LONDON – Queen Elizabeth II bids a final farewell to her late husband Prince Philip today, at a funeral restricted by coronavirus rules but reflecting his long life of military and public service.
The ceremony with just 30 mourners behind the stately walls of Windsor Castle, west of London, will be watched by an expected television audience of millions, with the public urged to stay away because of the pandemic.
But people are still expected to turn out in Windsor, prompting barriers to be erected along the sweeping Long Walk to the castle gates patrolled by uniformed police.
In the town, one man who gave only his first name, Mark, said: “There are hundreds of us today. People are not supposed to come. But this is a once-in-a-generation event.
“He (Philip) was really something.”
At Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s central London home, Cardiff-born chef Santosh Singh laid purple tulips as a tribute and to mark the end of an era.
“I love the royals. I think they’re amazing... It’s sad because in time, all this will change,” the 57-year-old said.
The Duke of Edinburgh – described by royals as “the grandfather of the nation” – died on April 9, aged 99, just weeks after spending more than a month in hospital for treatment of a heart condition and an infection.
Britain’s longest-serving royal consort was an almost constant presence at the Queen’s side during her record-breaking reign that began in 1952 as Britain rebuilt from World War II and as its global empire began to unravel.
His death, after 73 years of marriage, has left a “huge void” in her life, the couple’s second son, Prince Andrew, said last weekend.
The Queen released a touching personal photograph of herself with Prince Philip, both looking relaxed and smiling in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland in 2003.
Images of key moments in the couple’s marriage were also shared on the royal family's social media accounts, as most newspapers reflected on her deep personal loss.
“The Queen bids farewell,” headlined The Times.
At the service, the Dean of Windsor, David Conner, will pay tribute to Philip’s “unwavering loyalty” to his wife, who turns 95 next week, the country and the Commonwealth, as well as his “courage, fortitude, and faith”.
Government Covid-19 regulations have forced hasty revisions to “Operation Forth Bridge”, the long-rehearsed funeral plans for former Royal Navy commander Philip.
But the stripped-back ceremonial funeral will still feature members of the armed services he was associated with lining a short procession route through the immaculately trimmed grounds of the castle, whose history dates back 1,000 years.
His coffin will be borne to Windsor’s historic St George's Chapel on a bespoke Land Rover hearse which Philip designed himself, repainted in military green.
A minute’s silence will be observed across the country on the stroke of 3pm (1400 GMT) before the funeral service begins. – AFP, April 17, 2021
