Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was laid to rest in the Royal Vault at St. George’s Chapel on Saturday (April 17), alongside 24 other members of the Royal Family who have passed.
Due to COVID-19 protocols, only 30 guests were allowed to attend the funeral – Buckingham Palace released the full list of attendees on Thursday (April 15), which included Queen Elizabeth II, his children and grandchildren, their spouses, and members of the Duke’s Greek and German family. Prince Harry flew in from the U.S. last week to attend his grandfather’s funeral – his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who is pregnant with their second child, was not cleared to travel by her doctor and is watching funeral from their home in California.
Before he passed, Prince Philip had agreed to details for his funeral service – including the custom Land Rover that carried his coffin from Windsor Castle to St. George’s Chapel, as well as the hymns for the somber event.
The funeral procession from Windsor Castle to St. George’s Chapel was led by Prince Philip’s royal hearse. Members of the Royal Family – including Prince William and Prince Harry, with their cousin Peter Philipps in between the brothers – followed on foot, led by Prince Charles and Princess Anne. The Queen is driven to the chapel via her Royal Bentley, positioned at the end of the procession.
Military representatives lined the route, and the Curfew Tower Bell tolled as the procession traveled down the path. The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery also fired Minute Guns. The journey from Windsor Castle to St. George’s Chapel took eight minutes.
Queen Elizabeth’s arrival at St. George’s Chapel marks her first public appearance since her husband passed on April 9 at the age of 99 – the U.K.’s national anthem played as she arrived. after his coffin, which was draped in his personal standard and topped with his Royal Navy cap and sword and a wreath of flowers that the Queen chose, was taken into the chapel via the West Steps, a national minute of silence was also observed across the nation at 3 PM (London time).
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby walked into the chapel ahead of the coffin, which was followed by the Royal Family who were in the procession – putting on their masks as they entered the chapel.
The Dean of Windsor opened the service with a reading from the book of Ecclesiasticus. In keeping with COVID-19 protocols, the Queen sat alone for the service.
Per Prince Philip’s request, there was no sermon and no eulogies. The Archbishop said a prayer of thanks for the Duke.
Before Prince Philip was laid to rest, the Dean of Windsor delivered the commendation, saying, “Go forth upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul, In the name of God the Father Almighty who created thee; In the name of Jesus Christ who suffered for thee; In the name of the Holy Spirit who strengtheneth thee; May thy portion this day be in peace, and thy dwelling in the heavenly Jerusalem. Amen.”
The Royal Regiment of Scotland played Bagpipes as Prince Philip’s coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault.
However, this will likely not be Prince Philip’s final resting place. According to reports, after the Queen dies, his body will be moved to lie next to her at the King George VI Memorial Chapel in another part of the church – the Queen’s father, King George VI, her mother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and her sister, Princess Margaret are buried there.
The Queen, led by the Dean of Windsor, was later taken to her car; the Royals walked on foot to attend a private gathering after the funeral.
Rest in peace, Prince Philip.
