Queen Elizabeth sat alone during her husband Prince Philip‘s funeral on Saturday. The emotional, but intimate funeral was held at St. George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle, with 30 attendees celebrating the life of the 99-year-old.
All eyes were on Philip’s estranged grandsons, Princes William and Harry, who saw each other for the first time since Harry and his wife Meghan Markle stepped away from their senior royal roles, and shared an explosive discussion with Oprah Winfrey, in which Harry alluded to his estrangement from William, and accused royals of racist behavior.
The Queen, who was married to Philip for 74 years, was at the center of the funeral, which was muted and didn’t include singing among congregants, due to health restrictions stemming from the pandemic. Members of the congregation sat six feet apart and wore masks. She placed a handwritten note on top of his funeral, which she signed Lilibet, a nickname she was given as a child. Philip was the last person alive who called her that name, according to reports.
HARRY & WILLIAM
Harry and William walked with William’s wife Kate Middleton out of St. George’s and talked in a friendly way. These optics were quite different than the beginning of the day, when they marched in the royal procession rigidly, separated by their cousin Peter Philips. William reportedly requested that they be separated in the procession amid ongoing frostiness in their relationship.
“They know it is not about them on Saturday – it is about honoring their grandfather’s memory and supporting their grandmother,” a royal source previously told The Daily Telegraph. “I would be extremely surprised if that wasn’t front and center of both their minds. They will be keen to spend time together as a family, in the same time zone for once.”
OUTSIDE
While only 30 people were allowed inside, more than 700 military personnel provided ceremonial support outside in honor of Philip's decorated military career. Members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force were all in attendance.
His coffin, draped with his personal flag, his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers on top, was taken to the chapel from Windsor Castle in a procession led by the Band of the Grenadier Guards.
Outside of his funeral, an unidentified woman was apprehended by police after she disrupted the service and ran onto the road shouting “save the planet” as mourners stood by weeping. She also reportedly attempted to climb the statue of Queen Victoria outside of the chapel.
Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward were among the family members in attendance inside. Meghan is pregnant with her second child with Harry and stayed at home, per doctor’s orders. The service was conducted by the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend David Conner, and the archbishop of Canterbury Welby. Ecclesiasticus 43 and John 11 were among the readings.
