Prince Philip: Royal family prepares for funeral under pandemic restrictions
Funeral will take place in the Chapel of St. George, in Windsor Castle
A wave of tributes has been registered in the United Kingdom and in various parts of the world since Friday (09/04), when Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, died at the age of 99.
The period of national mourning in the UK will officially end on Saturday (04/09), when the royal funeral will be held in the chapel of St. George, inside the castle of Windsor.
A minute of silence will take place across the country, coinciding with the start of the funeral, at 11 am, Brasília time.
Queen Elizabeth II described her husband's death as "having left a great void in her life," Prince Andrew, son of the couple and Duke of York, said on Sunday.
Describing how death would have an impact on society, he added: "We have lost the nation's grandfather."
Preparations for the funeral next weekend, which according to Buckingham Palace "reflect" the wishes of Prince Philip, have been adapted to the reality imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Only 30 people - including children, grandchildren and other close relatives of the duke - will be able to attend the ceremony under the rules of social distance that are in force throughout the country.
Members of the Royal Family, including Charles, the Prince of Wales, will walk behind the coffin. The queen will go separately to the chapel.
Only 30 people - including children, grandchildren and other close relatives of the Duke of Edinburgh - will be able to attend the ceremony due to rules of social distance.
Among the members of the Royal Family who will attend the ceremony is Prince Harry, who will fly from his California home to the United Kingdom.
His wife Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, who is pregnant with her second child, was advised by doctors not to travel, Buckingham Palace said.
The prime minister's office said Boris Johnson will not attend the funeral to allow "as many family members as possible" to attend.
Many people placed flowers around Windsor Castle over the weekend, but a new government orientation calls for the public to abstain and donate to charities.
The funeral
Many people placed flowers at Windsor Castle over the weekend, but a new government orientation calls for the public to abstain and donate to charities.
On television, a ceremonial event will be broadcast instead of a major state event usually associated with the death of a monarch.
On the day of the funeral, Prince Philip's coffin will be transported from Windsor Castle to St. George's Chapel in a specially modified Land Rover, which he himself helped design.
Guests will keep their distance and wear masks, according to the restrictions of the coronavirus.
Military weapons will fire during the procession, which will take eight minutes.
Eight porters must carry the coffin with Prince Philip's body up the steps of the chapel. The coffin will be covered with the duke's banner and crown, in addition to the duke's naval hat and sword.
He will be greeted by the dean of Windsor and the archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the Anglican church.
These 10 people are not included in the number of participants allowed. An official guest list will be announced shortly.
'Dear Dad'
Prince Charles said he and his family were "deeply grateful" for the tributes.
Speaking from his home in Highgrove, Gloucestershire, on Saturday, the Prince of Wales said he missed "his dear daddy" enormously.
He said the late father was a "very special person who ... above all, he would have been impressed by the reaction and the moving things that were said about him".
The prince said he and his family were "deeply grateful" for the tributes.
How was the royal wedding of Elizabeth and Philip in 1947
"It will sustain us in this loss and at this particularly sad time."
Prince Charles also said that the duke had done the "most notable and dedicated service" to the queen, the Royal Family, the country and the British Commonwealth in the past 70 years.
In addition to the Prince of Wales, who traveled to Windsor on Friday afternoon, members of the Royal Family visited the Queen at Windsor Castle after the duke's death.
The countess of Wessex, Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones, Prince Edward's wife, said that "the queen has been incredible" when she left the castle with her husband, the Earl of Wessex.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, also visited the site on Saturday.
Cannon firings were carried out in different parts of the country honoring the memory of Prince Philip
In honor of the Duke of Edinburgh, salute batteries fired 41 shots on Saturday in cities such as London, Edinburgh and Cardiff, and at Hillsborough Castle in County Down. There were also shots in Gibraltar.
This Sunday, a ceremony was held at Canterbury Cathedral by Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who is also expected to conduct Prince Philip's funeral.
After the ceremony, the coffin with the body of Prince Philip will remain in the private chapel of Windsor Castle and will be covered with the duke's personal standard and a wreath. The Royal Family will observe two weeks of mourning, although real commitments continue to take place when appropriate.
A spokesman for the Palace said: "Although this is a time of sadness and mourning, the next few days will be an opportunity to celebrate a remarkable life."
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