Operation Forth Bridge: Prince Philip’s Funeral in Detail

The Duke of Edinburg was laid to rest on Saturday, 17 April, eight days after the 99-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II died.

Here are a number of noteworthy details about the ceremony, which saw most of the extended royal family join together in mourning on the grounds of the monarch’s Windsor Castle.

• Prince Philip’s burial place is a vault in St. George’s Chapel (which actually is more like a cathedral in size) – it is the family’s wedding, christening and funeral church in Windsor Castle.
• Late Prince Philipp will reportedly remain in the chapel until the Queen dies. When that happens, his body will ostensibly be transported to the King George VI Memorial Chapel, where the couple will be buried together.
• Two Fell ponies led the carriage designed by the Duke of Edinburgh through the funeral procession, which features a mounted brass clock. The Duke’s personal cap, gloves and whip were placed on the seat in tribute to his love of the sport.

  

  Fell ponies, Balmoral Nevis and Notlaw Storm, pull the Duke of Edinburgh’s carriage as it arrives at Windsor Castle on the day of the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth, who died at the age of 99, in Windsor, Britain, April 17, 2021. Kirsty O’Connor/Pool via REUTERS

• The dark-green custom-built Land Rover Defender, also designed by the Duke himself, was used to transport the coffin through the palace grounds.
• The Duke was interred after a 50-minute church service attended by just 30 guests due to current coronavirus restrictions, but watched by millions on television, including the heavily pregnant Meghan Markle.
• Members of the armed forces paid tribute to the coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh in the quadrangle ahead of the ceremonial funeral, ushered in by military gun firing.
• While in the chapel, visibly tearful Prince Charles, the Duke’s eldest son, took a seat next to wife Camilla.

Britain’s Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend a funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth, who died at the age of 99, at St. George’s Chapel, in Windsor, Britain, April 17, 2021. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via REUTERS?

They sat directly opposite the grief-stricken Queen, who mourned alone, bidding farewell to her “strength and stay”.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth is seen during the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth, who died at the age of 99, at St George’s Chapel, in Windsor, Britain, April 17, 2021. Yui Mok/Pool via REUTERS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

• William and Harry were seen talking to each other after the funeral, for the first time since the Duke of Sussex left Britain for the US in early 2020, together with wife Meghan and son Archie. The brothers initially stood away from each other during the socially distanced ceremony, but then moved closer, setting the tongues wagging about whether there will be an end to the family rift, which reportedly culminated with the notorious Oprah Winfrey interview.

The Duchess of Cambridge takes a step back so Prince William and Harry can talk alone 👏🏽❤️#PrincePhilipFuneral pic.twitter.com/bn0viFvR7c

— Kayla Adams (@KaylaAdams___) April 17, 2021

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• Kate Middleton, who attended the ceremony alongside her husband Prince William wore the diamond earrings reportedly given to Queen Elizabeth as a wedding gift, when she married Philip in 1947.

Sourse: sputniknews.com