Sweden will honour the Duke of Edinburgh on Saturday ahead of his funeral in the UK.
The Duke was a Knight of the Order of the Seraphim in Sweden, and it is a tradition in Sweden to hold a Seraphim Toll for a deceased Knight of the Order of the Seraphim on the same day as the funeral. Prince Philip’s Seraphim Toll will take place from 12.00 to 13.00 Swedish time in Riddarholm Church in Stockholm.
Since the 1700s, the Coat of Arms of each Knight of the Order of the Seraphim has hung in Riddarholm Church. After a knight passes away, their date of death is added to their Coat of Arms that hangs in the church. The date of death is also announced during the ceremony that begins with the Coat of Arms getting a military escort from the Royal Palace to the church, where it is then hung among the arms and shields of other deceased knights and members.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the church will not be open to the public for the Seraphim Toll. It is expected that the Swedish Royal Court will release images after the ceremony has taken place.
Prince Philip was made a Knight of the Order of the Seraphim by King Gustaf VI Adolf on 23 June 1954.
The last Seraphim Toll for a deceased foreign royal took place in 2019 after the death of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral will take place at 15.00 at St George’s Chapel and will be televised. As a result of the COVID-19 restrictions, only 30 people will be permitted to attend the funeral, and the public has been asked not to gather outside Windsor Castle and St George’s Chapel on Saturday.
