Prince Philip: This is how the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral went

The kingdom said goodbye to a man more than the queen consort. Harry and William approached again.

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Windsor. This sunny spring day was probably the hardest day in the almost 95 years of the Queen’s life. On Saturday afternoon she said goodbye to Prinz Philip, after an incredible 73 years of marriage. He died at the castle on Friday last week at the age of 99 Windsor.

At 3:53 p.m. Elizabeth II entered the Galilee Gate St. George’s-Kapelle on the grounds of Windsor Castle. She looks fragile, walks stooped when church dignitaries receive her. In the state Bentley, accompanied by a lady-in-waiting, she had previously followed the funeral procession.

Lonely funeral: a poignant sight of the Queen

Despite the vaccination, the queen a mask. She takes a seat not far from the altar. It is a moving sight: she is sitting alone, and she looks alone, there in the box under the huge late Gothic church vaults, which are adorned with standards of the Knights of the Order of the Garter. After a Minute of silence throughout the Commonwealth the service begins at 4 p.m. It is the most important burial in the chapel since the Queen buried her mother Queen Mum here in 2002.

The dean briefly goes into the personality of Philips, emphasizing his courage, his steadfastness, his faith, his humor, his humanity. He was “an example of bravery and chivalry”. The choir sings a song that was composed especially for Philip for his 75th birthday, “Psalm 104“. The Queen follows the lyrics, keeping her eyes down throughout.

Read about it: Prince Philip – Tales of a turbulent life

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Life guard gives Prince Philip the final escort

Already at 3 p.m. Salutschüsse the Royal Horse Atillery, the Bell of Curtew Tower and the Military Orchestra initiated the celebrations. At 3:38 p.m., the lead-lined oak coffin is retrieved from the Windsor lobby. He is adorned with a standard of the deceased, his naval cap lies on it and the naval sword that his father-in-law gave him King George VI. gave to the wedding.

The royal body regiment of the Grenadier Guards – they wear the famous bearskin hats – gives the prince the final escort. The soldiers heave the coffin onto the carrying surface of Philips’ beloved and helped design Land Rover. He’d been behind the wheel here when he was very old. Then the car sets off at walking pace for the prince’s last journey, flanked by various regiments.

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Prince Charles visibly moved

The funeral march to St. George’s Chapel lasts eight minutes, every minute is accompanied by gunfire. The visibly moved firstborn Prinz Charles (72) and his sister Anne (70) lead the way, followed by the younger children Prince Andrew (60) and Prince Edward (57). In the third row the quarreling brothers follow William (38) and Prince Harry (36), separated from her cousin Peter Phillips (43), son of Anne.

It was only at the beginning of March, when Philip was already in the clinic, that an interview with US talker Oprah Winfrey was broadcast, in which Harry and his wife Duchess Meghan (39) made family disputes public, complained about cold feelings and even racism in the royal family . Harry is now back in the UK for the first time since he and his wife broke away from royalty in early 2020. Meghan had refrained from the trip because of her pregnancy and stayed in Los Angeles.

All the men in the family abide by that Dress code the Queen: suits, possibly decorated with medals. The Queen had decreed that no one should come in uniform so as not to snub Harry. Shortly before the interview, she had withdrawn from her former favorite grandson from office. Andrew has also been released from his duties – he is involved in an abuse scandal. The men in civilian clothes are a stark contrast to the countless soldiers of the ceremonywho wear every uniform the kingdom has to offer.

For Prince Harry, the only one with a beard, the chapel is a special place: he stayed here three years ago Meghan married, the two were considered to be the bearers of hope for a modernizing monarchy.

Corona is reducing the number of guests

Regiments like the Household Cavalry and the Royal Marines are now whistling a song, a signal that the commander is disembarking. When the family members enter the chapel, they all put on their mouthguards. There are coronabedingt only 30 guests in total. In the chapel, the rigid three-way combination of the grandsons is broken up – Harry and William stand next to each other for a moment, the first one Sign of reconciliation.

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Traveling despite Corona – More on the topic

The guests who did not take part in the procession, including the duchesses, are already waiting Camilla (73) and Kate (39). Kate wears a pearl necklace from the Queen, which she wore in 2017 at the celebration of the 70th wedding anniversary of the Queen and Philips and that too Princess Diana publicly wore. Harry is sitting with his aunt Anne, William with his wife Kate.

After this church service Then a small gesture with great significance: When Harry and William leave the chapel, they walk next to each other, talk to each other, Kate is also there at times. Apparently, the brothers actually used the shared grief for a rapprochement.

Prince Philips’ current resting place is temporary

Prince Philip would have liked it, the way the whole funeral was in his mind: Practical as he was and without sentimentality he had planned his funeral in detail himself. The prince of the second row always had to run behind the queen in public appearances. As “greatest Expert in unveiling memorial plaques“He had once called himself. On his last escort with the many references to Philip’s military career and his pithy character, however, he was not “the Queen’s husband”. He was recognized as an independent and popular personality who shaped the royal family, albeit often in secret.

Read about it: Prince Philip – That’s why he was not allowed to call himself king

After the service, the coffin is taken by elevator to the royal crypt of the chapel, where legendary and forgotten monarchs rest. The crypt is not Philips’ final resting place. After the Queen’s death, the Prince Consort is reburied at the side of his wife, for whom the little one is buried King George VI memorial chapel is provided. The Queen’s closest relatives rest there: her father George VI, her mother and her sister Margaret. Here Prince Philip is also a man in the front row.

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