Will Prince Harry attend Prince Philip's funeral?
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has passed away aged 99, making him the longest serving consort in British history.
Buckingham Palace announced the news about Queen Elizabeth II 's husband on Friday April 9, 2021, stating: 'It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
'His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will be made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.'
In the hours that have followed, members of the public have grown curious as to the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral arrangements and which members of his family will be able to attend his funeral during the UK’s ongoing lockdown.
Here’s what you need to know about Prince Philip’s funeral arrangements:
Will the royal family be able to attend the funeral?
The UK is still in a national lockdown until June 21 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, so funeral arrangements under current health crisis guidelines will presumably affect how the Royal Family will be able to pay their respects at a funeral to the Duke.
During Covid-19, the UK government has advised that those with increased risk of severe illness from Coronavirus to be particularly careful in following social distancing measures.
Under official guidelines, a maximum of 30 people are allowed to attend funerals in the UK and they must socially distance if they do not live together or share a support bubble.
Therefore, it’s unknown how the Royal Family will proceed with the Duke’s funeral arrangements and who would be able to attend.
Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the funeral?
After stepping back as senior royals last March ahead of their move to the US, it’s unknown whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be able to attend the Duke’s funeral due to travel restrictions during the pandemic.
According to the Government’s guidelines, it is illegal to travel abroad from the UK for holidays. However, in England, you must have a permitted reason to travel abroad and complete the declaration form.
‘If you’re travelling to England you must either quarantine in the place you’re staying or in a managed quarantine hotel for 10 days because of coronavirus (COVID-19). What you need to do depends on where you travel in the 10 days before you arrive in England,’ states the .Gov website.
‘You must also get two coronavirus tests after you arrive in England. You’ll need to book these before you travel.’
Therefore, if the Sussexes were to travel back to the UK for the funeral, they would be required to quarantine for 10 days prior to attending the service.
Will Prince Philip have a state funeral?
Yes, as consort to the Queen, the Duke is entitled to a state funeral.
However, The Sun reports that it’s believed that the Duke had previously requested funeral arrangements similar to that of a military funeral, with a private service held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor before his body is buried in Frogmore Gardens.
A state funeral, meanwhile, would entail a military procession to Westminster Abbey where members of the public would be able to pay their respects. A service at Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s Cathedral, before burial in St. George’s Chapel, would follow after that but it’s unknown how this would proceed during the pandemic.
King George VI was the last royal to have a state funeral 1952.
It's expected that after the Queen’s passes away, the UK will go into a 12-day mourning period, during which her body would be moved to Buckingham Palace. Thereafter, it’s thought her coffin will move Westminster Hall for four days and then be laid to rest in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where the Queen Mother and King George VI are buried.
What are Prince Philip’s funeral arrangements?
The arrangements are currently unknown but the service will likely be held at St George’s Chapel.
While numbers on funeral attendees are likely to be restricted due to the pandemic, it’s believed that some family members and a handful of heads of state will attend the service. Unlike for royal weddings, as seen with the Duke’s grandchildren Prince William and Prince Harry’s nuptials, TV cameras will not be allowed inside the chapel.
