Prince Philip's funeral: What to expect as Duke of Edinburgh is laid to rest

Prince Philip will be laid to rest at Windsor Castle on Saturday after his death last week, aged 99.

Only 30 mourners will be allowed to attend the burial service at St George’s Chapel, west of London, with the event scaled back in accordance with coronavirus restrictions.

The carefully-planned funeral will officially begin at 3pm London time, when a national minute of silence will be observed to honour the duke.

The ceremonial procession will take place entirely within the grounds of Windsor Castle and will feature over 700 members of Britain's armed forces, owing to the duke's long-standing association with the military.

What to expect

Philip's coffin will be covered with his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers.

At 11am, the coffin will be moved from its present location in the private chapel at the castle to the Inner Hall by members of the Grenadier Guards.

At 2.15pm, representatives from the British armed forces will form in the quadrangle in a final tribute to the duke.

Between 2.20pm and 2.27pm, family members not taking part in the procession will leave by car for St George's Chapel.

At about 2.40pm, Philip's coffin will be moved on to a specially designed Land Rover Defender and flanked by pall bearers from the Royal Marines.

The procession will begin at 2.45pm, led by the Grenadier Guards, a regiment for which Prince Philip was colonel for 42 years.

The route will travel through the Round Tower, Chapel Hill and on to St George's Chapel.

Prince Charles and eight other members of the royal family will follow immediately behind the coffin on foot. Princes William and Harry will be part of that procession but won't walk side-by-side.

Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II will depart from the Sovereign’s Entrance in the state Bentley and join the rear of the procession in the quadrangle.

Guns from the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery will be fired for the duration of the procession as bells toll.

At 2.53pm, the converted Land Rover will arrive at the foot of the chapel and a military guard of honour will receive the coffin as the national anthem plays.

At 3pm, the national moment of silence will begin as the Dean of Windsor, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury, receive Philip's coffin.

Mourners will then enter the chapel as the Royal Navy piping party will play Carry On.

The funeral service

The service will begin as the coffin enters St George’s Chapel and is carried to the catafalque in the quire.

Philip's "insignia" – essentially the medals and decorations conferred upon him, his field marshal's baton and Royal Air Force wings, together with insignia from Denmark and Greece, will be positioned on cushions on the altar.

The congregation, including the queen, will wear masks for the service. The queen reportedly decided military uniform should not be worn for the occasion.

Four choristers in the chapel's nave, away from the seated congregation, will sing pieces chosen by the duke.

Proceedings will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor with the funeral service expected to last for 50 minutes.

At the conclusion, the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin will be lowered into the Royal Vault by an electric motor. The Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the blessing and the national anthem will be sung by the choir.

The queen, members of the royal family and the Duke of Edinburgh’s family will then depart the chapel via the Galilee Porch.

Who will attend the funeral?

The 30 people will be seated at the quire of St George’s Chapel. The queen will sit alone for the duration of the service.

Mourners include the most senior members of the royal family and  representatives from the Duke of Edinburgh's family. They are:

1. Queen Elizabeth II

2. Prince Charles

3. Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall

4. Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge

5. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge

6. Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex

7. Prince Andrew, the Duke of York

8. Princess Beatrice

9. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

10. Princess Eugenie

11. Jack Brooksbank

12. Prince Edward

13. Sophie, Countess of Wessex

14. Lady Louise Windsor

15. Viscount Severn

16. Princess Anne

17. Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence

18. Peter Phillips

19. Zara Phillips

20. Mike Tindall

21. Earl of Snowdon

22. Lady Sarah Chatto

23. Daniel Chatto

24. Duke of Gloucester

25. Duke of Kent

26. Princess Alexandra

27. Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden

28. Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse

29. Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg

30. The Countess Mountbatten of Burma

Members of the public are urged not to visit Windsor Castle, which has been closed off to the public, and to watch the funeral live on television.