How long will Prince Philip’s funeral last?
MEMBERS of the Royal Family will bid a final farewell to the Duke of Edinburgh this afternoon.
Prince Philip’s funeral is taking place at Windsor Castle today (Saturday, April 17) following his death last week at the age of 99.
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How long will Prince Philip’s funeral last?
The main service is expected to last approximately 50 minutes, Buckingham Palace has revealed.
A ceremonial procession will set off from the state entrance of Windsor Castle at 2.45pm, with the Prince of Wales and senior members of Royal Family following on foot behind Philip’s coffin.
It is expected to take around eight minutes to reach St George’s Chapel, where it will be met by the Guard of Honour and band from The Rifles before a minute’s silence at 3pm.
The Bearer Party will place the coffin on the Catafalque in the Quire and
depart by way of the North Quire Gate.
Members of the Royal Family who have walked in the procession w who arrived separately.
The service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, who will give the commendation as the coffin is lowered into the Royal Vault.
Garter Principal King of Arms will then proclaim His Royal Highness’s Styles and Titles from the Sanctuary.
A Lament will then be played by a Pipe Major of the Royal Regiment of
Scotland.
The Piper will walk from the North Quire Aisle to The Dean’s Cloister.
The Last Post will be sounded by Buglers of the Royal Marines from the west end of the Nave.
After a period of silence, the Reveille will be sounded by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry from the west end of the Nave.
The Buglers of the Royal Marines will sound Action Stations at the specific request of The Duke of Edinburgh.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the blessing, after which the National Anthem will be sung by the four singers present.
At the end of the service, which is due to last 50 minutes, The Queen, members of the Royal Family and The Duke of Edinburgh’s family will leave the Chapel via the Galilee Porch.
What will happen throughout the day of the funeral?
A modified Land Rover – which Philip helped to design – will be used to transport the duke’s coffin and before this, it will be serviced, tested and buffed.
Prince Philip‘s body has been currently resting in Windsor’s private chapel.
His coffin will be moved to the state entrance of the castle on Saturday, April 17 by a bearer party from the Grenadier Guards – the elite Queen’s Company regiment at Windsor, of which Philip was Colonel for 42 years.
Prince Philip’s coffin will be draped with his personal standard, and decorated with a wreath of flowers and his Naval cap and sword.
The procession will move alongside the Round Tower and head to the west steps of St George’s chapel, with the route down to Horseshoe Cloister lined by armed personnel.
During the procession to St George’s Chapel, guns will be fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn while bells are rung in the Curfew Tower.
The service will begin when the coffin enters the chapel.
Under Covid rules, all those attending will be required to wear a face mask in throughout the service.
Although Philip will one day be buried with the Queen in the memorial chapel in Frogmore Gardens, his body will be interred in the Royal Vault until the tragic day comes.
There will be no public procession as a result of the Covid restrictions, and the entire service will take place in the grounds of the castle.
The day will be covered around the globe on TV with a live broadcast on BBC, while ITV is set to air a special show titled Prince Philip – A Royal Funeral, presented by Tom Bradby and Julie Etchingham.
The Royal Family have asked the public not to travel to Windsor Castle for Prince Philip’s funeral and instead pay their respects in the “safest way possible” from home.