Prince Philip funeral: Sombre Queen sits alone on ‘saddest and most difficult day’
THE grieving Queen sat alone as she said a final farewell to her beloved husband of 73 years on her “saddest and most difficult day”.
Her Majesty, 94, is laying the Duke of Edinburgh, who stood by her side for seven decades of unwavering service, to rest in St George’s Chapel.
Read our Prince Philip funeral live blog for the latest updates
The Queen was pictured wearing all black and a face mask as she entered the chapel alone.
A powerful image showed the sombre royal sat alone in the vast chapel after losing her loyal husband last Friday.
She also bowed her head as the coffin was carried by pallbearers to be placed in front of her pew.
Philip body has now been interred in the Royal Vault of St George’s Chapel after being placed on a catafalque on a marble slab.
His death means the Queen will rule alone for the first time in her reign.
At 3pm, the nation fell silent for one minute to honour Philip as his coffin was carried into the chapel.
It had earlier been placed on the green Land Rover he spent 16 years designing for his final journey.
Pallbearers, made up of the Queen’s company the Grenadier Guards, paused for a moment, as soldiers saluted the coffin.
It comes as:
- Queen arrives at Prince Philip’s funeral on ‘her saddest day’ as his coffin is moved into chapel
- Prince Harry stands apart from William at Philip’s funeral as he’s seen in Britain for first time since Oprah interview
- Britain pauses for national minute’s silence to honour Prince Philip on day of mourning
- Absent Meghan Markle leaves handwritten note to Prince Philip as family gather to say goodbye
- Queen’s special relationship with Prince Andrew proven once again as she seats him in prime spot for Philip funeral
- Meghan Markle watches Prince Philip’s funeral on live-stream from US with Archie after doctors said she couldn’t attend
The duke’s coffin was draped with his personal standard, which pays tribute to his birth heritage as a Prince of Greece and Denmark, his family name and his Edinburgh title.
The first three quarters showed his lineage – with blue lions and red hearts on a yellow background representing Denmark, a white cross on blue representing Greece, and his anglicised family name Mountbatten represented with two black “pales” or stripes on white.
The fourth quarter contains the arms of the City of Edinburgh.
Philip’s funeral was peppered with touching nods to his military service and duty to his country.
Music chosen by the duke included the hymn “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” – traditionally associated with seafarers and the maritime armed services.
And buglers from the Royal Marines sounded Action Stations to reflect Philip’s life-long association with the Royal Navy.
The song is played on a warship to signal all hands should go to battle stations and is sometimes featured at the funerals of naval men.
But none of the Royal Family wore military uniforms and instead donned morning coat with medals or day dress after fears Prince Harry would be the only male senior royal dressed differently.
Earlier, Prince Harry was seen stood apart from William as the procession made its way through the grounds of Windsor Castle.
It is the first time he has seen his family since Megxit – although it’s been reported he spoke on the phone to Charles and William after landing in the UK.
He walked feet away from William, with Peter Phillips between them, as they processed behind the coffin.
Peter hung back slightly to allow the brothers to walk ahead at the same pace.
They moved slowly with the regimented family group towards the chapel.
Harry then stood behind William as they stood sombrely in the chapel as the coffin was gently put down.
Earlier Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince Charles arrived at Windsor Castle as they prepare to say a final farewell to Prince Philip.
The Duke of Edinburgh – Britain’s longest-serving consort – is being laid to rest in a scaled-back, Covid-secure ceremony at 3pm honouring his service.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were pictured being driven to the castle this morning from Kensington Palace.
Kate was dressed all in black with a netted veil covering her face mask. She is also wearing a stunning pearl necklace belonging to the Queen and drop earrings.
The necklace was also worn by Princess Diana in a touching nod to her late mother-in-law.
Meanwhile William looked sombre in a black suit and black tie, teamed with a face mask.
His dad Prince Charles was pictured in a Tesla arriving at Windsor Castle with wife Camilla, followd by his younger brother Prince Andrew.
Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi have also been driven to meet with the family ahead of the funeral.
The proceedings started at 11am today when his coffin was moved from the private chapel to the Inner Hall of Windsor Castle.
Philip’s casket is covered with his personal standard along with his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers.
The coffin was moved by the Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, where Philip was a colonel for 42 years.
From there, Philip was placed in the modified military green Land Rover he spent 16 years adapting to take him on his final journey.
A band played I Vow to Thee my Country as the Land Rover was driven through the Quadrangle to the State Entrance of the castle.
His coffin received a royal salute and met by members of the royal family as it was carried to the hearse
At 2.45pm, the Band of the Grenadier Guards, followed by the Major General commanding the Household Division, led the procession.
Different groups then followed the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin through the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Philip’s children, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Prince Charles were in one group.
While Prince William and Harry were separated during the eight-minute procession by their cousin Peter Phillips at the request of the Queen.
The event is different to any other royal funeral after Covid made the family strip back all tradition.
Just 30 mourners arein attendance to honour Britain’s longest-serving consort.
Among them are his four children and all his grandchildren and their spouses – including William, Harry, Eugenie and Beatrice.
Three of Philip’s German relatives – Bernhard, the Hereditary Prince of Baden; Donatus, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse; and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg – are among the attendees.
The trio are great-nephews and a cousin of Philip – with the duke making it clear he wanted his “blood” family to be included in his funeral arrangements.
The stripped back guestlist means a couple of mourners expected to be included have been left off.
This includes Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, the Duchess of Gloucester and Philip’s private secretary Archie Miller-Bakewell.
Meghan Markle is also not attending as she is pregnant and none of Philip’s ten great-grandchildren will be there as they are too young.
Buckingham Palace said the Queen faced “some very difficult” decisions as she selected the 30 guests from the original 800 mourners.
But the funeral still followed Prince Philip’s wishes – and hailed his “courage, fortitude and faith”.
The Dean of Windsor, in the Bidding, will also pay tribute to Philip’s “kindness, humour and humanity.”
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“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.”
