The Truth About The Difficult Decisions Queen Elizabeth Had To Make Over Prince Philip
Following the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh on Friday, April 9, plans for the senior royal's ceremonial funeral have been made public. Per the BBC, the funeral has been scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 17, at St George's Chapel, Windsor. However, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, only 30 mourners are permitted to attend the service due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
As People reports, a Buckingham Palace spokesman revealed the U.K. government's social distancing regulations have forced Her Majesty the Queen to "make some difficult decisions" regarding which members of the royal family will be able to attend Prince Philip's funeral ceremony. "We are dealing with a family funeral and at its heart it is still a family event," the spokesman commented.
Speaking to the outlet, former palace spokeswoman, Ailsa Anderson, also revealed to People that a smaller ceremony is precisely what the late Duke of Edinburgh would've wanted. "Ironically, it is probably how he would have liked." She continued, "No fuss, no bother. Right through his life, he never knew what all the fuss was about."
The full list of royal funeral guests has been confirmed
As the BBC reports, members of the royal family confirmed to be attending Prince Philip's funeral service include Her Majesty the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Andrew, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Peter Philips, Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, Lady Louise Windsor, James, Viscount Severn, the Duke of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester, Princess Alexandra, Prince Bernhard, Prince Donatus, Prince Philipp, the Earl of Snowdon, Lady Mountbatten, and Lady Sarah Chatto and her husband David.
Per CNN, the service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, David Conner, and a specially modified Land Rover will carry the Prince Philip's coffin to St George's Chapel. Keeping in line with coronavirus restrictions, the funeral will take place entirely within the grounds of Windsor Castle and will not include participation from the British public.
Although the public have been advised not to gather outside the venue, a palace spokesman confirmed the royal family are "grateful" for the messages of condolences (via the Daily Mail). "The tributes received from young and old are truly a testament to the remarkable life and lasting endeavors of His Royal Highness," the spokesperson commented.