Prince Philip: William and Harry to walk apart as
Queen sits alone at funeral
Brothers will be separated by cousin Peter Phillips as
they walk behind coffin, Buckingham Palace reveals
Caroline
Davies
Thu 15 Apr
2021 18.26 BST
The Dukes
of Cambridge and Sussex will walk apart for their grandfather’s funeral, which
is likely to see the Queen sitting alone, details released by Buckingham Palace
reveal.
Prince
William and Prince Harry, whose troubled relationship was further strained
after the Sussexes’ controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey, will be
separated by their cousin Peter Phillips as they walk behind the coffin of the
Duke of Edinburgh on Saturday.
The
decision, said to be the Queen’s, is unlikely to dampen speculation of a rift
between the brothers, or raise hopes of reconciliation at this emotional time
for the family.
Buckingham
Palace would not be drawn on any “perceptions of drama” the public might draw
from the order of procession as senior royals walk first behind the coffin as
it is borne by a modified Land Rover, and then again inside St George’s chapel
at Windsor Castle. A spokesperson said: “The arrangements have been agreed, and
they represent Her Majesty’s wishes.”
The palace
also confirmed no military uniforms would be worn by royals, as is usually
traditional at a ceremonial royal funeral such as the duke’s, with royals
entitled to wear the ceremonial uniforms of the honorary military ranks
bestowed on them.
According
to reports, the decision was made to spare embarrassment to Harry, who having
been stripped of his honorary military positions on stepping down from royal
duties, would be the only senior royal in civilian clothes, despite having
served two tours of Afghanistan.
The
no-uniform decision would also quell an internal palace row over whether the
Duke of York should be permitted to wear the uniform of admiral, a rank Andrew,
61, was due to be promoted to on his 60th birthday. The promotion was deferred
in the fallout of his disastrous Newsnight interview over his friendship with
the financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
A palace
spokesperson said: “Members of the royal family will be wearing morning coat
with medals or day dress. That’s to say members of the royal family will not be
in military uniform.”
Refusing to
elaborate on the reasons, the spokesperson said: “All arrangements have been
signed off by Her Majesty.”
Prince
Charles and Princess Anne will lead family members walking behind the coffin as
it travels from the castle to the chapel within the grounds in an eight-minute
long procession. Both William and Harry will walk behind Andrew and Prince
Edward.
Inside the
chapel, as a bearer party of Royal Marines carry the coffin to the catafalque,
William will walk next to Peter Phillips, and ahead of Harry.
The
30-strong congregation will all wear masks inside St George’s chapel, and sit 2
metres apart from those outside their household or support bubble. Those
walking in the procession will don masks before entering the chapel.
The Queen,
masked, will travel in the state Bentley at the rear of the ceremonial
procession and be accompanied by a lady-in-waiting who will then take a seat at
the back of the chapel, away from the quire, where the main congregation will
be seated.
No seating
plan has yet been released. But with social distancing observed, it is likely
the Queen will sit alone.
Mourners
will include the duke’s children and grandchildren, as well as relatives from
the German side of his family, who have flown into the UK and are isolating
before Saturday’s service. Those invited are Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of
Baden, Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse, and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
– two great-nephews and a cousin – who are staying at a house in Ascot.
Not invited
is the Duchess of York, whom the duke famously refused to speak to after her
separation from Prince Andrew.
Also
missing from the guest list is the Duchess of Sussex, heavily pregnant and
advised by physicians not to fly. But the Queen has invited Philip’s
carriage-driving companion – one of his closest confidantes – Countess
Mountbatten of Burma. The 67-year-old countess is the wife of Earl Mountbatten,
Norton Knatchbull – the grandson of Philip’s beloved uncle, Louis Mountbatten,
who was murdered by the IRA in 1979.
A choir of
four will perform music chosen by Prince Philip, which has been specially
adapted to be performed by a minimal number of choristers. The choir will be
located in the nave of the chapel, away from the seated congregation. In line
with public health guidelines, there will be no congregational singing. As the
coffin is lowered into the royal vault at the end of the service, the choir
only will sing the national anthem.
Also
situated well away from mourners, buglers from the Royal Marines will sound the
last post and trumpeters will sound the reveille. A lament will be played by a
pipe major. Buglers will also sound “action stations” – a naval warship
announcement that all hands must go to their battle stations – at the duke’s
request.
“At its
heart, it is still a family event. We are following the Covid guidelines. There
is a limit on who could be invited as a guest and Her Majesty wanted to ensure
that all branches of the duke’s family were there and had to make some very
difficult decisions about who would be there,” said a spokesperson.
He added:
“Her Majesty and the royal family are grateful for all the messages of
condolence from around the world and have been touched to see and hear so many
people sharing fond memories of the duke in celebration of his life. The
tributes received from young and old are truly a testament to the remarkable
life and lasting endeavours of His Royal Highness.”
Prince
Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall paid a visit to Marlborough House – the
home of the Commonwealth – to look at floral tributes, which had been laid at
the gates of Buckingham Palace, but moved each evening. Tributes included a
model of a Land Rover, similar to one that will bear Philip’s coffin on
Saturday. Some notes were written for the Queen, including one card quoting the
monarch herself, which read: “We are so sorry for your profound loss. Your
Majesty’s ‘strength and stay’ will endure in our hearts always.”
Order of procession to St George’s chapel
The Duke of
Edinburgh’s coffin.
Princess
Royal – Prince of Wales.
Earl of
Wessex – Duke of York.
Duke of
Sussex – Peter Phillips – Duke of Cambridge.
Admiral Sir
Tim Laurence – Earl of Snowdon.
Personal
protection officer – private secretary.
Page.
Valet.
Order of procession inside St George’s chapel
Archbishop
of Canterbury.
Dean of
Windsor.
The Duke of
Edinburgh’s coffin, carried by a bearer party from the Royal Marines.
Princess
Royal – Prince of Wales.
Earl of
Wessex – Duke of York.
Peter
Phillips – Duke of Cambridge.
Duke of
Sussex – Earl of Snowdon.
Vice
admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Mourners
arriving by car
The Queen –
travelling with a lady-in-waiting in the state Bentley.
Others: The Duchess of Cornwall; Countess of Wessex, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor; Duchess of Cambridge; Zara and Mike Tindall; Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi; Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank; Lady Sarah and Daniel Chatto; Duke of Gloucester; Duke of Kent; Princess Alexandra; the Hereditary Prince of Baden; the Landgrave of Hesse; Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg; Countess Mountbatten of Burma.
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