Summary

  • The funeral of Prince Philip has taken place at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle

  • The Queen was seated alone at the funeral, in line with coronavirus restrictions

  • The Duke of York was closest to the Queen, two seats to her left, while Prince Charles sat opposite

  • The Archbishop of Canterbury personalised a prayer for Prince Philip, paying tribute to his loyalty and sense of duty

  • Prince Philip's long life has been a blessing, the Dean of Windsor said during the service

  • The Duke of Edinburgh died at Windsor Castle on Friday 9 April, aged 99

  • Members of the royal family walked behind the coffin as it was taken into the chapel

  • The duke's coffin was brought to the castle in a specially modified Land Rover he helped design

  • The service followed a minute's silence across the nation

  • Some members of the public have been in Windsor to pay tribute to the duke but the area was largely quiet due to restrictions

  1. Thank you and goodbyepublished at 18:08 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    We're bringing our live coverage of the funeral to a close, but you can read our full story of the day here and see the best pictures of the ceremony that the duke planned for himself here.

    And in the UK on BBC Two at 20:10 BST, you can also watch highlights of the ceremony and reflections on the duke's final journey.

    Today's coverage was brought to you by Hugo Bachega, James Clarke, Dulcie Lee, Sarah Holmes, Serene Khalifeh, Joseph Lee, Mohamed Madi, Jennifer Meierhans, Claudia Redmond, Lauren Turner, Tiffany Wertheimer, George Wright and Katie Wright.

  2. A view from inside the chapel - from the only reporter presentpublished at 18:06 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    Funeral of Prince PhilipImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    The BBC's Eleanor Oldroyd was concealed in a small sound-proof booth above the high altar

    The BBC's Eleanor Oldroyd, who has reported on two royal funerals and three weddings, was the only reporter or broadcaster inside St George's Chapel today. So what was it like inside?

    Afterwards, she said: “Doing something inside the chapel is very special, it’s a very unique position, and it’s a very responsible position as well… it’s a moving time for a lot of people.”

    She reported from a small, specially-built, sound-proofed, “hermetically-sealed” box above the high altar. It will come down in the coming days.

    “I was being very careful to make sure the door was completely shut, apart from anything else. The dread would be that you draw attention to yourself,” she said.

    In position from 13:30 BST, she had a TV monitor to see the procession begin to arrive outside the chapel.

    "You can feel your heart beating much more rapidly and insistently at that point. Because, however many years of broadcasting you’ve done, you don’t get the chance to do this very often.”

    The coffin being lowered into the vault was “a real moment of drama and theatre, but also a very moving moment", she said, adding that many people had said they had been moved by the buglers on the Last Post, or the national anthem, or the arrival of the Queen on her own into the chapel.

    She described one moment that viewers on TV may have missed. The Duke of York, sitting two seats along from the Queen, turned to her "just as if he was checking that she was OK".

    "I don’t know whether that’s what he was doing, but it felt to me a little moment of concern from mother to son.”

  3. World of sport pays tribute to dukepublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    Aston Villa v Manchester CityImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Players in the Women's FA Cup fourth round match between Aston Villa and Manchester City bowed their heads in silence

    Prince Philip was a keen cricketer, a player of polo and squash, and a leading light of the sport of carriage driving, so it's no surprise that the world of sport paused to mark his passing.

    A minute's silence was held at football's early kick-offs, as well as before qualifying at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.

    Schedules across sport were adjusted to avoid clashing with the funeral.

    In addition to holding a minute's silence, players and officials at football matches also wore black armbands.

    A minute's silence at St James' ParkImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Players observe a minute's silence at the Premier League match between Newcastle and West Ham

    A minute's silence was held at men's English Premiership and Women's Premier15s rugby union matches across the country.

    Play was paused at the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield to hold a minute's silence, while the same occurred at matches in cricket's County Championship.

  4. In pictures: Flags at half-mast and gun salutes in Europepublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    Tributes have been paid in some of the European countries with links to the Duke of Edinburgh.

    In Denmark, flags at the Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen were seen flying at half mast. Born in Corfu in 1921, Prince Philip was the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg. That made him Prince of Greece and Denmark.

    Royal guards stand to attention as the Danish national flag flies at half mast at Amalienborg Palace in CopenhagenImage source, Getty Images

    There has also been a ceremony in Stockholm, where the duke's Royal Order of the Seraphim shield was placed in the Riddarholmen Church during a one hour bell-ringing.

    Prince Philip was made a Knight of the Order of the Seraphim by King Gustaf VI Adolf in 1954.

    The shield of Britain's late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, of the Royal Order of the Seraphim is displayed during a ceremony in his honour and a one hour bell ringing at the Riddarholmen Church in StockholmImage source, Getty Images

    In Malta, tributes were paid in Pieta outside Villa Guardamangia where, between 1949 and 1951, then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip regularly stayed.

    Below, re-enactors of the Malta Heritage Trust firing a nine-gun salute to honour the duke.

    Re-enactors of the Malta Heritage Trust fire a nine-gun salute to honour Prince Philip before his funeralImage source, Reuters
  5. Cambridges post tribute to 'devoted consort'published at 17:41 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    Funeral of Prince PhilipImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Prince William and Catherine marked the duke's service as consort for nearly 70 years

    The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh following his funeral, describing him as a "devoted consort to Her Majesty The Queen".

    In a statement on Twitter,, external they said: "The Duke of Edinburgh was a devoted consort to Her Majesty The Queen for nearly 70 years, from Her Majesty’s Accession in 1952 until his death."

  6. Watch: How the minute's silence was observed at Windsorpublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    In between blasts from a cannon, a perfect stillness descended around St George's Chapel in Windsor, where the coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh had been brought.

    Outside, royals in the procession party and members of the military stood in silence for a minute to mark the duke's passing.

    Inside, the rest of the Royal Family, including the Queen, bowed their heads in quiet contemplation.

  7. What was the red container on Prince Philip's carriage?published at 17:28 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    Close up of Horse carriage with gloves, hat and container with red lid

    The Duke of Edinburgh's much beloved carriage was part of his funeral today, brought to the Windsor quadrangle by his Fell ponies.

    On the seat sat Prince Philip's hat and gloves - and a plastic container with a red lid. That is the Duke's sugar lump pot, out of which he would treat the ponies after every ride.

    Prince Philip got into carriage driving after having to give up polo because of arthritis. He is often credited with making the sport popular in the UK.

    Learn more about the duke's love of sports here.

    Horse carriageImage source, Reuters
  8. 'A day of real quality and true respect'published at 17:19 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    Sharon Hoscik
    Image caption,

    Sharon Hoscik said she had been touched to see the Royal Family together

    In the garden of the Duke of Edinburgh pub in Winkfield, near Windsor, locals said they were moved by the ceremony.

    Ruth Nichols, who lives in Windsor, said today’s funeral was moving, that she was "proud to be British" and that the service was "breathtaking".

    Although it was a sad occasion and "poignant to be here", Sharon Hoscik said it was "lovely to see the family altogether" for Prince Philip's funeral.

    She and her husband had intended to be at the castle, but after the public was asked to stay away because of the pandemic, she said she felt this pub was a good place to pay her respects.

    Brian Nichols and Glyn Davies
    Image caption,

    Brian Nichols with friend Glyn Davies, who said it was a day of "real quality"

    Brian Nichols and his friend Glyn Davies had booked a table to enjoy their first pub outing since Covid restrictions were eased, before the Duke died.

    Nichols said he was "very upset about it all, it brings you to tears". But Davies said it was a "day of real quality and true respect to the man he was".

  9. UK leaders mark duke's funeralpublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    Arlene FosterImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Arlene Foster joined the minute's silence

    Earlier, we brought you Boris Johnson's tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, and other leaders around the UK have also been paying their respects.

    Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon expressed her "deepest condolences" to the Queen and wider Royal Family after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral took place.

    "The many tributes paid to the Duke of Edinburgh in recent days have shown the depth of his contribution to public life over more than 70 years as well as his longstanding ties to Scotland," she said.

    "Many have reflected on his distinguished wartime record, his commitment to countless charities and organisations, and his love and support for the Queen throughout their marriage.

    "Today, as the Queen and the Royal Family mourn the death of a loved one, we take this opportunity to celebrate and honour an extraordinary life."

    Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster marked the minute's silence for the Duke of Edinburgh at Enniskillen Castle. Flowers were laid beneath a tree planted by the duke during his first visit to the castle in 1949.

    Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, who sent a flower wreath to the duke's funeral on behalf of the people of Wales, also marked the silence.

  10. 'I feel extra special I've got this opportunity'published at 17:00 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    Marine Kieran Machin, 24, says he considers himself lucky to be one of the Royal Marines chosen to take part in Prince Philip's funeral.

    Before the ceremony he told the BBC's Jonathan Beale it has been a very proud day for him and his family.

  11. A wedding in Windsor while funeral takes placepublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    Harry Farley
    Religion reporter, BBC News

    Mikey Durnian and his wife Jodie
    Image caption,

    Mikey Durnian and his new wife Jodie

    Silence descended across Windsor High Street at 15:00 to mark the start of the duke's funeral.

    The Royal Family had asked members of the public to stay away because of coronavirus restrictions. And the streets of this town were far emptier than they would otherwise have been.

    But hundreds still gathered in the sun to pay their respects.

    Moments after the silence, as the funeral service was getting under way in St George's Chapel, a short distance away at Windsor's Guildhall a wedding was coming to an end.

    Mikey Durnian said he and his partner Jodie had rearranged their wedding five times because of Covid-19 restrictions.

    He said it had felt "strange" to learn last week that their wedding would be taking place just metres away from Prince Philip's funeral.

    "Obviously we're overjoyed. This day has been in the making a long time. But obviously, there's a lot of people around to mourn," he said.

    Jodie said they had originally booked to get married on 4 July last year in Wales and while they did not want to detract from the "sad occasion" at St George's Chapel, they were "delighted to finally be married".

  12. Prime Minister Boris Johnson pays tributepublished at 16:46 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson observed the minute's silence earlier today at Chequers, his country residence. His official account posted a photograph of the moment he paid his tribute.

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  13. London's Piccadilly Circus screen pays tributepublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    People looking at the big screen at Piccadilly CircusImage source, EVN

    There have been tributes across the UK on the day of Prince Philip's funeral.

    The big screen at London's famous Piccadilly Circus honoured him with a number of family photographs. Earlier, passers-by stopped for a minute's silence at the bustling intersection.

    There was also quiet reflection at his former school in Morayshire, Scotland. Prince Philip was the tenth pupil to attend Gordonstoun school when he was 13 years old.

    In Northern Ireland, the police chief constable led a minute's silence in the Garden of Remembrance.

    Pupils of Gordonstoun School stand during a minute's silenceImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Pupils of Gordonstoun School in Scotland stand during a minute's silence

    The Chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland leads a minute's silenceImage source, Simon Byrne
    Image caption,

    Chief Constable of the Northern Ireland Police Service Simon Byrne holds a minute's silence

  14. 'Heart-breaking' to see Queen sitting stoically alonepublished at 16:29 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    The Queen and the Duke of YorkImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Coronavirus restrictions meant the Queen had to sit some distance from her family members

    Vanity Fair's royal correspondent Katie Nicholl tells the BBC the funeral was "deeply, deeply moving" and "a funeral like no other".

    But she said that although the cameras kept a respectful distance it was "very difficult" to see the Queen as "such a solitary figure" due to the coronavirus restrictions.

    "There’s no humanity in Covid," Nicholl said. "Many families will have gone through this. There will be people watching at home who will recognise what the Queen has gone through.

    "And I think everybody’s sympathies will be with her."

    She said the Queen was "stoic" but "very much solo".

    "I think it was quite heart-breaking to see her sitting there all alone. It was a very sombre image and one I think that everyone will be reflecting on today," she said.

  15. In pictures: Gun salutes in London and Edinburghpublished at 16:23 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    Gun salutes were sounded earlier for the start and end of the minute's silence at 15:00 BST, to mark the beginning of the funeral service.

    They included salutes at the Tower of London and Edinburgh Castle.

    A gun salute at the Tower of LondonImage source, RAF/MOD/Crown Copyright/Reuters
    A gun salute at Edinburgh CastleImage source, MOD/EPA
  16. A funeral for a loyal and courageous dukepublished at 16:17 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    Prince Philip's funeralImage source, PA Media

    The funeral service, planned carefully by the Duke of Edinburgh over so many years, has now concluded. These were some of the most significant moments of the ceremony:

    • The Dean of Windsor praised his public service, his "unwavering loyalty to our Queen, by his service to the Nation and the Commonwealth, by his courage, fortitude and faith"
    • But he also drew attention to the duke's private qualities known to the Royal Family: "the challenges that he has set us, the encouragement that he has given us, his kindness, humour and humanity"
    • The duke selected music that he had commissioned from composers such as Sir Benjamin Britten, and a setting of Psalm 104 written by William Lovelady for the duke's 75th birthday
    • The Archbishop of Canterbury gave thanks for the duke's "resolute faith and loyalty, for his high sense of duty and integrity, for his life of service to the Nation and Commonwealth, and for the courage and inspiration of his leadership"
    • In the most solemn moment of a solemn day, the duke's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault while military bands played, ending on Action Stations, the naval signal that all hands should be ready for battle
    • The coffin was draped in his personal standard, and wreathed with flowers chosen by the Queen. His Admiral of the Fleet cap and sword lay across it
    • The Queen sat alone, nearest the altar, during the service. Prince William and Prince Harry sat opposite, but left the church side by side
  17. Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex leave chapel togetherpublished at 16:08 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex

    The Queen led the royal family from the chapel, followed by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. She had a brief conversation with the Dean of Windsor outside the chapel before being driven away.

    The Duke of Sussex and Duke and Duchess of Cambridge could be seen chatting together after they left the service.

  18. In pictures: Queen and nation bid farewell to Prince Philippublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    The Queen has led her family - and the nation - in mourning at the funeral of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

    The service has come to an end and you can see the ceremony in pictures here.

    The QueenImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    The Queen was seated on her own at the front of the quire, nearest the altar

    Bearer partyImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    A bearer party accompanied the duke the short distance from the inner hall in Windor Castle to St George's Chapel

    Nine members of the Royal Family walked behind the coffin, with Princess Anne and Prince Charles in the front row, followed by Prince Edward and Prince Andrew.Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Nine members of the Royal Family walked behind the coffin, with Princess Anne and Prince Charles in the front row, followed by Prince Edward and Prince Andrew

  19. People gather in Windsor to mark funeralpublished at 15:56 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    People on the Long WalkImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    People observe a minute's silence on the Long Walk outside Windsor Castle

    Despite having been advised not to travel to Windsor on the day of the funeral because of the pandemic, some people did gather to mark the event, as seen in the image above.

  20. The Royal Family leave the chapelpublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

    The choir sing God Save the Queen as the funeral comes to an end.

    Then the Royal Family leave the chapel by the Galilee Porch, escorted by the Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury.