Arrangements of Prince Philip’s funeral revised due to pandemic — College of Arms

Arrangements of Prince Philip’s funeral have been revised due to the COVID-19 pandemic to exclude lying in state and other ceremonies with public participation, the College of Arms said on Friday.

"The funeral will not be a State Funeral and will not be preceded by a Lying-in-State. His Royal Highness’s body will lie at rest in Windsor Castle ahead of the funeral in St George’s Chapel," the College of Arms said in a statement. "This is in line with custom and with His Royal Highness’s wishes. The funeral arrangements have been revised in view of the prevailing circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and it is regretfully requested that members of the public do not attempt to attend or participate in any of the events that make up the funeral."

Final recommendations regarding the format and timeframe of the funeral will be given by the UK government, following consultations of Lord Chamberlain Andrew Parker, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Queen Elizabeth II. After that, the date of the funeral will be announced by Buckingham Palace.

In line with restrictions, imposed in the country back on January 4, the number of participants in a funeral ceremony must not exceed 30. According to Press Association, Her Majesty will have to compile the list of royal family members who will be allowed to attend the ceremony.

Due to the current pandemic, the funeral will not be attended by honorary guests, whose participation would otherwise be obligatory: members of other royal dynasties, envoys of other Commonwealth nations, high-ranking state and military officials.

Prince Philip, who died at the age of 99 on Friday, took part in planning his own future funerals, and joked sarcastically that many of those who helped him passed away long before him. As the royal consort, Prince Philip is entitled to a State Funeral, but wished the ceremony to be more private and less troublesome. Even a relatively modest ceremony would have envisaged mass gatherings and enhanced security measures in central London, but no public mourning will be held in the British capital due to the pandemic.

The prince will be laid to rest in the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore, alongside Queen Victoria (1819-1901), her spouse Prince Albert (1819-1861) and Elizabeth II’s uncle, Edward VIII (1894-1972), who abdicated in 1936.