The Duke of Edinburgh’s Funeral Service will take place on Saturday 17 April 2021 from 2.30pm in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
We will pause with the rest of the nation for a minute silence at 3pm on the day to pay tribute to His Royal Highness
The Funeral will be broadcast live on TV and radio to allow people around the world to take part in mourning The Duke.
At 2:40pm, the coffin will emerge from the State Entrance of Windsor Castle into the Quadrangle, followed by the members of the Royal Family who will be walking in the procession.
The Bearer Party will carry the coffin up the West Steps of the Chapel before pausing for a National Minute Silence at 3pm. The Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury will then receive the coffin.
The Funeral Service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, and is expected to last for approximately 50 minutes.
The plans for the funeral are in line with The Duke of Edinburgh’s own personal wishes, and the occasion will recognise and celebrate The Duke’s life and his more than 70 years of service to The Queen, the UK and the Commonwealth.
It will be a Ceremonial Royal Funeral, the same as for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, rather than a State Funeral – something which is generally reserved for Monarchs. The plans have been approved by The Queen and reflect appropriate Government advice.
Full details can be found here and you will also find at the link an online Book of Condolence which is now available for those who wish to send a personal message of condolence.
Members of The Royal Family have paid their own personal tributes to Prince Philip in the following statements:
You know it’s going to happen but you are never really ready. My father has been my teacher, my supporter and my critic, but mostly it is his example of a life well lived and service freely given that I most wanted to emulate. His ability to treat every person as an individual in their own right with their own skills comes through all the organisations with which he was involved. I regard it as an honour and a privilege to have been asked to follow in his footsteps and it has been a pleasure to have kept him in touch with their activities. I know how much he meant to them, in the UK, across the Commonwealth and in the wider world. I would like to emphasise how much the family appreciate the messages and memories of so many people whose lives he also touched. We will miss him but he leaves a legacy which can inspire us all.
Anne, Princess Royal
I particularly wanted to say that my father, for I suppose the last 70 years, has given the most remarkable, devoted service to The Queen, to my family and to the country, but also to the whole of the Commonwealth. As you can imagine, my family and I miss my father enormously. He was a much loved and appreciated figure and apart from anything else, I can imagine, he would be so deeply touched by the number of other people here and elsewhere around the world and the Commonwealth, who also I think, share our loss and our sorrow. My dear Papa was a very special person who I think above all else would have been amazed by the reaction and the touching things that have been said about him and from that point of view we are, my family, deeply grateful for all that. It will sustain us in this particular loss and at this particularly sad time. Thank you.
Charles, Prince of Wales
He was a remarkable man. I loved him as a father. He was so calm. If you had a problem, he would think about it. That’s the great thing that I always think about, that he was always somebody you could go to and he would always listen so it’s a great loss. We’ve lost almost the grandfather of the nation. And I feel very sorry and supportive of my mother who’s feeling it probably more than everybody else.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
It’s been a bit of a shock however much one tries to prepare oneself for something like this it’s still a dreadful shock. “And we are still trying to come to terms with that and it’s very, very sad. But I have to say the extraordinary tributes and the memories that everybody has had and been willing to share has been so fantastic. It just gets to show he might have been our father, grandfather, father in law but he meant so much to so many other people.
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
My grandfather’s century of life was defined by service – to his country and Commonwealth, to his wife and Queen, and to our family. I feel lucky to have not just had his example to guide me, but his enduring presence well into my own adult life – both through good times and the hardest days. I will always be grateful that my wife had so many years to get to know my grandfather and for the kindness he showed her. I will never take for granted the special memories my children will always have of their great-grandpa coming to collect them in his carriage and seeing for themselves his infectious sense of adventure as well as his mischievous sense of humour! My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation. Catherine and I will continue to do what he would have wanted and will support The Queen in the years ahead. I will miss my Grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
My grandfather was a man of service, honour and great humour. He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm-and also because you never knew what he might say next. He will be remembered as the longest reigning consort to the Monarch, a decorated serviceman, a Prince and a Duke. But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my Grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right ’til the end. He has been a rock for Her Majesty The Queen with unparalleled devotion, by her side for 73 years of marriage, and while I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, “Oh do get on with it!” So, on that note, Grandpa, thank you for your service, your dedication to Granny, and for always being yourself. You will be sorely missed, but always remembered – by the nation and the world. Meghan, Archie, and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always hold a special place for you in our hearts. Per Mare, Per Terram
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
The Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, has also paid his own personal tribute to Prince Philip.
It is with great sadness that we heard of the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
His Royal Highness has been a great friend, inspiration and role model for the Armed Forces and he will be sorely missed. The Duke of Edinburgh served among us during the Second World War, and he remained devoted to the Royal Navy and the Armed Forces as a whole.
His candour and his humour made many a serviceman and servicewoman chuckle on the countless visits that he made to the Armed Forces. He cared deeply about the values, standards and sense of service embodied in the military ethos. He was an immensely popular figure, and he was hugely respected by us all. He completed nearly 14 years’ active service with distinction.
He was a gallant officer whose wartime career included escorting troops between Australia and Egypt and the Battle of Cape Matapan as part of the Mediterranean Fleet, for which he was Mentioned in Despatches for ‘bravery and enterprise’. And he was present at the surrender of Japan in 1945.
A life well lived, His Royal Highness leaves us with a legacy of indomitable spirit, steadfastness and an unshakeable sense of duty. From all of us who serve today and who have served, thank you.
Our thoughts and goodwill are very much with Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family at this sad time.
General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of the Defence Staff
Further reading
