Prince Philip, the late husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, will be buried on Saturday next week, in a ceremony that will be colorful and full of tradition, but understated by royal standards.
Philip, who was officially the Duke of Edinburgh, died peacefully at Windsor Castle on Friday morning at the age of 99. He was the nation’s oldest consort – a term given to the partner of a reigning monarch – and they were married for 73 years.
Harry, the Duke of Sussex, will attend his grandfather’s funeral, but his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will not be present, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson reported. The couple live in California and a doctor advised the duchess, who is pregnant, not to travel to the UK, the spokesman said.
The couple had an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey that aired in March, in which they told their side of the story about their break with the royal family, making accusations against some of its members and the establishment.
Philip’s old funeral plans have been adapted to comply with certain Covid-19 restrictions, and all the usual elements that involve contact with the public have been eliminated.
The College of Arms, which oversees many ceremonial aspects of the royal family’s work, previously confirmed that the duke would not be anywhere accessible to the public, who could have seen thousands of people lining up to see his coffin.
Current measures against the virus in England limit the number of people who can attend funerals to 30.
In a nod to the Duke’s preference for driving himself, without a driver, his coffin will be transported by Land Rover from Windsor Castle to St George’s Chapel for the ceremony.
The procession will begin at 2:45 pm (9:45 am Miami time) and will be led from Windsor Castle by a band of grenadier guards, along with various heads of military units.
A group from the Royal Navy will channel the “Still” while the Land Rover parks at the foot of the West Steps. There will be a salute of arms and a minute of national silence at 3:00 pm before the ceremony.
The Duke’s death has been commemorated in a somewhat austere way, as the royal house and the UK government have asked the public not to collect or leave flowers in royal residences, as the country is still under strict restrictions. for the pandemic.
The Honorable Artillery Company fires a cannon shot near London’s Tower Bridge on April 10.
But the gun salutes were held across the country, with batteries firing 41 rounds, at one round per minute, at Windsor Castle, the Tower of London in the capital and at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, among others places.
Australia, a Commonwealth nation, also paid its respects with a firearms salute in front of Parliament in the capital Canberra on Saturday morning.
Tributes have come from the UK and abroad for the duke, who had recently spent a month in two London hospitals, undergoing heart surgery and treatment for an infection, before returning to Windsor Castle in mid-March.
In paying tribute in a televised statement, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the Duke had “won the affections of generations here in the UK, throughout the Commonwealth and around the world” and that he lived with an ethical of service.
As the expert carriage driver that he was, he helped direct the royal family and the monarchy so that it remains the indisputably vital institution in balancing our national path. He was an environmentalist and a champion of the natural world, for a long time, before it was fashionable, “said Johnson.
However, the duke was also a controversial figure. For many Britons, his defining characteristic was not his public service, but his spontaneous and often offensive comments, including some that were undeniably racist.
The BBC said on Friday it received complaints about too much airtime devoted to the duke’s death, after the public broadcaster canceled hours of its regular programming to make way for full coverage of Felipe’s life and death. .
Within hours of the Buckingham Palace news, the BBC created a specific comment form due to the high volume of complaints.
The special coverage meant that some of the UK’s most-watched shows, including the soap opera EastEnders and the finale of the MasterChef cooking contest, were taken off the air.
People gather outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in London on Saturday.
But the nation is officially in eight days of mourning, as announced on Friday, and there will be other tributes to the duke in public life.
English Premier League players will wear black armbands, and “there will be a minute of silence before the start of all Premier League matches … throughout the weekend,” the organization announced.
People take photos of a portrait of Prince Philip in a pub window near Windsor Castle on Saturday.
A book of condolences was launched online on the royal family’s official website, as they joined the British government in calling for ‘members of the public to consider making a donation to a charity rather than leaving floral tributes in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh ‘.
The bells of London’s Westminster Abbey, where Prince Philip married Queen Elizabeth more than 70 years ago, rang 99 times Friday night in her honor, while the British flag – the Union Jack – flies at half mast in government buildings.
Tributes to a Life of Service
Harry and Meghan said they would “miss their grandfather very much” in a statement following news of his death.
Posted on the couple’s website, Archewell, the message simply reads: ‘In fond memory of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, 1921-2021. Thank you for your service… we will miss you very much.
The “Death Gun Salute” is fired by the 104th Royal Artillery Regiment at Cardiff Castle, Wales, on April 10.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair stated that “the entire nation will be united in sadness over the passing of Prince Philip”, adding that it should be recognized “as a remarkable and strong support for the Queen for so many years”, but also “celebrated on his own merit as a man of foresight, determination and courage.
Tributes for the duke also came from around the world, including the Commonwealth nations of India, Australia, and Canada. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had a “distinguished career in the military and was at the forefront of many community service initiatives. May his soul rest in peace”.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison noted that Philip “embodied a generation that we will never see again.” Justin Trudeau of Canada said: “Prince Philip was a man of great determination and conviction, motivated by a sense of duty towards others. He will be fondly remembered as a constant in the life of our Queen.
For his part, the president of the United States, Joe Biden, affirmed that Felipe “devoted himself with pleasure to the people of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and his family”, and that his legacy would endure “not only through his family, but in all the charitable endeavors he formed.
‘Constant strength and guidance’
Felipe married the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947, after distinguished service in the Royal Navy during World War II. Together they had four children: Carlos, Ana, Andrés and Eduardo, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
When Elizabeth ascended to the throne in February 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI, Philip’s life of service as royal consort began.
Throughout the decades, Felipe used to accompany the queen on royal engagements and led thousands of his own solo appearances. He once referred to himself as “the world’s most experienced plate developer,” while the queen praised him as her “constant strength and guide.”
Felipe continued to make public appearances well into his 90s and retired in August 2017.
He was seen in public infrequently since then, especially at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle in May 2018, and at the nuptials of Princess Eugenie in October 2018 and Princess Beatrice in July. 2020.