Prince Philip Had a Hand in Designing His Own Funeral Proceedings
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elizabeth, died on April 9, 2021, less than a month after being discharged from the hospital where he was treated for an infection and a pre-existing heart condition. Philip, 99, was the longest-serving consort of any British monarch.
Philip’s funeral will be held on Saturday, April 17 at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. Prince Philip will have a ceremonial funeral, rather than a state funeral, which are usually reserved for monarchs—though Winston Churchill received one in 1965.
Proceedings will be more intimate than prior funerals for senior members of the royal family. 19 years ago, an estimated 200,000 people paid their respects to the Queen Mother, as she lay in state in Westminster Hall. Philip, conversely, will not lie in state, and instead will rest in the Private Chapel in Windsor Castle until April 17, per the BBC.
According to the palace, Philip's intimate ceremony, which will take place entirely on palace grounds, will be "in line" with the duke's "own personal wishes." As the BBC put it, Philip requested a funeral of "minimal fuss." Further, the attendees will be strictly limited due to to pandemic-related protocol.
While the funeral service's in-person audience will be exclusively family members, the service will be televised. Here's how to watch.
When is Prince Philip's funeral?
The funeral service will begin on Saturday, April 17 at 3 p.m. in the U.K, or 10 a.m. EST. However, the procession will start at about 2:40, or 9:40 a.m. EST.
You can stream and watch the funeral on TV.
The funeral will be broadcast live by the British networks BBC One, Sky, and ITN, and the streaming service BBC iPlayer. The American networks airing the funeral have yet to be announced. The funeral will be televised to allow the public “to be part of the occasion, to mourn with us and celebrate a truly extraordinary life,” the palace spokesperson said during a briefing, per ABC.
What are the plans for the funeral proceedings?
The Duke himself had a hand in designing his own funeral. On April 17, at around 2:40 p.m. in the U.K., the Duke will be transported from Windsor Chapel to St. George's Chapel. His casket will be placed on a modified Land Rover he helped design, per a palace spokesperson.
The funeral procession will include many branches of the British armed forces. Some members of the royal family, including Princes Charles, Prince William and Harry, will walk behind the coffin as it moves to St. George's Chapel. The Queen will not be included in the procession.
At 3 p.m. U.K. time, the ceremony will begin with a nationwide moment of silence. "While this is naturally a time of sadness and mourning for the royal family and the many others who knew and 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 Buckingham Palace spokesman said.
Following the televised service, Prince Philip will be privately interred in the Royal Vault of St George’s Chapel, and will be moved to his final, unconfirmed resting place at a later date.
The funeral will only have 30 attendees.
Under normal circumstances, the BBC reports, about 800 people would have attended the event. Under England's COVID-19 restrictions, only 30 people can attend a funeral, all masked and socially distanced.
As a result, the attendees will be close family members. While the official list has yet to be announced, Prince Harry is confirmed to attend the service. His wife, Meghan Markle, who is pregnant with the couple's second child, will not, per her doctor's orders, according to a royal spokesperson. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not attend in order to make room for an additional family member.
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