Death of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
10th June, 1921 - 9th April, 2021
It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death
of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of
Edinburgh.
His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.
Further announcements will be made in due course.
The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.
from royal.uk
Funeral of The Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Funeral will take place on Saturday 17 April
2021 at 3pm in St George’s Chapel, Windsor. The Funeral Service will
begin with a National Minute’s Silence at three o’clock. The service
will be preceded by a ceremonial procession inside the grounds of
Windsor Castle.
The plans for the funeral are in line with The Duke of Edinburgh's
own personal wishes, and the occasion will recognise and celebrate The
Duke’s life and his more than 70 years of service to The Queen, the UK
and the Commonwealth.
It will be a Ceremonial Royal Funeral, the same as for Queen
Elizabeth The Queen Mother, rather than a State Funeral – something
which is generally reserved for Monarchs. The plans have been
approved by The Queen and reflect appropriate Government advice.
Overview
The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin, covered with His Royal Highness’s
Personal Standard and dressed with a wreath of flowers, will
rest initially in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle, where it will
remain until the day of the Funeral.
On Saturday 17th April, The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin will be moved
by a Bearer Party found by The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier
Guards. Positioned in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle will be
representative detachments drawn from His Royal Highness’s military
special relationships.
His Royal Highness’s coffin will be carried in a purpose-built Land
Rover - which The Duke was involved in the design of - flanked by
military Pall Bearers, in a small Ceremonial Procession from the State
Entrance to St George’s Chapel, for the Funeral Service. Members of the
Royal Family and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Household will walk behind the
coffin from the Quadrangle, down Chapel Hill and into Horseshoe
Cloister. The Funeral Service will begin with a National Minute’s
Silence at 1500hrs.
The Funeral Service will be attended by Her Majesty The Queen and
Members of the Royal Family. The coffin, carried by a Bearer Party found
by the Royal Marines, will be received at the top of the West Steps of
St George’s Chapel by the Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of
Canterbury. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Naval Cap and Sword will be placed
on the coffin ahead of the service and His Royal Highness’s Insignia
will be laid on the Altar of the Chapel. At the conclusion of the
service, His Royal Highness will be interred in the Royal Vault in St
George’s Chapel.
Details of the ceremonial
Ahead of the Funeral, the coffin, accompanied by the Dean of Windsor
and the Lord Chamberlain, will be moved to the State Entrance of Windsor
Castle by a Bearer Party found by The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion
Grenadier Guards.
The Dean and the Lord Chamberlain will then make their way to St. George’s Chapel.
The Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle will be present at the State Entrance for the departure of the Coffin.
Positioned on the grass in the Quadrangle will be representative
detachments drawn from His Royal Highness’s military special
relationships. The Quadrangle will also be lined by the Household
Cavalry and The Foot Guards.
The Procession will step off from State Entrance at 1445 hrs.
The Band of the Grenadier Guards, of which The Duke of Edinburgh was Colonel for 42 years, will lead the procession.
They will be followed by the Major General’s Party, and then the
Service Chiefs, reflecting His Royal Highness’s close relationship with
all areas of Defence.
The Coffin, borne on the Land Rover, will be flanked by Pall Bearers
drawn from His Royal Highness’s Special Relationships – the Royal
Marines, Regiments, Corps and Air Stations.
The Prince of Wales and Members of the Royal Family will take part in
the procession on foot, immediately behind The Duke of Edinburgh's
Coffin, together with staff from His Royal Highness’s Household.
At 1440 hrs, the Coffin will emerge from the State Entrance and all
those in the Procession and in the Quadrangle will pay compliments. The
Bearer Party will place the Coffin onto the Land Rover and withdraw.
At 1445 hrs, the Procession, will step off from the State Entrance
for the West Steps of St. George’s Chapel. The route of the Procession,
which will be lined by representatives drawn from the Royal Navy, Royal
Marines, The Highlanders, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and
the Royal Air Force, is as follows:
• State Entrance, Windsor Castle
• Engine Court
• Chapel Hill
• Parade Ground
• Horseshoe Cloister
Minute Guns will be fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery
from the East Lawn at Windsor Castle for the duration of the
Procession. The Curfew Tower Bell will toll.
At 1453 hrs, the Land Rover will arrive at the foot of the West Steps of St. George’s Chapel.
A Guard of Honour and Band from The Rifles will receive the Coffin
with the National Anthem as the Coffin enters Horseshoe Cloister and
ending as the Land Rover draws to a halt at the West Steps.
Positioned in the Horseshoe Cloister will be the Commonwealth Defence
Advisers from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Trinidad and Tobago.
The West Steps of St. George’s Chapel will be lined by a Dismounted Detachment of the Household Cavalry.
A Royal Navy Piping Party of 1 Chief Petty Officer and 5 Ratings will
be in position on the South Side of the West Steps of St. George’s
Chapel.
The Piping Party will pipe the ‘Still’ once the Land Rover is stationary at the foot of the West Steps.
The Bearer Party will lift the Coffin and proceed up the West Steps
halting on the second landing. The Piping Party will pipe the ‘Side’.
The Coffin will pause for the National Minute Silence at 1500 hrs.
At the top of the West Steps, the Dean of Windsor, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury, will receive the Coffin.
All those who have taken part in the procession will not enter St.
George’s Chapel except the Members of the Royal Family, and His Royal
Highness’s Private Secretary.
As the doors to St. George’s Chapel close, the Royal Navy Piping Party will pipe the ‘Carry On’.
The Land Rover, Service Chiefs, Realm Defence Advisers, Body Guards,
Military Knights of Windsor, along with representatives of Special
Relationships will disperse in silence during the Funeral Service.
The Funeral Service will begin as the Coffin enters St. George’s
Chapel and is carried in Procession to the Catafalque in the Quire.
The Duke of Edinburgh's “insignia” - the medals and decorations
conferred on His Royal Highness by the United Kingdom and Commonwealth
countries - together with his Field Marshal's baton and Royal Air Force
Wings, together with insignia from Denmark and Greece, will be
pre-positioned on cushions on the altar in St. George's Chapel.
Further details on the Funeral Service and the Order of Service will be released in due course.
