The Duke of Edinburgh’s low-key send-off to be royal funeral like no other
THE Duke of Edinburgh was known to have wanted his funeral to be a low-key affair, but he likely never envisaged quite how understated it would be.
His final farewell will be a royal funeral like no other, with the Queen and her family following guidelines, wearing face masks and socially distancing as they gather to pay tribute.
Buckingham Palace announced that Philip’s ceremonial royal funeral will take place on April 17 in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, and a national minute’s silence will be observed as it begins at 3pm.
The duke’s coffin will be transported from the castle to the chapel in a specially modified Land Rover he helped to design, and followed by the Prince of Wales and senior royals on foot, a senior Palace official said.
Only 30 people – expected to be the duke’s children, grandchildren and other close family – will attend as guests, but the Duchess of Sussex has been advised by her physician not to travel to the UK for the funeral, a palace spokesman said.
All public elements of the funeral have been cancelled. It will be televised but take place entirely in the grounds of the castle, the palace said.
The royal family has appealed to people who wish to pay their respects in person to stay at home instead.
The palace spokesman said: “While there is sadness that the public will not be able to physically be part of events to commemorate the life of the duke, the royal family asks that anyone wishing to express their condolences do so in the safest way possible and not by visiting Windsor or any other royal palaces to pay their respects.”
The Queen has approved the Prime Minister’s recommendation of national mourning, which began on April 9 and runs until and including the day of the funeral.
The Queen has decided the royal family will enter two weeks of royal mourning, and engagements will continue appropriate to the circumstances, a senior royal official said.
Public elements of Operation Forth Bridge – the code name for the duke’s funeral plans – were abandoned for fear of drawing crowds including the long-held arrangements for military processions through London and Windsor.
Instead, the proceedings will take place entirely in the grounds of Windsor Castle, televised, but away from public view.
The duke died peacefully in his sleep at Windsor Castle on Friday, two months before his 100th birthday, leaving the Queen and the royal family “mourning his loss”.
The Prince of Wales paid a moving tribute to his late father yesterday, describing his “dear papa” as a “very special person”. He added that he already missed him “enormously”.
Gun salutes have been fired across the UK, in Gibraltar, and at sea in tribute to the duke.
Saluting batteries began firing 41 rounds at one round every minute from midday on Saturday in cities including Edinburgh and London
A palace spokesman said the royal family hoped the coming days would be seen as a chance to celebrate the duke’s
“remarkable life”. “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 spokesman said.
He added: “The Covid-19 pandemic has of course required us to make significant adaptations to the original arrangements for His Royal Highness’s funeral. However, we are certain that the occasion will be no less fitting a farewell to His Royal Highness, marking his significant duty and service to the nation and the Commonwealth.”