Prince Philip’s Farewell Service: Queen Faces Difficult Decision on Attendees

The Royal Family has revealed the arrangements for Prince Philip's farewell service following the sad news of his passing at the age of 99.

However, the Queen now faces the challenge of deciding who will be able to attend the service.

The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 17th, at 3pm, and will be held at St George's Chapel in Windsor.

Due to current coronavirus guidelines, only 30 individuals, in addition to the clergy, will be allowed to be present.

Initially, the plans included inviting around 800 mourners to attend the ceremony.

However, it was well-known that the Duke of Edinburgh did not desire a grand affair.

Unfortunately, pandemic restrictions have forced a significant reduction in the number of guests, limiting attendance to just 30 individuals.

The original guest list of 800 was expected to include family members, friends, representatives from the Duke of Edinburgh's military units, patrons of the charities he supported, and individuals associated with the Duke of Edinburgh's award scheme.

In a press release, the Royal Family explained the new arrangements for the smaller ceremony, stating that the Queen and other members of the Royal Family will be in attendance.

However, it has yet to be confirmed which royals will be present.

Undoubtedly, the Queen's four children and their spouses, Prince Charles and Camilla, Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Lawrence, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, will be among those attending.

Additionally, the Queen and Prince Philip had eight grandchildren, including Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Princess William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise Windsor, and Viscount Severn.

As a future Queen, the Duchess of Cambridge is also expected to attend alongside her husband.

Prince Harry has confirmed that he will travel from the US to attend the service, although his wife Meghan, who is currently pregnant with their second child, will remain in California.

It is possible that the spouses of the grandchildren, Mike Tindall, Jack Brooksbank, and Eduardo Marpelli-Mosi, may also attend to support their wives.

However, given that they are not senior royals, the Queen might choose to include other relatives or members of the household instead.

Apart from immediate family, the Queen is likely to invite her cousins and their spouses, such as Princess Alexandra, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, who have shown unwavering loyalty and provided valuable service over the years.

Additionally, the Queen shares a close bond with the children of her late sister, Princess Margaret, including her nephew, the Earl of Snowdon, and niece, Lady Sarah Chateau.

It is expected that the Queen would want them present for comfort during this difficult time.

Considering their young age, the Queen and Prince Philip's ten great-grandchildren, including Savannah and Isla Phillips, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, Mia, Lena, and Lucas Tindall, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, and August Brooksbank, are likely to be deemed too young to attend the televised proceedings.

This decision aligns with Prince William and Catherine's approach of protecting their children from public scrutiny and shielding them from the pressures of royal life while they are still young.

If Mr. Tindall, Mr. Brooksbank, and Mr. Marpelli-Mosi do attend, the guest list would total 29, leaving just one place remaining.

This final spot could potentially be filled by a trusted member of the Queen or Prince Philip's household, or by First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Tony Radican, as a tribute to Prince Philip's military service.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has already declined to attend the ceremony in order to allow another family member to take his place.

A spokesperson from Downing Street explained that due to coronavirus regulations, only 30 individuals can attend the funeral of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

The Prime Minister has consistently aimed to act in accordance with the best interests of the royal household, and therefore, he will not be present at the funeral on Saturday.