The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Funeral service will have duke’ s stamp all over it
The Duke of Edinburgh’s “unwavering loyalty” to the Queen and “courage, fortitude and faith” will be hailed at his funeral.
No sermon will be delivered during the ceremonial 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.
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.”
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 then either.
It is not common for eulogies to take place at royal funerals or for family members to do readings.
As final preparations were put in place at Windsor ahead of the proceedings, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their teenage daughter Lady Louise Windsor gathered to view flowers left by the public and national leaders outside the chapel.
The duke’s love of carriage-driving will be a poignant feature on the day, with his carriage, which he designed himself, and ponies making an appearance.
The polished dark green four-wheeled carriage, accompanied by two of Philip’s grooms, will stand in the Quadrangle of the castle as the duke’s coffin is carried past in a procession on a Land Rover hearse.
It was Philip’s most recent carriage, which he began using at the age of 91 for riding around Windsor and other royal estates, having had it built eight years ago.
With the carriage will be the duke’s two black Fell ponies – Balmoral Nevis and Notlaw Storm.
The timetable for today’s proceedings is expected to be:
11am – The coffin, which will be covered with Philip’s personal standard along with his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers, will be moved from the private chapel to the Inner Hall of Windsor Castle by Grenadier Guards. 2.27pm – The Land Rover, upon which the coffin will be placed, enters the Quadrangle via George IV Gate where bands at the site begin to play music.
2.41pm – The coffin emerges from the State Entrance and is met by members of the royal family who are walking in the procession. The coffin is placed on to the Land Rover.
2.44pm – The Queen, accompanied by a lady-inwaiting, leaves from the Sovereign’s Entrance in the State Bentley as the national anthem is played.
2.45pm – The procession, which is planned to take eight minutes, sets off.
3pm – The national minute’s silence. The coffin is placed on the Catafalque for the service which is due to last 50 minutes. Coffin is lowered into the Royal Vault.
The duke’s final send-off will be a royal funeral like no other, with coronavirus restrictions meaning the Queen must sit alone, with all guests wearing face masks and observing social distancing rules.