The Duke of Edinburgh's funeral took place today at Windsor, just over one week since his death on 9 April. It was an occasion which it was said had his ‘fingerprints’ on it, from the custom-made Land Rover that transported his coffin, to the military insignia on the altar, to the guest list, which though diminished due to Covid, included three German relatives representing his four elder sisters.
The 30 guests at the funeral included the Duke's children and their spouses - Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex - as well as all of his grandchildren and their spouses - the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke of Sussex, Peter Phillips, Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, and Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. The only exception was the Duchess of Sussex, who was advised not to travel from the United States for the event due to her pregnancy. Her press secretary confirmed that she would be watching from California.
Others in attendance were the Queen's three cousins the Duke of Gloucester, Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra, as well as the Queen and Prince Philip's nephew and niece, the Earl of Snowdon and Lady Sarah Chatto. There were also two great-nephews of Philip related to his elder sisters, Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden, and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, the grandsons of his sisters Princess Theodora and Princess Margarita respectively, as well as a cousin, Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse, who is a relation of both his sisters Princess Cecilie and Princess Sophie. The final member of the funeral party was Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten, a confidante and friend to the Duke over the past several decades.
Ahead of the event, the Duke’s coffin, which was covered with His Royal Highness’s Personal Standard and surmounted with his Sword, Naval Cap and a wreath of white lilies and roses chosen by the Queen, was transported privately from the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle to the Inner Hall of Windsor Castle.
Just before 2.30pm the custom-built Land Rover that would transport the Duke's coffin arrived at St George's Chapel, where it was met by several hundred personnel from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, The Highlanders, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Air Force, with music chosen by the Duke played by bands of the Grenadier Guards and Rifles Regiment, members of the Household Cavalry and a Royal Navy piping party. These songs included I Vow to Thee My Country, Supreme Sacrifice, Jerusalem, Isle of Beautyand Nimrord.
Shortly before 2.45pm, the coffin was carried by a Bearer Party from The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards to the Land Rover, before the procession began, with the Queen at the rear in the State Bentley. The Duke’s children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, three of his grandsons Prince William, Prince Harry and Peter Phillips, and his nephew, Earl Snowdon, plus Princess Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Timothy Lawrence, were joined by members of the Duke’s household staff in the procession, including his private secretary Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell, his former Metropolitan Police personal protection officer and his two former valets and two ex-pages.
As was noted ahead of the event, brothers Prince William and Prince Harry were separated by Peter Phillips, while the party all wore day dress and mourning coats with medals, rather than military uniforms.
In a particularly thoughtful touch, the Duke's favourite carriage was in the quadrangle to witness the procession, with two Fell ponies, Balmoral Nevis and Notlaw Storm, and a pair of groomsmen. Carriage driving was of course one of the Duke's favourite pastimes.
The ceremony, which began shortly after 3pm, was led by the Dean of Windsor and lasted around 50 minutes. There were four songs sung by a socially-distanced choir, each chosen by the Duke, including Eternal Father, Strong to Save, a hymn best associated with sea-faring, and reflecting the Duke's Naval career, and Psalm 104, which was set to music by William Lovelady at the Duke's request, and was previously sung at his 75th birthday.
The Royal Family were sat apart from each other in household bubbles, all wearing face masks. Prince Harry sat on the opposite side of the church to his brother Prince William, while the Queen sat alone, with Prince Andrew a few seats down from her. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were opposite Her Majesty, with Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex and their two children further down the row.
The service concluded with the Duke's titles read aloud by the Garter Principal King of Arms and performances by the Buglers of the Royal Marines. Finally, there was a blessing by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the National Anthem was sung by the choir, to close the proceedings.
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