Who will attend Philip's funeral? Royal dilemma over who to invite because of 30-person Covid rule


The Royal Family faces a dilemma over who to invite to Prince Philip’s funeral due to the coronavirus restrictions in place across England.

The Queen will only be able to invite 30 people to the ceremony at St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

This is despite 800 mourners from across the Duke of Edinburgh’s military units and charities as well as friends and associates from across the Commonwealth.

The final list, which is expected in the coming days, will likely include senior members of the Royal Family as well as the Prime Minister.

Philip said he wanted a funeral with minimal fuss, but the passing of Britain’s longest serving consort was always going to be a big affair.

His hope for a ‘royal ceremonial funeral’ – similar to the Queen Mother’s – rather than a full state funeral, had already been granted.

But the pandemic and restrictions means this is being hastily redrawn, with Her Majesty said to have been in talks with officials even from last night.

They are tweaking Operation Forth Bridge and are having to drastically scale back the number of people invited to attend the ceremony, expected next Saturday.

The Queen and Philip at Windsor Castle in October 2018 after Princess Eugenie's wedding

The Queen and Philip at Windsor Castle in October 2018 after Princess Eugenie’s wedding

The Queen will only be able to invite 30 people to the ceremony at St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle. Pictured: Philip with William and Harry at the rugby world cup final in 2015

The Queen will only be able to invite 30 people to the ceremony at St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle. Pictured: Philip with William and Harry at the rugby world cup final in 2015

 

Prince Philip is expected to be buried in Frogmore Gardens in the grounds of Windsor Castle, the site of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's mausoleum (pictured)

Prince Philip is expected to be buried in Frogmore Gardens in the grounds of Windsor Castle, the site of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s mausoleum (pictured) 

Who could be invited to the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral?

  1. The Queen
  2. Prince Charles
  3. Camilla
  4. Princess Anne
  5. Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence
  6. Prince Andrew
  7. Sarah Ferguson
  8. Edward, Earl of Wessex
  9. Sophie, Countess of Wessex
  10. Prince William
  11. Kate Middleton
  12. Prince George
  13. Princess Charlotte
  14. Prince Louis
  15. Prince Harry
  16. Peter Phillips
  17. Zara Tindall
  18. Mike Tindall
  19. Princess Beatrice
  20. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
  21. Princess Eugenie
  22. Jack Brooksbank
  23. Lady Louise Windsor
  24. James, Viscount Severn
  25. Edward, Duke of Kent
  26. Katherine, Duchess of Kent 
  27. Princess Alexandra
  28. Prince Michael of Kent
  29. Boris Johnson
  30. Admiral Tony Radakin

The names of those invited have not been released, but it is expected to be mostly made up of senior members of the Royal Family.

The first names on the list will likely be Her Majesty, Prince Charles and Prince William, as those directly in line to the throne.

Philip’s other children are also expected to be there: Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Next could be the partners of the senior royals, who are present at most official events with their other halfs.

These are Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, the Princess Royal’s husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

The Duke of York’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson may also be there, having at first had a frosty relationship with Prince Philip before later smoothing things over.

Prince Harry is expected to jet across from his new home in California, before quarantining ahead of the burial.

His wife Meghan Markle, who is heavily pregnant with their second children, is not believed to be coming and neither is their son Archie.

But the Cambridges’ children may well be at the event, with Prince George – who will one day be king – and Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis all in England.

The rest of those to be invited is less certain but the remaining 15 could heavily feature more distant members of the Royal Family.

Princess Anne’s children Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall could be there, with Zara’s husband and former England rugby star Mike also present.

Princess Beatrice could be joined by Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, who she married last year.

Her younger sister Princess Eugenie may well also be invited, along with her husband of three years Jack Brooksbank.

Sophie Wessex’s children may also make the cut – Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn are often seen at Royal events.

The last few places are harder to predict, but the Queen’s first cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent with his wife Katherine could get a place.

His sister Princess Alexandra may also take a spot, along with their other brother Prince Michael of Kent.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is said to be going to represent Her Majesty’s government and Admiral Tony Radakin, head of the Royal Navy, may also go.

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge (pictured with the Queen in 2019), the Princess Royal's husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence and Sophie, Countess of Wessex could be at the funeral

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge (pictured with the Queen in 2019), the Princess Royal’s husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence and Sophie, Countess of Wessex could be at the funeral

The funeral service is expected to take place at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle

The funeral service is expected to take place at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle

How Prince Philip’s funeral will be held  

There will be no lying in state and no state funeral for Philip, in accordance with his wishes.

His ceremonial royal funeral and burial are expected to take place in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. 

Buckingham Palace will confirm the arrangements for the duke’s funeral in the next day or so. Philip helped draw up the details himself and was determined there should be a minimum of fuss.

Members of the public usually leave flowers at the gates of Buckingham Palace, but stay at home advice means people are forbidden from going out unless necessary.

At some point, there will be gun salutes in the duke’s honour – if the military are able to facilitate this. Union flags on royal buildings where the monarch is not in residence will fly at half-mast. 

The Queen has to decide whether the royal family enters Court Mourning – dressing in black and using black-edged writing paper – or the alternative, shorter Family Mourning – dressing in black – and how long this will last.

Some official engagements may continue, but social engagements – all on hold anyway because of the pandemic – are usually cancelled after the death of a senior member of the royal family unless in aid of charity.

The Government decides on the length of any National Mourning. A nationwide two-minute silence could take place, as it did for the Queen Mother on the day of her funeral.

Parliament is likely to honour the duke, with politicians gathering for special sessions in both the Commons and the Lords.

But arrangements will depend on what the Government is advising in terms of MPs socially distancing in Parliament. 

The Queen may record a televised speech in tribute to her husband, just as she did for the Queen Mother in 2002, but it will depend on how she is feeling.

The rest of Philip’s family are likely to release their own statements about the royal patriarch. 

Traditionally, the duke’s coffin would have been moved to the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace to remain at rest for several days, but this is unlikely to be necessary if there is no longer a London element to the plans.

The monarch and the royal family will pay their respects in private, as will household staff.

Philip’s children are likely to hold a private vigil at some stage around the coffin if restrictions permit. A military involvement is expected to take place within the grounds of Windsor Castle. 

The duke’s coffin will not lie in state and the funeral will not be a state one; instead it is set to be a ceremonial royal funeral.

The duke’s funeral is expected to take place at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel eight days after his death. 

Under the previous plans for his funeral – known in the royal household as ‘Forth Bridge’ – his body would have been embalmed immediately and taken to the Albert Memorial Chapel by St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The Mail understands Philip’s coffin was last night at the castle, where the Queen is in residence, most probably resting in her private chapel of worship.

But over the weekend it is likely be moved to the Albert Memorial Chapel, which was built by Henry VII as a royal mausoleum. Philip’s coffin is likely to lie there with little ceremony – resting on two simple wooden platforms called catafalques.

Under pre-Covid plans, it would have been brought to London today by road and taken to St James’s Palace to reside temporarily in the intimate Chapel Royal.

The College of Arms said yesterday there will be no lying-in-state and Philip’s coffin would lie at rest at Windsor Castle ahead of his funeral in St George’ Chapel, most likely next Saturday.

It is likely to have been draped with his personal standard – which bears references to his Danish and Greek royal heritage, his Mountbatten roots and Edinburgh title – and a floral wreath from his family.

A vigil by his children – Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward – is likely to take place at Windsor.

On the day of his funeral, Philip’s coffin is expected to be carried by bearers from the Queen’s Company, First Battalion Grenadier Guards. 

The duke will be placed on a gun carriage belonging to the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, drawn by a Royal Navy gun crew. The carriage – a personal request by Philip – is the one that carried Queen Victoria at her funeral in 1901. 

A planned cortege through Windsor is now unlikely to take place. But inside Windsor Castle, events are likely to be largely the same, but with fewer mourners.

The coffin will be met by a guard of honour from The Rifles and a band in Horseshoe Cloister, surrounded by houses built in the 15th century for the chapel’s ‘singing men’. 

Twelve singers known as lay clerks still live there, and they will perform during the service, with a bell tolling throughout.

On the grass south of the West Gate will be Royal Navy pipers.

A bearer party of Royal Marines will carry the coffin into St George’s Chapel via the West Steps, lined by the Household Cavalry, where the Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury will wait. 

The coffin will be taken into the Quire – the resting place of most of the monarchs buried at the chapel. Inside or under the Quire are Edward VII, Henry VI, Edward IV, George III, George IV and William IV, Henry VIII and Charles I.

Philip’s catafalque will be placed on a black marble slab, which is the entrance to the Royal Vault.

The hymns requested by the prince are believed to include his favourite seafarer’s anthem, For Those In Peril On The Sea. At the end of the service a Psalm and the ‘ashes to ashes’ text will be read as a piper plays a lament. 

The coffin will be lowered into the Royal Vault and will remain there until the Queen dies and they are buried together in the memorial chapel.

Lady Louise Windsor (pictured), 17, paid a touching tribute to her grandfather Prince Philip today as she was spotted out carriage driving in the grounds of Windsor Castle on the morning of his death. She may attend his funeral

Lady Louise Windsor (pictured), 17, paid a touching tribute to her grandfather Prince Philip today as she was spotted out carriage driving in the grounds of Windsor Castle on the morning of his death. She may attend his funeral

Death Gun Salute will be fired at noon today to pay tribute to Prince Philip after Westminster Abbey tolls its bell 99 times in 99 minutes 

A 41-gun salute is fired to commemorate the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, at Parliament House in Canberra today

A 41-gun salute is fired to commemorate the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, at Parliament House in Canberra today 

A Death Gun Salute will be fired at noon today to pay tribute to Prince Philip after Westminster Abbey tolled its bell 99 times in 99 minutes. 

Saluting batteries will fire 41 rounds at one round every minute for 40 minutes at Cardiff Castle, Edinburgh Castle and Hillsborough Castle in Belfast and in Gibraltar, the Ministry of Defence said.

They will be fired at two locations in London – Woolwich Barracks and HM Tower of London. 

There will also be gun salutes at HM Naval Base Devonport and HM Naval Base Portsmouth, and on ships at sea including HMS Diamond and HMS Montrose.  

The gun salutes will take place behind closed doors, but broadcast online and on television, and the public are encouraged to observe them from home, the MoD said. 

It comes after Westminster Abbey tolled its tenor bell every 60 seconds, 99 times, at 6pm following the announcement of Prince Philip’s death yesterday.

The day after the funeral, flags will be brought back to full mast, although the Court will remain in mourning for three more weeks.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: ‘During the coronavirus pandemic, and in light of current government advice and social distancing guidelines, modified funeral and ceremonial arrangements for His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh are being considered by Her Majesty The Queen. Details will be confirmed in due course.’ 

The Queen has entered an eight-day period of mourning following the death of her husband today aged 99 – as arrangements for his funeral, codenamed Operation Forth Bridge, have begun.

Royal fans have been told not to attend any part of the events that make up the funeral due to Covid restrictions.

They have also been asked not to lay flowers that could encourage crowds which may spread the coronavirus. 

The number of people wanting to pay tribute to the Duke could present difficulties for police forces due to England’s ban on gatherings of more than six people or two households.

Buckingham Palace instead invited well-wishers to sign a book of condolences – but only online, to avoid crowds and queues. 

Police officers on horses stopped crowds forming in front of a sign announcing his death on the railings of the palace today.

During the eight days of mourning The Queen will not carry out any duties even in private under Covid restrictions, laws will not be given the Royal Assent and affairs of state will also be paused.

Following these eight days, a further period of official Royal Mourning is expected to continue for 30 days. 

Scores of people will be involved in the days ahead, from military guards and the clergy, to staff at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, who will be making sure the household continues to run smoothly during this traumatic time for the Queen. 

The Queen and her children and grandchildren will enter a period of mourning for their patriarch, which could last several weeks.

Official engagements, most of which are presently online, can continue during this time, although most are postponed or cancelled, but it depends on the wishes of the monarch.

In non-pandemic times, social engagements would usually be cancelled, except those for charitable causes. 

There are various types of mourning, but Royal – also known as Court – Mourning, includes the royal family, royal households and the Queen’s representatives in the UK and abroad wearing black and also using black-edged writing paper. 

Most of Britain’s monarchs are buried in Westminster Abbey and St George’s Chapel, but both Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are in a mausoleum in Frogmore Gardens. 

Officials remove tributes as soon as they are laid at Buckingham Palace and Windsor as nation faces seven days of eerie socially distanced mourning before a quiet, almost private family funeral

The British public defied public health advice to stay at home and continued to lay flowers for Prince Philip during socially distanced vigils at royal palaces today as the country marks his death at the age of 99 during seven days of national mourning ahead of his scaled-back funeral.

The bouquets, flowers, cards, Union Flags and balloons are being moved away by staff almost as soon as they are left – but royal aides insist they will all be saved and looked at by the Royal Family inside the grounds of Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.

Palace security have even put up signs urging people not to congregate, but waves of mourners are still arriving to pay their respects to Her Majesty’s devoted husband, who dedicated his life to public service and supporting her through their 73-year marriage.

Well-wishers, all respecting social distancing and wearing masks, laid their tributes and briefly stood to pay their respects, with some wiping away tears or quietly singing hymns before returning home.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin is at Windsor, where the Queen is in residence, in Her Majesty’s private chapel of worship, before being moved to the nearby Albert Memorial Chapel today, where he will rest over the weekend. Their youngest child Prince Edward is there supporting his mother again today, having made the short trip from his Surrey home.

Philip is expected to be in the Royal Vault during his private family funeral at St George’s Chapel next Saturday, and will remain there until the Queen dies and they are buried together in the memorial chapel in a hugely scaled back event due to Britain’s ongoing lockdown, with only 30 relatives able to attend. Britons are being warned to stay at home and watch on TV to avoid spreading coronavirus. 

After her husband’s death, Victoria lived largely in isolation at Balmoral until she died on January 22, 1901. Her 40 years of mourning severely damaged the monarchy.

Following the Duke’s death, Union flags will fly at half-mast around Britain, but Philip will not lie in state and there will be no state funeral.

The Lord Chamberlain, the most senior officer of the royal household, will be in charge of arrangements.

The Queen is also expected to broadcast a televised message to the nation at some stage over the next few days, although this is dependent on how she feels.

In normal times, there would be early morning rehearsals over the next week for a gun carriage and procession through the streets of London, and another in Windsor.

The day before his funeral, the coffin would be moved across the road from Chapel Royal to the Queen’s Chapel to allow an easier transfer to the gun carriage.

The funeral itself would be held in Windsor, while a military procession would take place from St James’s Palace, down Marlborough Road and up The Mall.

The gun carriage holding the coffin would then pass around the Queen Victoria Memorial, Buckingham Palace and up Constitution Hill to Wellington Arch.

Members of the military would lead the procession, with the royal family and household walking behind – but the Queen would be expected to go straight to Windsor. 

At Wellington Arch, there would be a royal salute before a ceremonial transfer sees with the coffin moved to a Land Rover hearse or car and taken to Windsor. 

On arrival in Windsor, there would be a slow procession driven up the Long Walk with drummers, military and members of the royal family following behind.

It would move up the Long Walk, through Cambridge Gate and then onto Park Street, High Street, past the Guildhall and Castle Hill and in through the Henry VIII gate. 

The arrangements are codenamed Forth Bridge, after the Scottish landmark and Unesco World Heritage Site.

The railway bridge, crossing the Forth Estuary in Scotland, which opened in 1890, remains one of the greatest cantilever trussed bridges 

Plans for the aftermath of the duke’s death have been in place for many years, and were updated and reviewed regularly by Buckingham Palace staff in consultation with the Queen and Philip.

Complicated by the coronavirus pandemic, Forth Bridge has been adjusted to take account of the crisis.

The duke’s funeral was due to have a strong military presence in recognition of his naval career and his links with the armed forces.

But the prospect of creating a spectacle that could potentially attract hundreds of thousands of people means there is no longer expected to be a military procession in London or any processions through Windsor.

A military involvement is expected to take place within the grounds of Windsor Castle.

Those servicemen and women taking part will rapidly begin their preparations, from practising routines to polishing helmets and swords.

Royal dressers will be fastidiously choosing and preparing black mourning ensembles.

Thames Valley Police will be tasked with dealing with the security needed in the days ahead, and preventing mass gatherings.

The Royal Households have a long history of making detailed plans for royal funerals.

Arrangements for the Queen Mother’s – codenamed Tay Bridge – were 22 years old by the time she died at the age of 101.

London Bridge is the codename for the Queen’s funeral plans.

In 2004, thieves broke into a car which belonged to a palace press officer at a motorway service station and made off with a briefcase which contained the secret plans regarding the Queen .

But the case and its confidential contents were found and returned by a member of the public.

It was once said that Philip, who was known for his acerbic wit, was amused by the fact that many of those involved in the planning of his funeral had themselves died before him.

Not all royal death arrangements have been so meticulously ordered.

Queen Victoria died at the age of 81 in 1901 after a period of ill health, but the Earl Marshal, who was responsible for the funeral, had no plans in place.

The complex arrangements, including transporting Victoria’s body across the Solent from the Isle of Wight and facilitating a two-hour military procession through London involving thousands of people, had to be organised from scratch in 10 days.

In contrast, her son, Edward VII, insisted his own funeral was planned well in advance.

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