Minute by Minute guide
EVERY single minute, every pace of the procession and every sound of a bugle or drum during the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral has been planned with military precision.
For years, Prince Philip was at the centre of arrangements for his final exit from the world.
From the Land Rover he specially commissioned and helped to design to the haunting echo of the choir inside the majestic St George’s Hall, the choreographed event will be executed in keeping with his wishes to signify a remarkable life of service by the Queen’s side. Here is a minuteby-minute breakdown. 11amPhilip’s
The coffin, covered with
personal standard, sword, naval cap and a wreath, will be moved from the private chapel to the Inner Hall of Windsor Castle by The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. 2pm
The Lord Chamberlain, Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle and Dean of Windsor will be present in the Inner Hall. 2.10
The Dean will say prayers before leaving by car to St George’s Chapel. Representatives from the services will be in the Quadrangle to show Philip’s military relationships. These include: The Royal Navy; Royal Marines; Band of the Royal Marines; Royal Fleet Auxiliary; The Queen’s Royal Hussars (The Queen’s Own and Royal Irish); Grenadier, Coldstream and Welsh Guards; The Highlanders, 4th Battalion; The Royal Regiment of Scotland; Royal Gurkha Rifles; The Rifles; REME; Intelligence Corps; Royal Air Force; Guidon, Colour and Truncheon Parties; military bands. The Quadrangle will also be lined by the Household Cavalry and Foot Guards. The band of the Grenadier Guards will be in place in Engine Court. 2.20
Members of the Royal Family and Philip’s relatives who are not taking part in the procession will leave Windsor Castle by car to make the journey to the chapel. The Land Rover upon which the coffin will be placed will enter the Quadrangle via the George IV Gate, where bands at the site will begin to play. The service chiefs, the Major General commanding the Household Division and his staff, will leave from the Equerries Entrance and take their position by the State Entrance. They will face the Land Rover. The pall bearers will take up position either side of the car and together they will go towards the State Entrance. 2.38
The coffin will be lifted in the Inner Hall.
2.40
Members of Philip’s household will take up their positions in the procession and the bands will stop playing music. 2.41
The coffin will emerge from the State Entrance to be met by members of the Royal Family who are walking in the procession. They will not be wearing uniforms. A royal salute will be given by the service detachments, the service chiefs, the pall bearers, the Major General commanding the Household Division and his staff. The coffin will be placed on to the Land Rover.
2.44
The Queen, accompanied by a lady in waiting, will leave from the Sovereign’s Entrance in the State Bentley as the National Anthem is
We remember before thee this day Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, rendering thanks unto thee – for his resolute faith and loyalty, for his high sense of duty and integrity, for his life of service to the Nation and Commonwealth, and for the courage and inspiration of his leadership. To him, with all the faithful departed, grant thy peace.
- Prayer from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby
played. The Bentley will pause as it reaches the rear of the procession so the front section of the procession can turn to face the direction of travel. 2.45
The procession, which is planned to take eight minutes, will set off. The firing of minute guns by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn and the sound of the Curfew Tower Bell will form the backdrop as members of the Royal Family who are already at St George’s Chapel stand to view the procession. The Queen will be received by the Dean of Windsor, who will show the mourners at the service, including those who have been watching the procession, to their seats. A royal salute will then be given by the Windsor Castle Guard as the coffin passes
the parade ground. The Band of the Grenadier Guards will stop playing and march through into Denton’s Commons as the procession approaches.
The Rifles Guard of Honour, positioned in Horseshoe Cloister, will give a royal salute and the national anthem will be played. The service chiefs, the Major General commanding the Household Division and his staff will halt on the north side of the West Steps and turn to face the coffin. 2.53
The Land Rover will arrive at the foot of the chapel’s West Steps. A Royal Navy piping party will sound once it stops and pall bearers take their positions. The coffin will be carried up the steps and halt on the second landing as members of the Royal Family go to the steps. 3pm
The National Minute’s Silence, signalled by a gun fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, will take place. The Dean of Windsor and Archbishop of Canterbury will receive the coffin, which will have been followed by members of the Royal Family who walked in the procession. As the doors to St George’s Chapel close to the sound of Carry On being played, the Land Rover, service chiefs, realm defence advisers, bodyguards, military knights of Windsor and representatives of services will leave in silence during the funeral service. After the silence, the coffin will be placed on the catafalque (a platform to support the coffin) in the Quire. Members of the Royal Family who have walked in the procession will take their places for the service, which is set to last 50 minutes, conducted by the Dean of Windsor. The Dean will give the commendation as the coffin is lowered into the Royal Vault. A lament will then be played by a pipe major of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The piper will walk from the
North Quire Aisle to The Dean’s Cloister. 3.45
The Last Post will be sounded by buglers of the Royal Marines from the west end of the nave. After a period of silence, the Reveille will be sounded by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry from the west end of the nave. The buglers of the Royal Marines will sound Action Stations – a stirring tune once sounded on warships – at the specific request of The Duke of Edinburgh. The Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the Blessing, before the National Anthem is sung by the four singers present.
After the service, the Queen and members of the Royal Family and Philip’s relatives will leave via the Galilee Porch. 4pm
The Queen has invited 15 members of the funeral party to join her in a reception, in line with Government guidelines.
russell.myers@mirror.co.uk