The Royal Family has confirmed that no military or dress uniforms will be worn at the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh this weekend.
Instead, the thirty guests will be asked to attend in morning coats with medals or day dress. All those present will also have to wear a face mask throughout the service to comply with coronavirus pandemic regulations.
In the days leading up to the funeral there had been debate about whether some members of the Royal Family would be attending in military uniform with reports that the Duke of York wanted to attend dressed as an Admiral, despite only formally holding the rank of Vice-Admiral.
Confirmation that no uniforms will be worn came as details of the guest list for the funeral were revealed for the first time. Coronavirus restrictions mean that only thirty people can be present for the funeral at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. The Duke of Edinburgh’s four grandchildren and eight grandchildren will all be at the service as will the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, the Earl of Snowdon and Lady Sarah Chatto.
The Duke’s coffin is currently resting in a private chapel at Windsor. On the day of his funeral, it will be moved to the State Entrance to Windsor Castle where it will be placed on a Land Rover, modified for the occasion on the orders of Prince Philip himself. The Queen will follow the Land Rover in her Bentley with a lady in waiting at her side. Her four children will walk alongside the Land Rover while three of her grandsons will also follow the procession. Peter Phillips, the eldest grandchild of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, will take central place with his cousins, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex on either side of him.
Inside the Chapel, guests will be seated in the Quire. In line with coronavirus restrictions, the congregation won’t be allowed to sing and a small choir of four will instead lead the music.
The Duke of Edinburgh selected the regalia which will be laid on the altar during his funeral. His medals from the UK and Commonwealth countries will be placed there along with his Field Marshal’s baton. His RAF Wings will also be on the altar. To underline his own roots as a Prince of Greece and Denmark, insignia from both those countries will feature among the regalia.
At the end of the service, the Royal Marines’ buglers will sound ”Action Stations”, a signal for those on a Royal Navy ship to move to their battle stations.
Following the funeral, the Duke of Edinburgh will be interred in the Royal Vault at St. George’s Chapel.
Prince Philip died on April 9th 2021 at Windsor Castle. He was 99 years old.
