Prince Philip news – live: Funeral guests unveiled with William and Harry to walk apart and Queen to sit alone
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The guest list for Prince Philip’s funeral has been unveiled, with only close relatives to attend the royal ceremonial service in Windsor on Saturday.
It comprises his and the Queen’s four children, as well as some but not all of their many grandchildren. Other members of the royal family, such as the Queen’s cousin Princess Alexandra, will also be in attendance. It was revealed last week that the service would not be a state affair due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Another revelation made earlier is that Prince William and Harry, the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex respectively, will not walk shoulder to shoulder in their grandfather’s funeral procession, following speculation they could do so.
The brothers, who have been reunited in person for the first time following the explosive Oprah interview last month, will walk separately, either side of their cousin Peter Phillips - Princess Anne’s son - as they trail their grandfather’s coffin at St George’s chapel in Windsor.
It was also confirmed on Thursday that the Queen will be forced to sit alone during the service to avoid coming into contact with anyone she does not live with. It is so the monarch can adhere to social distancing guidelines as much as possible during the day.
Meanwhile, Prince Charles earlier made his first public appearance with Camilla since the death of his father to view flowers and tributes left in his memory. The pair are believed to have looked visibly upset by the messages left for the late duke.
Read more:
Prince Charles and Camilla view flower tributes to Prince Philip
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have viewed flowers left by the public in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh.
The couple appeared moved by the scale of the tributes, which also included notes of condolence and drawings by young children that had been left in Royal Parks, as they visited Marlborough House Gardens on Thursday.
Prince Philip was ‘generous with his time’ during Royal Marines events
The Commandant General of the Royal Marines has spoken of the “generous” time the Duke of Edinburgh gave to the regiment.
Major General Matt Holmes said Philip had a “long and happy association” with the Royal Marines, of which he held the ceremonial title of Captain General for 64 years until 2017.
Speaking to Times Radio, he said of the duke: “We were utterly privileged and honoured to enjoy his company on numerous occasions.
“He gave his support to the corps and often visited us on operations at home during his time.
“We had numerous encounters, and I think that was the beauty of his service with us.
“He was always generous with his time.”
Major General Holmes said the Royal Marines Band Service will perform at the funeral.
He added: “From my recollection there were a number of formal events that he attended.
“The one that really stands out is when he flew all the way to Exeter airport from London to meet one of my companies returning from Afghanistan.
“He spent an hour on the ground. He hated fuss, so we would host him and he would go straight amongst the marines and talk to our valiant warriors.”
He said the duke would be interested in the modernisation of defence, adding: “Certainly I think he was interested, in particular, in innovation and technological developments.”
Princess Anne recalls sailing with Prince Philip in first appearance since his death
The Princess Royal has made her first public appearance since the death of her father.
On Wednesday, Princess Anne met with two yacht clubs on the Isle of Wight, where she spoke about her memories of sailing with her father as a child.
Asked if she sailed on a particular boat with Prince Philip, she said: “I was considered a bit too young and a bit of a nuisance.”
Olivia Petter reports:
Princess Anne recalls sailing with Prince Philip in first appearance since his death
‘I was considered a bit too young and a bit of a nuisance,’ recalls Princess Royal
Prince Andrew ‘requests to wear Admiral’s uniform’ for funeral
The Duke of York has reportedly requested that he wear the Admiral’s uniform to the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on Saturday.
Prince Andrew, who stepped back from royal duties in 2019 over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was made an honorary Vice-Adiral in the Royal Navy in 2015.
He was due to be promoted to become an Admiral in 2020 to mark his 60th birthday, but chose to defer it until he resumes his official duties as a working member of the royal family, writes Olivia Petter.
Get the full story here:
Prince Andrew ‘requests to wear admiral’s uniform’ for Prince Philip’s funeral
Duke of York stepped back from public duties in 2019 over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein
Royals to forgo military uniforms at funeral
It is understood that the Queen has decided that senior royals attending the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral will not dress in military uniform.
This means Prince Harry will not have to be only of the only close family members who is not in uniform at Saturday’s service.
Harry lost his honorary military titles after he stepped down as a senior working royal. Senior royals will dress in civilian clothing instead in accordance with the Queen’s decision, it has been reported.
Prince Edward thanks Duke of Edinburgh’s Award holders and participants for fond memories of Prince Philip
The Earl of Wessex has thanked holders and participants of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and the International Award, for sharing their memories of his father and their experiences of the award.
He said: “Reading just some of the wonderful memories you have shared about your experiences of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and, in some cases, of meeting my father, has been truly uplifting.
“I think I may have said once that he was a man that once met, never forgotten. He had a unique ability to make a lasting impression in a remarkably short time.
“I, like all my family, have a lifetime of lasting impressions, inspiration, shared passions and love. He may have departed this world, but his spirit and ethos lives on through his award, through each and every life touched, transformed, inspired; then, now and in the future.
“Thank you one and all for helping to create such an extraordinary tribute.”
Prince Philip funeral: Mourners ‘could be fined for gathering outside’
The mayor of Windsor has said people gathering near the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on Saturday could face fines.
John Story acknowledged the ceremony will be “difficult for people who have very strong feelings” about Prince Philip’s death - but urged everyone to remember that coronavirus restrictions remain in place for a reason.
Sam Hancock has the details:
Mourners ‘could be fined for gathering near Prince Philip’s funeral’
Mayor of Windsor encourages well-wishers ‘not come into Windsor’
Princess Eugenie vows to ‘look after granny’ in touching tribute to Prince Philip
Princess Eugenie has paid tribute to her late grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, in a touching tribute on social media.
On Instagram, Princess Eugenie posted two photographs of herself with the late Duke, with a caption that began: “Dearest Grandpa, We all miss you.”
My colleague Olivia Petter has the full story:
Princess Eugenie pays tribute to Prince Philip
‘You would be so touched by all the tributes that have been shared with me the past few days,’ writes Princess Eugenie
Can the Queen form a support bubble?
With coronavirus restrictions in place, households in the UK are not permitted to meet indoors unless they are part of a support bubble.
Support bubbles are permitted when a single person living alone forms a bubble with another household of any size.
But at her home in Windsor Castle, the Queen lives with staff members - therefore, she is unable to form a support bubble with another household and this means she will have to sit alone at his funeral on Saturday, unless a member of her staff joins her.
Find out more about this from Ellie Abraham:
Queen welcomes her new Lord Chamberlain
The Queen has formally welcomed her new Lord Chamberlain as she carried out her second in-person public engagement after the death of Prince Philip.
A ceremony took place at Windsor Castle for Baron Andrew Parker, who will oversee the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral as part of his role as the most senior official in the royal household.
The official engagement was recorded in the Court Circular, a daily list of events attended by the Queen and her family.
It said: “The Lord Parker of Minsmere had an audience of the Queen today, kissed hands upon his appointment as Lord Chamberlain and received from Her Majesty the Wand and Insignia of Office and the Badge of Chancellor of the Royal Victorian Order, when the Queen invested him with the Insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.”
Baron Parker, of Minsmere, served as director general of MI5 from April 2013 until last year and hosted a visit by the Queen to the intelligence agency, according to the PA news agency.
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