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Buckingham Palace Reveals Guest List for Duke of Edinburgh’s Funeral
Buckingham Palace has released the official guest list for the funeral service of the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip.
The service is scheduled to take place on Saturday at 3pm, 10am ET, at St George's Chapel in Windsor.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the arrangements for the funeral have been scaled back, with only 30 people allowed to attend.
The guest list will primarily consist of close family and friends of the beloved patriarch.
According to a spokesperson from Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II had to make difficult decisions regarding who could be present, keeping in line with the limited number of attendees.
The spokesperson emphasized that, at its core, the event remains a family affair, and all Covid guidelines will be strictly followed.
The Queen wanted to ensure the presence of all branches of the Duke's family, which led to some challenging choices.
While some individuals may not be able to attend the funeral, they are expected to make their own private arrangements to commemorate and celebrate the Duke's life.
Alongside the 94-year-old monarch, her four children – Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward – will be in attendance.
Their respective spouses, including Charles's wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Anne's husband Timothy Lawrence, and Edward's wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, will also join them.
Furthermore, the Duke of Edinburgh's eight grandchildren, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise, and James, Viscount Severn, will pay their respects.
The spouses of Prince William, Zara Tindall, Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice – Catherine, Mike Tindall, Jack Brooksbank, and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, respectively – will accompany their partners.
The service will also be attended by the Queen's first cousins, the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra.
Additionally, Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chatto, the daughter and son-in-law of the late Princess Margaret, will be present, along with her brother, the Earl of Snowdon.
Some of Prince Philip's German relatives, including two great-nephews and a cousin – Prince Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden, Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse, and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg – will also attend.
Countess Mountbatten of Burma, Penelope Knatchbull, who was the Duke's carriage-driving partner and one of his closest friends, will pay her final respects as well.
All attendees, including Queen Elizabeth II, will wear masks inside St George's Chapel.
However, masks will not be worn during the funeral procession until the end of the chapel.
In a notable arrangement, both Prince William and Prince Harry will walk behind their grandfather's coffin alongside other family members.
However, their cousin Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne, is set to walk between them.
During the second procession into the chapel, Prince William will walk with Peter, while Prince Harry will be accompanied by David Armstrong-Jones, son of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones.
Despite the scaled-down nature of the funeral, those close to Prince Philip believe it is what he would have preferred.
Former palace spokeswoman Alicia Anderson stated, “No fuss, no bother.
Right through his life, he never knew what all the fuss was about.”
The simplicity of the ceremony aligns with the Duke's character.
As the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral approaches, Buckingham Palace has meticulously curated a guest list that balances the importance of family and adheres to Covid guidelines.
