LONDON (AP) – Prince William and Prince Harry will not go side by side on Saturday, following their grandfather’s coffin into the church before Prince Philip’s funeral, minimizing the chances of any awkward moments between siblings facing strained relations since Harry’s decision to he relinquished his royal duties last year.
Buckingham Palace on Thursday released general sketches of the funeral program for Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, who died on April 9, 1999. The palace revealed that William and Harry’s cousin, Peter Phillips, would walk among the princes while escorts the coffin to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, west of London.
Prince Charles, heir to the throne and the prince’s father, along with his sister, Princess Anne, will lead the 15-member procession.
The brothers have been closely watched, as Saturday’s funeral will surely remind the couple of their common grief at another royal funeral more than two decades ago. When they were young boys, they both walked behind the coffin of their mother, Princess Diana, in 1997, in London, in a ceremony watched around the world.
Palace officials declined to comment when asked if William and Harry’s positioning was an effort to minimize family tensions, which rose after Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, gave an explosive interview to Oprah Winfrey. , who suggested an unnamed member of the royal family had made a racist comment to Harry before the birth of their baby Archie.
Meghan, who is pregnant and lives in California with Harry, does not come to the funeral on the advice of her doctor.
“We will not be attracted to those perceptions of drama or anything like that,” a palace spokesman said while speaking on condition of anonymity in accordance with the policy. “This is a funeral and arrangements have been made and represent Her Majesty’s wishes.”
In another effort to preserve the unity of the family, the palace said members of the elderly kings will wear civilian clothes at the funeral. The decision, signed by the queen, means that Harry will not risk being the only member of the royal family who is not in uniform at the funeral.
Members of the royal family often wear uniforms at public events due to their honorary roles in the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, but Harry lost his honorary military titles when he decided to give up royal frontline duties last year. As a result, the protocol suggests that Harry, an army veteran who completed two shifts in Afghanistan, would only wear a suit with medals at the royal functions.
The decision also avoids another possible controversy after reports say Prince Andrew, the queen’s second son, considered wearing the admiral’s uniform at his father’s funeral. Andrew retains his military titles, even though he was forced to step away from royal duties after a disastrous interview with the BBC about the acquaintance of Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted.
Attendance at the funeral will be limited to 30 people due to coronavirus restrictions in England. The list will include several relatives of Philip from Germany, along with immediate members of the royal family. Children in the family will not participate.
Guests will wear masks inside the chapel and will notice the social distance. The queen, always the first to set an example, will also wear a mask.
In other published details about the funeral, the Royal Marine clarinets will play “Action Stations”, an alarm that warns sailors to prepare for battle.
Philip, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, served in the Royal Navy for 12 years and maintained close ties with the armed forces throughout his life. Military personnel will play an important role in honoring him on Saturday, despite the attendance limit.
Members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Air Force and the British Army will attend the funeral procession. Philip’s coffin will be transported to St. George’s Chapel on a specially adapted Land Rover that he designed himself.
On Thursday, Charles and his wife Camilla visited Marlborough House in central London to see a sea of floral tributes to Philip, which were moved there from the gates of Buckingham Palace.
The couple spent some time looking at books and notes with flowers. The remaining items in the tribute included a Land Rover model similar to the one that will carry Philip’s coffin on Saturday, with the words “The Duke RIP” on the roof.
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For full AP coverage of Prince Philip’s death, go to https://apnews.com/hub/prince-philip