United Kingdom: Prince Philip will be buried on April 17, Harry present without Meghan
The day after the death of Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace announced details of his funeral on Saturday. These will take place on April 17 at Windsor Castle, in a restricted setting due to Covid-19 and the Duke of Edinburgh's aversion to such ceremonies. Prince Harry is expected to be present, without Meghan.
Prince Philip passed away on Friday April 9 at the age of 99. As the United Kingdom and the rest of the world go through a health crisis, his funeral will be celebrated on April 17 in a small committee, announced, Saturday April 10, Buckingham Palace.
The ceremony, which will be preceded by a minute of nationwide silence, will take place at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, without an audience and without a procession, the palace added.
Only 30 people will be able to attend the ceremony, which will take place in strict compliance with health restrictions linked to the coronavirus epidemic, Buckingham points out, which means that all members of the royal family, including the Queen, should wear a mask.
A palace spokesperson confirmed that Prince Harry, who is living in Los Angeles after stepping down from his official duties, is planning to attend the ceremony. He added that doctors for his wife, Meghan, who is pregnant with their second child, had advised him not to travel.
In order to "allow as many family members as possible to attend the funeral," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not attend, his services said.
A private ceremony
The College of Arms, an organization involved in the implementation of royal protocols, had previously indicated that Prince Philip would not have a state funeral, and that his coffin would not be on display to the public. He had indicated that he preferred a private, military-style ceremony.
His remains will rest at Windsor Castle before a funeral at St. George's Chapel, "in accordance with custom and wishes of His Royal Highness," said this heraldic organization.
First signs of funeral arrangements for the Duke Of Edinburgh via College of Arms here: https://t.co/2QrjsjFsPo pic.twitter.com/1wmS96SVai
— Mollie Malone (@Mollie_Malone1) April 9, 2021
Due to the pandemic and according to the rules in force in the United Kingdom, the number of guests is limited to 30 people. In normal times, thousands of people should have flocked to London and Windsor for a military procession from Prince Philip's coffin.
The public is also encouraged not to go near the royal residences to avoid crowds, but rather to make a donation to an association. Despite this call to respect the rules of social distancing against Covid-19, many Britons left cards and bouquets outside Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace overnight from Friday to Saturday.
Flags in Buckingham and on public buildings across Britain were half mast on Friday. Minutes of silence will also be observed ahead of Premier League football matches this weekend.
The armed forces also marked the death of Prince Philip on Saturday. From the Tower of London on the banks of the Thames, the castles of Edinburgh or Belfast, in the British enclave of Gibraltar, on the ships of the Royal Navy, where he served in World War II, the sound of cannons has sounded at noon with 41 bursts.
Prince Harry will be present
British newspapers have widely speculated on the arrival or not of his grandson Harry and his wife Meghan at this funeral, after their recent criticism of "The Firm", nickname of the monarchy, accused of racism and lack of support .
Finally, Prince Harry, currently in California, will attend the private ceremony, but not his pregnant wife Meghan Markle, Buckingham said.
The couple, who have distanced themselves from the royal family, now live in California. On news of the death, he paid tribute to Prince Philip on the website of his charity Archewell with a message standing out in white letters: "In memory of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, 1921-2021" . "Thank you for your dedication ... you will be sorely missed," they wrote soberly in memory of Prince Harry's grandfather.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have paid tribute to Prince Philip on their https://t.co/w77h3sYI8I website: pic.twitter.com/7sT992lAaX
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) April 9, 2021
"My dear daddy was a very special person"
Prince Charles, heir to the British crown, paid tribute on Saturday to his "dear daddy" Prince Philip, saluting his dedication to Queen Elizabeth, the royal family, Great Britain and the Commonwealth.
"My father, for the past 70 years, has rendered the most remarkable and dedicated service to The Queen, to my family, to the country and also to the whole Commonwealth," the Prince of Wales told reporters.
"My dear Papa was a very special person..."
— The Royal Family Channel (@RoyalFamilyITNP) April 10, 2021
Prince Charles made a short statement outside Highgrove House this afternoon to mark the passing of his father, the Duke of Edinburgh. pic.twitter.com/fDSpYdGV3M
"My dear daddy was a very special person who, more than any other, would have been impressed by the reactions and the touching things that were said about him, and from this point of view, we, along with my family, are deeply grateful for all of this, ”he added. "It will support us after this very special loss and at this particularly sad time."
“As you can imagine my family and I miss my dad dearly. He was a much loved and well-loved character and above all else I can imagine he would be deeply touched by the numbers. people, here and elsewhere around the world and in the Commonwealth, who I believe share our loss and our sorrow, "continued Prince Charles.
