Emotional Charles wells up as he bids final farewell to his father: Tearful Prince of Wales follows the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin accompanied by his sons Harry and William
- Prince Charles led mourners out of Windsor Castle to bid a final farewell to his ‘dear Papa’ Prince Philip
- Duke of Cornwall somberly walked in procession with senior royals behind Philip’s Land Rover hearse
- Funeral procession set off with the coffin followed by royals including brothers Princes William and Harry
- Also there are Earl of Wessex, Duke of York, Peter Philips, Vice Admiral Tim Lawrence and Earl of Snowdon
An emotional Prince Charles had tears in his eyes today as the future monarch somberly followed his ‘dear Papa’ Prince Philip’s coffin accompanied by senior royals including his sons Princes Harry and William as a mourning nation bid farewell to the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Prince of Wales, 72, walked in procession from Windsor Castle with other members of the Royal Family behind Philip’s custom-built Land Rover Defender hearse, which was driven into the residence’s quadrangle before it carried his coffin through the grounds to St George’s Chapel.
Walking behind the royal family were members of Philip’s household while in front of the coffin were the Services chiefs. Also in the procession were the Earl of Wessex, Duke of York, Duke of Sussex, Peter Phillips, Duke of Cambridge, Vice Admiral Tim Lawrence and the Earl of Snowdon.
Entering St George’s Chapel, Charles put on a face mask before taking his seat next to his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. They were sat directly opposite the prince’s mother the Queen, who wiped away a tear as she said goodbye to her ‘strength and stay’ of more than 70 years.
Earlier the Duke of Cornwall was driven in a Tesla car to his mother the Queen’s home in Berkshire while wearing a black mask. His wife Camilla, 73, arrived separately as William and his wife Kate Middleton left Kensington Palace for the funeral of the ‘grandfather of the nation’.
At 3pm, hundreds of mourners holding Union flags and flowers and wearing hats who were lined up outside Windsor Castle observed a minute’s silence in tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, the nation’s longest serving consort who died at Windsor last Friday aged 99.
Philip’s coffin was draped with his personal standard, which pays tribute to his birth heritage as a Prince of Greece and Denmark, his family name and his Edinburgh title.
The first three quarters show his lineage – with blue lions and red hearts on a yellow background representing Denmark, a white cross on blue representing Greece, and his anglicised family name Mountbatten represented with two black ‘pales’ or stripes on white. The fourth quarter contains the arms of the City of Edinburgh.
Every minute of the procession, which lasted eight minutes, a gun was fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn of Windsor Castle.
An emotional Prince Charles led mourners out of Windsor Castle to bid a final farewell to his ‘dear Papa’ Prince Philip at his funeral this afternoon while his wife Camilla watched on
Inside St George’s Chapel, Prince Charles was sat next to his wife Camilla and directly opposite the Queen
An emotional Prince Charles welled up at Windsor Castle as the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin was carried to St George’s Chapel
Prince Charles following The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin, covered with His Royal Highness’s Personal Standard during the Ceremonial Procession during the funeral of Prince Philip
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales walks behind The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin, covered with His Royal Highness’s Personal Standard, during the Ceremonial Procession during the funeral of Prince Philip
The Duke of Cambridge, The Duke of York, The Duke of Sussex, The Earl of Wessex and Forfar and The Prince of Wales during the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle, Berkshire
The Duke of Cambridge, The Duke of York, The Duke of Sussex, The Earl of Wessex and Forfar and The Prince of Wales during the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle, Berkshire
Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Windsor Castle making their way to St George’s Chapel
The Duchess of Cornwall arriving outside St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle
Charles, Prince of Wales walks behind the coffin of Prince Philip during a ceremonial funeral procession to St George’s Chapel
The hearse, a specially modified Land Rover, and the Royal Family walk near St George’s Chapel during the funeral of Prince Philip
Prince Charles led mourning members of the royal family as the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin was taken to St George’s Chapel
The Queen arrives for the funeral of her husband Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in Windsor
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin covered with His Royal Highness’s Personal Standard is carried by a Bearer Party found by the Royal Marines on the West Steps of Windsor Castle during the funeral of Prince Philip
The Queen watches as pallbearers carry the coffin of Prince Philip during his funeral at St George’s Chapel
The hearse, a specially modified Land Rover, Prince Charles and members of the Royal Family walk near St George’s Chapel during the funeral of Prince Philip
The coffin of Prince Philip on the back of the Land Rover with royal family members walking behind
Philip’s coffin was draped with his personal standard, which pays tribute to his birth heritage as a Prince of Greece and Denmark, his family name and his Edinburgh title
Pall bearers drawn from regiments, corps, air stations and units with a special relationship with Philip walked either side of the Land Rover
The purpose built Land Rover which carried Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin at Windsor Castle
The Land Rover specially modified by the Duke of Edinburgh to carry his coffin through the castle grounds
The carriage arrives at Windsor Castle on the day of the funeral of Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband
General view of the Engine Court before the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle, Berkshire
The Land Rover specially modified by the Duke of Edinburgh to carry his coffin through the castle grounds
The Foot Guards Band are seen marching ahead of the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle
A sombre Prince of Wales was wearing a black mask as he was driven to Windsor Castle for his father’s funeral
Charles’ wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrived at the Berkshire residence separately ahead of the service
Prince Charles arrives at the back of the Windsor Castle for the funeral of Prince Philip in a Tesla car
Cars leave Kensington Palace for Windsor Castle for Prince Philip’s funeral at Windsor Castle
The first mourners have been swept into Windsor Castle as Prince Philip’s coffin is moved into position ahead of his funeral this afternoon
Last week the Prince of Wales was pictured with tears in his eyes and looking to the heavens as he and Camilla inspected thousands of tributes left for Philip, the Queen’s husband of 73 years.
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall received news of Philip’s death at 99 on their 16th wedding anniversary last Friday. Weeks earlier, they had been in Greece on a two-day visit celebrating the 200th anniversary since the start of the Greek war of independence against the Ottoman Empire, where Charles mentioned his father at an official state dinner.
In February, the Prince of Wales was pictured teary-eyed as he made a 200-mile round trip to King Edward VII’s hospital in London to visit his father as he was admitted for treatment.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were moved by the sea of bouquets, cards and other items left by the duke’s mourners in the Royal Parks and at the gates of Buckingham Palace.
They paused for long periods as they looked at the piles of tributes, and looked particularly sad when they saw a toy Land Rover, his father’s favourite car, which Philip asked to be the hearse to carry his coffin this weekend.
The flowers and condolence messages were transferred from outside the palace and the parks such as St James’ Park to the nearby private gardens at Marlborough House, the headquarters of Commonwealth Foundation.
Grieving family members rushed to pay tribute to the duke, with Charles earlier having described his father, the nation’s longest-serving consort, as his ‘dear Papa’ and a ‘very special person’.
The Cambridges are set to see Prince Harry for the first time in a year after the brothers fell out over Megxit and the Sussexes extraordinary and damaging interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The Kings Troop and their artillery arrive for the funeral, with the ceremonial event involved 700 members of the armed forces
The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery move along The Long Walk towards the castle ahead of the procession this afternoon as crowds amassed
Members of the Household Cavalry march outside St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, Berkshire, ahead of the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh
Members of the Household Cavalry and Life Guards are seen ahead of the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle
The Duke of Edinburgh’s insignia, Field Marshal’s baton, RAF wings and decorations from Denmark and Greece resting on cushions have been placed on the altar of St George’s Chapel to mark the passing of the ‘grandfather of the nation’.
At 11am his coffin, covered with Philip’s personal standard along with his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers, was moved from Her Majesty’s private chapel to the Inner Hall of Windsor Castle by members of The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
Minutes later a convoy of funeral cars swept the first mourners into the main gates as a single Queen’s Guard stood to attention, as soldiers on horses trotted into the grounds where 700 armed forces personnel will gather. The early guests arriving included The Countess Mountbatten of Burma, Lady Penny Brabourne, Philip’s close friend and confidante, and Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The castle has a ‘ring of steel’ protecting it led by armed units from the Metropolitan Police. Tens of millions of people in Britain and around the world will be watching the most important royal funeral since the Queen Mother died in 2002. The event, pared back because of the pandemic, was overseen by Philip for at least 20 years before his death.
Her Majesty is determined to ensure it reflects his ‘unwavering loyalty’ to her during their 73-year marriage and her 68-year reign on the throne as well his lifetime of service to the UK and the Commonwealth in his life.
In pre-pandemic times thousands of mourners would have travelled to the Berkshire town to pay their respects, but the Royal Family, the Government and police are asking the public to stay away. However, it appears hundreds have defied the warnings and gathered to pay their respects in Windsor despite the risk of fines or even arrest.
People who knew Philip best have said he would be pleased about the smaller crowds because he always demanded ‘no fuss’ in the event of his death. People staying at home for the funeral decked their homes in Union Flags and pictures of the duke and his wife, with many enjoying traditional full English breakfasts or afternoon teas as they watched on TV.
The first glimpse of the altar inside the chapel shows the Duke’s insignia, Field Marshal’s baton, RAF wings and decorations from Denmark and Greece resting on cushions
A man raises a bowler hat to the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery as they ride past on the Long Walk
A police officer surveys the wreathes left by European royal families and world governments on the lawn outside St George’s Chapel
Police control the traffic on the road outside Windsor Castle where well-wishers and the world’s media have gathered
Police spotters with masks and binoculars watch the crowds as a ring of steel was formed around the castle to protect mourners
Despite warnings to stay away, crowds built up at Windsor today to say farewell to the ‘grandfather of the nation’
Members of the Metropolitan Police gather outside Buckingham Palace where flowers continue to be laid for the Duke of Edinburgh
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