Duke designed hearse to convey coffin through castle grounds
The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin will be carried through the grounds of Windsor Castle in a modified Land Rover that he designed for the occasion.
The funeral will take place next Saturday at 3pm (2am Sunday NZT), following a short procession in which the Prince of Wales and senior members of the royal family will follow the coffin on foot as it is driven to St George’s Chapel.
The Queen will not take part in the procession.
It will be a royal funeral like no other, with members of the royal family adhering to Covid-19 guidelines by wearing masks throughout the ceremony and maintaining social distancing.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman confirmed that it would not be a state occasion, in accordance with the Duke’s wishes, but a ceremonial royal funeral in line with the Queen Mother’s funeral in 2002.
The Queen gave final approval to the plans, which “very much reflect the personal wishes of the Duke” who died peacefully at home in Windsor Castle on Friday morning local time.
However, the event has been significantly reduced in scale in order to comply with strict coronavirus guidelines and as such, there will be no public procession and there will be no public access.
Only 30 mourners, expected to include the Queen, the Duke’s children, grandchildren and his private secretary, will attend.
The funeral will take place entirely within the grounds of Windsor Castle.
It comes after the palace discouraged well-wishers from gathering outside royal residences to lay flowers.
A palace spokesman said: “The occasion will still celebrate and recognise the Duke’s life and his more than 70 years of service to the Queen, the UK and the Commonwealth.”
The Duke currently lies at rest in the private chapel of Windsor Castle.
Next Saturday, the coffin will be moved in a small ceremonial procession from the state entrance to St George’s Chapel for the service, which will begin with a national minute’s silence.
The coffin will emerge from the State Entrance for all those in the procession and in the quadrangle to pay their respects.
A bearer party, drawn from the Duke’s special relationships with the Royal Marines, Regiments, Corps and Air Stations, will then place the Duke’s coffin in a specially adapted Land Rover hearse and withdraw.
Led by the Band of the Grenadier Guards, of which the Duke was Colonel for 42 years, the procession will step off from the State Entrance, followed by the Major General’s party, and a small group of service chiefs representing all branches of the armed forces, reflecting the Duke’s close relationship with all areas of defence.
Members of the royal family — excluding the Queen — will then follow on foot behind the Duke’s coffin, being driven slowly in the Land Rover and flanked by the bearer party. Members of the Duke’s household including his private secretary Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell, his royal protection officer, two pages and two valets will bring
up the rear of the procession.
The procession will pass through Engine Court, Chapel Hill, the Parade Ground and Horseshoe Cloister.
Representatives from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, The Highlanders, the 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, the Royal Air Force, Ceremonial Bodyguards and the Military Knights of Windsor will line the route while The Windsor Castle Guard will be turned out on the parade ground.
A guard of honour will receive the coffin with the national anthem played as it enters Horseshoe Cloister and ending as the Land Rover draws to a halt at St George’s Chapel. Positioned in the Horseshoe Cloister will be the Commonwealth defence advisers from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Trinidad and Tobago.
The West Steps will be lined by a dismounted detachment of the Household Cavalry, while a Royal Naval Piping Party of a Chief Petty Officer and five Ratings will be positioned on the South Side. The coffin will pause for a national minute’s silence.
All those who have taken part in the procession will not enter St George’s Chapel except for members of the royal family, and the Duke’s private secretary in accordance with government guidance limiting funeral congregations to 30. A senior palace official confirmed that under the rules, the clergy were excluded. It was the Duke’s “great interest in design” which inspired him to help design the modified Land Rover that he wanted to carry his coffin.
A senior palace official said: “The Duke of Edinburgh had a hand, many, many years ago, in the design of these vehicles.”
As well as paying tribute to more than 70 years of service to the Queen, the UK and Commonwealth, the ceremony will celebrate the Duke’s achievements.
A palace spokesman said: “While this is naturally a time of sadness and mourning for the royal family, and the many others who knew or admired the Duke of Edinburgh, it is hoped that the coming days will also be seen as an opportunity to celebrate a remarkable life, remarkable both in terms of his vast contribution and lasting legacy.”
The royal family asked the public not to travel to Windsor, or any other palaces, in order to pay their respects.
The ceremony will be televised to enable as many people as possible “to be part of the occasion, to mourn with us and celebrate a truly extraordinary life”, the palace spokesman said.
The Queen has approved the Prime Minister’s recommendation that there be a period of national mourning beginning on Friday, until Saturday April 17, the day of the funeral.