Prince Philip’sfuneral will be a smaller event than previous royal burials — and it’s likely what the late royal would have preferred.
“Ironically, it is probably how he would have liked,” former palace spokeswoman Ailsa Anderson tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “No fuss, no bother. Right through his life, he never knew what all the fuss was about.”
Listen below to the episode ofour daily podcast PEOPLE Every Dayfor more details onPrince Philip’s funeral.
Saturday’s service will be known as a ceremonial royal funeral and not a state funeral, which is generally reserved for monarchs. The funeral plans take into account the country’s COVID guidelines and are “much reduced in scale with no public access,” a palace spokesman announced over the weekend.
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth.Samir Hussein/WireImage
Prince Harryhas returned to the U.K.for the first time in over a year to attend his grandfather’s funeral this coming weekend. He arrived in the U.K. from California on Sunday and isstaying at his Frogmore Cottage homein Windsor, the house where he, wife Meghan Markle and son Archie lived before they left the U.K., PEOPLE has learned. Prince Harry is following COVID-19 protocols before joining his family at Prince Philip’s funeral on Saturday.
Prince Harry and Prince Philip.Phil Walter/Getty
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Prince Philipis currently lying at rest at Windsor Castle. On the day of the funeral, at around 2:40 p.m in the U.K. (9:40 a.m. ET) on April 17, Philip’s coffin will be moved in a small ceremonial procession from the state entrance to the castle to the chapel. The funeral will begin with a nationally-observed minute’s silence at 10 a.m. E.T.
“While this is naturally a time of sadness and mourning for the royal family and the many others who knew and admired the Duke of Edinburgh, it is hoped that the coming days will also be seen as an opportunity to celebrate a remarkable life: Remarkable both in terms of his vast contribution and lasting legacy,” the Buckingham Palace spokesman said.
source: people.com
