/Funeral of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh: Recap

Funeral of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh: Recap

Before entering St. George’s Chapel, members of the royal family who walked in the procession — including Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry — put on face masks.

The only people speaking at the service were the Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Right Reverend David Conner, KCVO, Dean of Windsor, said, “We have been inspired by his unwavering loyalty to our Queen, by his service to the Nation and the Commonwealth, by his courage, fortitude and faith.”

The family, including the Queen, sat spaced out per COVID-19 protocol.

Family members only sat with members of their own household: Prince Charles and wife Camillia together; Prince William and Kate Middleton together; and the Queen and Prince Harry each sitting alone.

The royal family did not give eulogies, and per COVID-19 guidelines, they could not sing.

Prince Philip’s funeral was a reflection of his own wishes and displayed both the professional and personal aspects of his life: his family and his military service.

The music at the service was selected by Philip himself.

The song sung near the start of the service, Britten’s Jubilate in C, was commissioned by Philip for the St. George’s Chapel Choir.

Later in the service, the adaption of Psalm 104 was set to music by William Lovelady at the request of Philip. The words of the Psalm, performed at a concert for Philip’s 75th birthday, “evoke themes of creation, the environment and wildlife,” which reflect Philip’s interests, according to Buckingham Palace.

One of the final moments of the service saw the Buglers of the Royal Marines play the Bugle Call, which signifies the end of the day, or, in Philip’s case, when a soldier has gone to his final rest. Philip also requested that the Royal Marines sound Action Stations, a Naval tradition that announces that all hands should go to battle stations.

Original Source