The small guest list for Prince Philip’s funeral has been confirmed, with 30 people able to attend the scaled back ceremony to remember the Duke of Edinburgh.
Philip died on 9 April at the age of 99, at Windsor Castle. He will be laid to rest at the same royal residence.
But rather than a grand funeral attended by hundreds of people including the wider Royal Family, political figures and foreign dignitaries, the ceremony has had to be adapted to fit coronavirus regulations.
The guests will include his children and grandchildren, but no great-grandchildren.
Plans for his funeral have been kept secret for many years under the code name Operation Forth Bridge.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “At its heart it is still a family event.
“We are following the COVID guidelines. There was a limit on who could be invited as a guest and Her Majesty wanted to ensure that all branches of the duke’s family were there, and had to make some very difficult decisions about who would be there.
“For those that unfortunately can’t be there, I’m sure they will be making their own private arrangements about how they commemorate the duke, and indeed celebrate the duke. ”
Here is who is attending.
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II has been widowed at 94 after losing her husband of more than 70 years.
The pair married in Westminster Abbey in 1947, shortly after the Second World War, and had four children, eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren together.
Elizabeth called Philip her “strength and stay” and he was a significant support to her throughout her reign.
She has signed off on his funeral plans and is leading the family in mourning.
The longest-serving consort, Philip racked up tens of thousands of royal engagements during his decades by the side of the Queen.
His death triggers her personal time of mourning, which will include an eight-day period where no parliamentary bills will be given royal assent.
She’ll remain in mourning, carrying out duties behind closed doors, until 22 April.
The Prince of Wales will lead the eulogy at the ceremony, it was confirmed on Thursday.
Charles is sure to have an important role in supporting his mother over the next few weeks and months, having picked up his royal duties with her when his father retired in 2017.
He and his wife Camilla, who became a firm part of the family, will be there to pay their respects.
Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, took over one of Philip’s roles as Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles in 2020, showing their much improved relationship.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – but no children
Prince William and Kate will be attending, but without their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The children are only seven, five and two, and the Daily Telegraph reported they would be kept at home. This could be to shield them from public pressure at an early age.
William said he was “so proud” of his grandfather in January 2021 when he received the coronavirus vaccine.
He was supported by his grandfather after the death of his mother in 1997, when Philip walked with William and Harry behind the coffin of Diana at her funeral.
William will be one of those to walk behind the coffin.
Prince Harry, but no Meghan
Prince Harry arrived back in the UK on 12 April, ahead of the funeral on 17 April.
He has to quarantine at a prearranged address while in the UK, but there are exemptions provided for those who are attending funerals.
He will have to return two negative COVID tests during his quarantine period, though the second one would be required on day eight of the period, which will actually be after the funeral.
He could take a private test on day five from a government-approved supplier and then be allowed out of quarantine early.
Harry will also walk behind the coffin in the procession through Windsor Castle grounds on Saturday.
Meghan, Harry’s wife, was not able to accompany him to the funeral because she is pregnant and could not get medical clearance to fly.
Since leaving their senior-royal roles, the couple started a production company, and make documentaries, scripted series and children’s shows for Netflix.
They also run a non-profit organisation called Archewell.
Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence
The Princess Royal, Prince Philip’s only daughter, will be also in attendance, paying tribute to the man she called her “teacher” “supporter” and “critic” in a message on Instagram after his death.
She also said: “It is his example of a life well lived and service freely given that I most wanted to emulate.”
Anne has regularly been one of the hardest-working royals in the family, frequently clocking up hundreds of engagements each year.
She and her father were said to be close throughout her childhood, sharing similar values and personality traits. Her father once said of her: “If it doesn’t fart or eat hay, she’s not interested.”
Anne will be accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
Prince Andrew
Prince Andrew, Prince Philip’s second-oldest son, has largely been out of sight since he stepped back indefinitely from royal duties in 2019 over the fallout of his friendship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
But he appeared on television on the Sunday after his father’s death, having been to church that morning. He paid tribute to him outside and thanked the public for their support.
Andrew was a frequent visitor to sex offender Epstein’s New York home and allegations were levelled against him by a woman who claimed to be a sex-trafficking victim.
The Duke of York denied all allegations and no charges have been brought against him, though the FBI wants to speak to him as a witness.
Andrew may be forced to stay away from most royal events, but will attend the funeral.
The Wessex family
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, will be in attendance with their children Lady Louise Windsor and James, the Viscount Severn.
The family were particularly close to the Queen, and their close proximity to Windsor Castle mean they are able to see her frequently so they will want to offer her support at this time.
Sophie recalled the moment the duke died on Sunday, when she and Edward attended church in Windsor with Edward’s brother Andrew.
She said: “It was right for him and it was so gentle, it was just like someone took him by the hand and off he went.”
It’s previously been reported that Edward will take on the title of Duke of Edinburgh when Prince Philip died. However it was confirmed after Philip’s death that the title has been passed to Prince Charles, who will recreate it when he accedes to the throne and pass it to his brother then.
Watch: Prince Philip and the Queen’s marriage
Their children are unlikely to take on royal duties but they will be regulars at royal events, including the funeral.
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozziconi at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate in December 2019.
The children of Prince Andrew will also attend the funeral, but their mother Sarah Ferguson will not.
Their husbands will also be there to support the princesses.
Beatrice is married to property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, who she wed in a secret ceremony during the coronavirus pandemic. He has a son, Wulfie, who will not be there.
Eugenie is married to tequila brand ambassador Jack Brooksbank. They married in a grand ceremony in St George’s Chapel Windsor in October 2018 – the same place the funeral will be held.
Eugenie and Jack have one son, August, but he will also not be at the funeral.
Neither princess carries out royal duties, but do have private charities they are patrons of. The princesses have previously spoken about their royal grandparents with great affection.
Peter Phillips – but not his former wife
Peter Phillips, Anne’s son, will be in attendance. He is divorced, and his former wife Autumn Phillips won’t be there alongside him though they do still get on.
They have two daughters, Savannah and Isla Phillips. Like their cousins, the Cambridge children, they will not go to the funeral.
Phillips and his family don’t have royal titles, but retain places in the line of succession.
Mike and Zara Tindall
Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall and her husband Mike will be at the funeral.
They have three children: daughters Mia and Lena and son Lucas. The children will not be there.
The couple don’t have royal titles but they are still a part of the Royal Family and are seen at events like Trooping the Colour.
The Viscount Linley
He is divorced from his wife Serena, the Viscountess Linley and were both present at the Queen Mother’s funeral in 2002.
They have two children, Charles and Margarita. The family have been regulars at the Queen’s Christmas lunch, which she hosts at Buckingham Palace.
However he will not be accompanied by any of them on Saturday.
Lady Sarah and Daniel Chatto
Lady Sarah is the daughter of the late Princess Margaret. She is married to Daniel Chatto, an actor.
They both attended the funeral of the Queen Mother in 2002.
They have two children, Arthur and Samuel, who are considered an important part of the family.
Arthur, was a page of honour for the Queen for six years, meaning he held a position in state occasions, carrying the train of her dress.
The Duke of Gloucester – but not the duchess
The Queen’s cousin the Duke of Gloucester will be in attendance but his wife is not able to go. They have been working royals for decades, having come to their roles suddenly when the duke’s older brother died.
They represent hundreds of charities and carry out numerous engagements throughout the years.
They are likely to continue supporting the Queen as she continues but only the duke will be at the funeral to pay their respects to Prince Philip.
They have three children: Alexander Windsor, Lady Davina Windsor and Lady Rose Gilman.
Alexander, who is the Earl of Ulster, has three children, while Lady Davina and Lady Rose have two each.
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