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FeaturesPrince Philip

The many titles of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh to be declared at his funeral

Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh

As Prince Philip is laid to rest in the Royal Vault at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, a reminder of his royal life will echo through the ancient walls. For as the longest serving consort in British history is interred, his many titles will be declared by the Garter Principal King of Arms.

The thirty mourners allowed inside St. George’s will stand as the coffin is taken to the Royal Vault and as it disappears from view, the Dean of Windsor will say the Commendation. As that ends, the mourners will remain standing to hear the Prince’s titles which are laid out, too, in the Order of Service. The Garter Principal King of Arms will remember:

”..the late most illustrious and Exalted Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Member of the Order of Merit, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order upon whom had been conferred the Royal Victorian Chain, Grand Master and Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom, One of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council, Admiral of the Fleet, Field Marshal in the Army and Marshal of the Royal Air Force…”

Prince Philip’s place in history as consort to a Monarch will also be recalled as the Garter Principal King of Arms continues:

”…Husband of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her Other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter…”

As the Chapel falls silent, a lone piper will play a lament for the Duke of Edinburgh. The service will end with the Last Post, played by the Buglers of the Royal Marines followed by silence. The State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry will then play Reveille before the Royal Marines’ Buglers end the ceremony with Action Stations, a call to all service personnel to be ready for battle. With that, the funeral of ”that most exalted prince”, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will draw to a close.

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.