Private, simple and without flowers: This will be the funeral of Philip of Edinburgh
Queen Elizabeth II decrees eight days of national mourning and the palace launches the organization of her ceremony at Windsor Castle
The funeral of Prince Philip of Edinburgh will take place next Saturday, April 17 at 3:00 p.m. local time in the Chapel of St. George of Windsor Castle, the royal residence where he died last Friday. This has been confirmed this Saturday by Buckingham Palace, which in a statement has also indicated that it will be a private ceremony, not a state funeral, and that it will be broadcast on television.
The death of the Duke of Edinburgh automatically triggers, as for other members of the British royal family, a plan to organize the funeral. In the case of Queen Elizabeth II's husband, it is the 'Forth Bridge' plan, named after a bridge near the city of Edinburgh. The plan, however, must be adapted to the current pandemic situation. Queen Elizabeth II has decreed eight days of national mourning.
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Prince Charles has paid tribute to the "loved and appreciated" figure of his father, whom he defined as "a very special person." In a statement to the media outside his Highgrove House residence, the heir to the British Crown said: "My family and I greatly miss my father, who would have been deeply moved by the number of people who share our loss and our sadness. "
The College of Arms, an organization closely related to the application of royal protocols, advanced on its website that Prince Philip will not have a state funeral and that his coffin will not be exposed to the public. His mortal remains will rest in Windsor Castle, west of London. Before, a funeral will have been celebrated in the chapel of San Jorge, "according to the custom and the wishes of the real highness of him", specifies the College of Arms. According to the new rules of relaxation of confinement against the coronavirus, effective from next Monday in the United Kingdom, funerals can be attended by a maximum of 30 people.
The United Kingdom began this afternoon the protocols for the farewell of Felipe de Edimburgo with 41 shots salutes that have been repeated by emblematic places throughout the country. The funerals are expected to be attended by his grandson, Prince Harry, but not the pregnant Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, who will stay at her California residence. Her accusations of having suffered from family episodes of racism put the British monarchy in a particularly difficult situation.
No flowers because of the covid
The ceremonies and tributes have had to be reviewed due to covid-19. To avoid the risk of contagion, the royal family has asked the British not to go to royal residences, such as Buckingham Palace, to lay flowers but to make a donation to a charity. A virtual book of condolences has also been published on the internet. However, some people have come to the doors of the royal residences to lay flowers in honor of the Duke of Edinburgh.
The intended simplicity of the ceremony matches the personality of the Duke of Edinburgh, who wanted a funeral "without much fuss," according to royal columnists. Philip, a former commander of the navy, expressed his wish that his funeral be in a military style in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. According to British media, the Duke of Edinburgh did not want to be buried in St. George's Chapel or Westminster Abbey, but in Frogmore Gardens, adjacent to Windsor Castle. This farm houses the mausoleum of Queen Victoria and her husband Alberto. Edward VIII, who abdicated to marry divorced American Wallis Simpson, is also buried there.
Apparently the Duke of Edinburgh was personally involved in the arrangements for his funeral, coordinated by the Lord Chamberlain's office at Buckingham Palace. The Lord Chamberlain, currently William Peel, is the highest ranking official in the royal house and his office organizes ceremonies such as official receptions and state visits. According to protocol, the Lord Chamberlain consults first with the Prime Minister and then with the Queen to agree on the announcement of the death and subsequently the funeral of a family member.
Thus, according to protocol, the official flags will be flown at half-staff until 08:00 local time the day after the funeral. The banner over the royal residence will continue to wave to symbolize the continuity of the monarchy. Members of the royal family and the royal household will wear dark clothing and mourning bracelets.
Normally the funeral of a senior member of the royal family takes place eight days after his death, according to the National Association of Civic Officials. Two minutes of silence could also be observed on the day of the funeral.
