SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

Prince Philip

Just four voices to sing at Prince Philip’s funeral

Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh

The music carefully selected by Prince Philip for his funeral will be sung by just four people as coronavirus pandemic restrictions are observed.

At the moment, congregational singing is not allowed in any place of public worship in England and those rules will be closely followed during the service marking the life of the Duke of Edinburgh.

Four choristers will instead perform all the music at the funeral which takes place on April 17th 2021 at 3pm. Three of them are Lay Clerks of St. George’s Chapel Choir. They will be conducted by James Vivian and the organ will be played by Luke Bond.

Music during the service includes the Royal Navy hymn, Eternal Father, Strong to Save as well as Britten’s Jubilate in C which Prince Philip commissioned specifically for St. George’s Chapel Choir.

The ceremony will end with the National Anthem, again sung by the four lone voices of the choir.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh died on April 9th 2021 at Windsor Castle. He was 99 years old.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.