke of Edinburgh's final journey will be in a custom-built Land Rover Defender, which he had been modifying since 2003, the same year he started planning his funeral.
The Defender TD5 130 is military green, repainted at the duke's request to reflect his association with the Armed Forces.
On the altar in St George's Chapel for the funeral Saturday will be displayed some of Prince Philip's insignia, again chosen by himself and including nods to his Danish and Greek heritage.
The naval call Action Stations will be sounded as the coffin is lowered into the Royal Vault, Buckingham Palace revealed Thursday, as details of how the duke planned every element of his own funeral were released.
Although the Queen had to make some “difficult decisions” as she pared down the guest list to just 30 mourners, she included at his request, three of her husband's German relations, as well as all senior royals including the duke's grandchildren and their wives.
The funeral will take place at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, with live broadcasts in Canada beginning at 8 a.m. ET.
Philip's four children — Princes Charles, Andrew, Edward and Princess Anne, along with grandsons William and Harry — will walk behind the coffin, which will be placed onto the Land Rover for the short trip from the castle to the chapel. Members of the family will not wear military uniforms after the Queen decreed that they should don morning coats with medals or day dress instead.
The Queen will travel by car, known as the State Bentley. It was confirmed that she will have to sit alone for the duration of the 50-minute ceremony, with guests placed two metres apart to adhere to social-distancing guidelines. Like all 30 mourners, she will wear a mask throughout.
The bearer party that carries the coffin — covered with the duke's personal standard as well as his sword and naval cap — up the west steps of the chapel will be founded by the Royal Marines, of which he was Captain General for 64 years. The Last Post will be played to signify “a soldier has gone to his final rest.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “It just goes to show the level of detail that the duke went into around his own funeral service.
“It's a fitting testimony, to remind many people who won't have realized that the duke saw active service in the Second World War aboard a ship in the Royal Navy.”
Although the entire event has been significantly pared down, royal aides are confident that the final plans, signed off by the Queen, still very much reflect the duke's wishes.