Full details of Prince Philip‘s funeral which he planned himself were revealed today – including that the Queen will travel in the cortege this Saturday in a state Bentley, and Harry will not walk side by side with William.
The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex, who will be reunited for the first time since Harry’s bombshell Oprah Winfrey chat, will be separated by cousin Peter Phillips as they walk in a line behind their grandfather’s coffin.
When the coffin is taken into the chapel, William will move ahead of his brother as the royal family arrives in pairs. Officials confirmed royal men will wear morning coats with their medals and the women will wear day dresses.
That came after the Queen approved a last-minute move to present a united family front, amid concern that Harry would be the only senior royal not in uniform – and Prince Andrew demanding to wear the uniform of an admiral.
The first pictures of a Land Rover hearse Philip designed himself were also revealed. The Duke had requested a repaint in military green and designed the open top rear and special ‘stops’ to secure his coffin. It will be flanked by pall bearers reflecting his relationships with the military, the Royal Marines, Regiments, Corps and Air Stations.
The Queen – like all 30 guests invited to the service – will wear a face mask and will sit by herself in the quire of St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, with all mourners following Covid guidelines and remaining socially distanced.
As royal officials said tributes ‘received from young and old are truly a testament to the remarkable life and lasting endeavours’ of the Duke of Edinburgh, the route of the procession on Saturday in the run-up to 3pm became clear.
Other details released by Buckingham Palace in a detailed announcement at 5pm today included that:
- The Queen will be accompanied in a state Bentley by a lady-in-waiting, but will sit alone in St George’s Chapel;
- Philip’s project to custom build his own Land Rover hearse spanned 16 years, with final adjustments in 2019;
- The Duke of Edinburgh personally selected the insignia, the medals and decorations that will be on the altar;
- His carriage-driving companion and close confidantes Countess Mountbatten of Burma will join mourners.
Philip, who died last Friday aged 99, was the guiding force behind his funeral arrangements and, reflecting his life-long association with the Royal Navy, buglers of the Royal Marines will sound Action Stations during the service.
It is played on a warship to signal all hands should go to battle stations and is sometimes featured at funerals of naval men. A reduced choir of four singers will feature during the service and the guests will not sing.
Among the guests are the Duchess of Cornwall, all of the duke’s grandchildren and their spouses, the children of the Queen’s sister Princess Margaret, and three of Philip’s German relatives – Bernhard, the Hereditary Prince of Baden; Donatus, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse; and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.
Also invited is a close friend of the duke, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, previously known as Lady Romsey and later Lady Brabourne, who was Philip’s carriage driving partner and one of his closest friends.
The Queen will be accompanied to her husband’s funeral in the state Bentley by a lady-in-waiting, but will sit alone in St George’s Chapel. The vehicle will form part of the procession making its way to the chapel in the afternoon.
FULL GUEST LIST FOR THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S FUNERAL
1. The Queen
2. The Prince of Wales
3. The Duchess of Cornwall
4. The Duke of Cambridge
5. The Duchess of Cambridge
6. The Duke of Sussex
7. The Duke of York
8. Princess Beatrice
9. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
10. Princess Eugenie
11. Jack Brooksbank
12. The Earl of Wessex
13. The Countess of Wessex
14. Lady Louise Windsor
15. Viscount Severn
16. The Princess Royal
17. Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence
18. Peter Phillips
19. Zara Phillips
20. Mike Tindall
21. Earl of Snowdon
22. Lady Sarah Chatto
23. Daniel Chatto
24. Duke of Gloucester
25. Duke of Kent
26. Princess Alexandra
27. Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden
28. Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse
29. Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
30. The Countess Mountbatten of Burma