The funeral of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh

By Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Fernando Alfonso III and Amy Woodyatt, CNN

Updated 12:31 p.m. ET, April 17, 2021
36 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
12:18 p.m. ET, April 17, 2021

Touching moments from the funeral of Prince Philip

Queen Elizabeth II is pictured during the funeral of her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, on Saturday, April 17.
Queen Elizabeth II is pictured during the funeral of her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, on Saturday, April 17. Yui Mok/Press Association/AP Images

The funeral for Prince Philip was a somber affair Saturday full of tradition and reverence.

Here are some of the notable moments from the funeral:

  • Mourning alone: The Queen was seen sitting alone in St. George's Chapel Saturday during the funeral due to current Covid-19 restrictions. All guests who were not members of the same household had to sit around 2 meters apart. The Queen and the late Prince Philip had been in a bubble with some members of their household for the last year and so she was not eligible to join a support bubble with other members of her family.
  • A royal affair: In the procession before the funeral service, Prince William and Harry were separated from walking together by their cousin Peter Phillips. The decision for some royals to walk behind the coffin will inevitably draw comparisons to Princess Diana's funeral in 1997 when Charles, William and Harry participated in a similar procession alongside Prince Philip and Diana's brother Earl Spencer.
  • Together again: Following the Queen's departure after the funeral, the royals walked on foot back towards Windsor Castle. Prince Harry and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, could be seen exchanging words with the Archbishop of Canterbury. They then walked over and joined Prince William to walk together as the rest of the family left St. George's.
  • Not in attendance: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was unable to join the family engagement today as she is pregnant with her second child and was advised not to travel from California to the United Kingdom at this time.
  • Adapting to the pandemic: The number of mourners in attendance at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral was limited to 30 people, with Buckingham Palace stressing that the service was held in line with British government coronavirus restrictions.
  • Military touches: The coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh was carried from the state entrance of Windsor Castle to St. George's Chapel in a modified Land Rover that he helped design. It was flanked by pallbearers highlighting his relationships with the Royal Marines, Regiments, Corps and Air Stations. Philip, a war hero decorated for his service in World War II, gave up a flourishing naval career to dedicate himself to his royal duties.  
  • The public mourns: Members of the public were asked to stay away from funeral events because of the pandemic. Despite calls from both the family and local authorities, some mourners gathered outside the castle walls at Windsor.
  • Prime Minister pays his respect: A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed Saturday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson watched the funeral from his country residence of Chequers.
12:31 p.m. ET, April 17, 2021

Inside the royal yacht that "was everything that Prince Philip loved"

The Royal Yacht Britannia.
The Royal Yacht Britannia. CNN

The Royal Yacht Britannia was the "home away from home" for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip for more than 40 years, according to CNN's Isa Soares.

The yacht sailed more than one million miles and has gone to 700 overseas territories, Soares reported from aboard it in Edinburgh, Scotland, today.

"This was so emblematic of what Britain stood for," Soares said.

Princess Diana used to play the piano on board. Dignitaries such as Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher and former US Presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan were also hosted on the vessel. It was also used for masses, birthday celebrations and movie screenings.

Philip adored the yacht, Soares reported, and he even had a room at Windsor Castle called the Britannia Room.

"This was everything that Prince Philip loved — his love for the seas, for the Navy and really his love for the Queen," Soares said.

A re-creation of the yacht was featured in the Netflix series "The Crown."

Watch:

11:44 a.m. ET, April 17, 2021

Royal family share moments from funeral to social media

The Royal Family has shared moments from Prince Philip's funeral to their Instagram account, posting footage of the funeral procession as it moved from Windsor Castle to St. George's chapel, and was then carried by a Land Rover designed by the Duke himself.

11:43 a.m. ET, April 17, 2021

"He spent his life walking two paces behind her," CNN's Amanpour says

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip walk back to the Palace after attending a Royal Garden Party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, in London, in June 2011.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip walk back to the Palace after attending a Royal Garden Party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, in London, in June 2011. Matt Dunham/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Prince Philip's death signals the beginning of the end of a generation for the British monarchy, according to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.

Philip, a military man, devoted his career to Queen Elizabeth once they were married, Amanpour said.

"He knelt in front of her during her coronation. He swore allegiance to her. He spent his life walking two paces behind her," Amanpour said outside of Buckingham Palace.

"The two of them embodied what is ending now — and there's no doubt about it, just like the World War II generation is ending — they embody the war sense of duty, of service, of getting on with it, as we've heard so many times. 'Keep calm and carry on,' that is not just a slogan. It is what this nation was about, ever since, you know, World War II, and that is coming to a close now," Amanpour said.

11:29 a.m. ET, April 17, 2021

UK Prime Minister pays tribute to Prince Philip on Twitter

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has paid tribute to Prince Philip via Twitter.

A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed Saturday that Johnson would be watching the funeral from his country residence of Chequers.

The number of mourners in attendance at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral has been limited to 30 people, with Buckingham Palace stressing that the service was being held in line with British government coronavirus restrictions.

11:12 a.m. ET, April 17, 2021

The royal vault isn't Philip's final resting place. Here's why

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt

Queen Elizabeth II, left, watches as pallbearers carry Prince Philip’s coffin during his funeral inside St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, on April 17.
Queen Elizabeth II, left, watches as pallbearers carry Prince Philip’s coffin during his funeral inside St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, on April 17. Dominic Lipinski/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

While Prince Philip’s casket was lowered into a vault in St. George’s Chapel today, that will not be his final resting place, according to CNN royal correspondent Max Foster. His body will be moved to lie next to the Queen, his wife of more than seven decades, when she dies.

"He is there in his temporary resting place, actually, with other kings and queens in a large space, a large room underground there at the chapel," Foster said. "This love story isn't over ... because when the Queen passes, she'll be buried in the King George VI chapel — her father's chapel — and Prince Philip will join her there. So this love story isn't over yet."

The King George VI memorial chapel is in another part of the church. The Queen’s father, her mother and sister are already buried in the vault.

12:17 p.m. ET, April 17, 2021

Prince Harry and Prince William walk together after funeral

ITN
ITN

Following the Queen's departure, the royals walked on foot back towards Windsor Castle.

Prince Harry and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, could be seen exchanging words with the Archbishop of Canterbury. They then walked over and joined Prince William to walk together as the rest of the family left St. George's.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has been unable to join the family engagement today as she is pregnant with the couple's second child and was advised not to travel from California to the UK at this time.

See the moment: 

12:20 p.m. ET, April 17, 2021

Queen led away from chapel as service ends

ITN
ITN

The Queen has been led by the Dean of Windsor out of the chapel following the conclusion of the approximately 50-minute funeral service. 

Outside the Galilee Porch, the state Bentley waits to take the Queen back to the state apartments at Windsor Castle.

Other royal family members follow behind the monarch as she makes her way to the vehicle.

Watch:

10:55 a.m. ET, April 17, 2021

Military bands honor Philip with tribute

ITN
ITN

Back in the nave, the choir has left and in their place, the Buglers of the Royal Marines and State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry.

The buglers play the "Last Post," followed by the State Trumpeters sounding the Reveille.

As the service draws to a close, the buglers sound "Action Stations," which is traditionally sounded on a naval warship to signal crew to go to battle stations. The call was requested by Prince Philip.

The Archbishop of Canterbury follows with the blessing. The congregation then stands as the choir sings the national anthem bringing the service to an end.