The Duke of Edinburgh’s Funeral will take place on Saturday 17 April 2021 at 3pm in St George’s Chapel, Windsor. The Funeral Service will begin with a National Minute’s Silence at three o’clock. The service will be preceded by a ceremonial procession inside the grounds of Windsor Castle.
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.
The Dean of Windsor will conduct the Funeral Service and the Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the Blessing.
Due to the current public health guidelines, some elements of the Funeral plan have been modified, although the day will still be very much in line with His Royal Highness’s wishes.
The Funeral will be broadcast live on TV and radio to allow people around the world to take part in mourning The Duke. A live stream of the ceremony will be available on the Royal Family’s YouTube channel from approximately 2.30pm BST on Saturday 17 April 2021.
Overview
The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin, covered with His Royal Highness’s Personal Standard and dressed with a wreath of flowers, will rest initially in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle, where it will remain until the day of the Funeral.
On Saturday 17th April, The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin will be moved by a Bearer Party found by The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. Positioned in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle will be representative detachments drawn from His Royal Highness’s military special relationships.
His Royal Highness’s coffin will be carried in a purpose-built Land Rover – which The Duke was involved in the design of – flanked by military Pall Bearers, in a small Ceremonial Procession from the State Entrance to St George’s Chapel, for the Funeral Service. Members of the Royal Family and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Household will walk behind the coffin from the Quadrangle, down Chapel Hill and into Horseshoe Cloister. The Funeral Service will begin with a National Minute’s Silence at 1500hrs.
The Funeral Service will be attended by Her Majesty The Queen and Members of the Royal Family. The coffin, carried by a Bearer Party found by the Royal Marines, will be received at the top of the West Steps of St George’s Chapel by the Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Naval Cap and Sword will be placed on the coffin ahead of the service and His Royal Highness’s Insignia will be laid on the Altar of the Chapel. At the conclusion of the service, His Royal Highness will be interred in the Royal Vault in St George’s Chapel.
Running Order
On Saturday 17 April 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. All those in the Quadrangle will give the coffin a Royal Salute before the coffin is placed onto the Land Rover.
The Queen will depart from the Sovereign’s Entrance in the State Bentley.
The Procession will move towards St. George’s Chapel, through Engine Court, Chapel Hill Parade Ground and into Horseshoe Cloister, arriving at the West Steps. The procession route will be lined by representatives from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Highlanders, and 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Air Force.
Minute Guns will be fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn of Windsor Castle for the duration of the Procession. The Curfew Tower Bell will also toll.
The members of the Royal Family who will follow on foot behind the coffin are:
The Princess Royal The Prince of Wales
The Earl of Wessex and Forfar The Duke of York
The Duke of Sussex Mr. Peter Phillips The Duke of Cambridge
Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence The Earl of Snowdon
The National Anthem will play as the coffin arrives at Horseshoe Cloister, to met by representatives from the Commonwealth and a Dismounted Detachment of the Household Cavalry.
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.
As the doors to St. George’s Chapel close, the Royal Navy Piping Party will pipe the ‘Carry On’.
Members of the Royal Family
The following Members of the Royal Family will attend the Funeral Service in the Chapel:
- The Duchess of Cornwall
- The Countess of Wessex and Forfar
- Viscount Severn
- The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
- The Duchess of Cambridge
- Mr. and Mrs. Mike Tindall
- Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
- Mr. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
- Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank
- Mr. Jack Brooksbank
- The Lady Sarah and Mr. Daniel Chatto
- The Duke of Gloucester
- The Duke of Kent
- Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy
- The Hereditary Prince of Baden The Landgrave of Hesse The Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
- The Countess Mountbatten of Burma
The congregation will wear masks for the Service and Members of the Royal Family will wear Day Dress or Morning Coat with medals.
During the Service, a small choir of four will sing pieces of music chosen by The Duke of Edinburgh. The choir will be located in the Nave, away from the seated congregation, and in line with public health guidelines there will be no congregational singing.
The Funeral Service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, and is expected to last for approximately 50 minutes.
At the conclusion of the Service, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Coffin will be lowered into the Royal Vault. The Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the Blessing and the National Anthem will be sung by the Choir.
Her Majesty The Queen, Members of the Royal Family and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Family will then depart the Chapel via Galilee Porch.
