Prince Philip funeral: Air time, how to live stream, date, time and where to watch Duke of Edinburgh's last rites
Prince Philip died on Friday, April 9, after struggling with deteriorating health for the past few weeks. The royal family issued a statement that announced the sad news and read: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will be made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”
The Duke of Edinburgh, the longest-serving royal consort in British history, was about to turn 100 in June this year. He was married to Queen Elizabeth II for 73 years. Here's all you need to know about when where you can watch his funeral.
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A Buckingham Palace spokesperson told the Town and Country Magazine, that the service will be "much reduced in scale and with no public access," so as to comply with the government's Covid guidelines, and to keep to the Duke of Edinburgh's request. The event will take place at Windsor Castle with only thirty people will be in attendance. The funeral will, however, be televised.
Air time
The ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 17 at 10 am EST or 3 pm for those tuning in from the UK.
How to live stream
BBC One, the British network, will broadcast the ceremony, which is set to start with a National Minute's Silence (a moment of silence). Sky, and ITN will also be broadcasting the event live. These networks can be accessed in the United States using a VPN.
If you are not based in the United States, using a VPN will help you watch the ceremony on these streaming platforms.
ABC: Get a seven-day free trial and a monthly plan costs $64.99.
CBS: You can avail a seven-day free trial and a monthly plan will cost you $5.99.
Around 15 minutes prior to the service, there will be a ceremonial procession inside the grounds of Windsor Castle, which will also be televised. As of now, Prince Charles, Prince Harry and a few other royals are set to walk in the procession. Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, will stay back in the United States due to her pregnancy on the advice of her doctor.
The solemn event will mark the first time that Harry comes face-to-face with the Royal Family since he and his wife Meghan stepped away from royal duties last March and moved to California with their son, Archie.
Attendees
The Queen and members of her immediate family will be in attendance. This includes Prince Charles, Prince of Wales; Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Andrew, Duke of York; Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. It is also understood that Prince Philip’s eight grandchildren will all be there too, including Peter Philips, Zara Tindall, Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. Prince William’s wife, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, will also be in attendance given her close connection to the family. The full guest list is expected to be announced only shortly before the funeral, according to Express.co.uk.
The ceremony
The minute-by-minute arrangements for the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral on Saturday, April 17, were revealed today, according to the Daily Mail.
11 am: The day will begin with Prince Philip's coffin being moved from the private chapel to the Inner Hall of Windsor Castle by members of The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. The casket which is lead-lined and made with English oak will be covered with his personal standard, sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers.
2 pm: The Lord Chamberlain, the Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle and the Dean of Windsor will be stationed in the Inner Hall ahead of the service. After ten minutes, the Dean will say prayers before taking a car to St George's Chapel, which will be the final resting place of Prince Philip.
2.15 pm: Representatives from the services will be waiting in the Quadrangle to show the Duke of Edinburgh's special military relationships. One will be able to see the Quadrangle lined by the Household Cavalry and The Foot Guards on the television. At 2:17 pm Grenadier Guards band will be in Engine Court.
2.20 pm: From now, for seven minutes, those who are not taking part in the procession (including non-participant members of the Royal Family and Philip's relatives) will leave Windsor Castle by car and journey to the chapel. The Land Rover upon which the coffin will be placed will then enter the Quadrangle via the George IV Gate where bands stationed at the site will play music. The Major General commanding the Household Division and his staff will leave from the Equerries Entrance and take their position by the State Entrance, facing the Land Rover, while the pallbearers take up position either side of the vehicle. Together they will move towards the State Entrance.
2.38 pm: The coffin will now be lifted in the Inner Hall. After two minutes, members of Philip's household will take up their positions in the procession as the bands stop the music. A minute later the coffin emerging from the State Entrance will be met by members of the Royal Family who will walk in the procession. After a royal salute, the coffin will be placed on to the Land Rover.
2.44 pm: The Queen will leave from the Sovereign's Entrance in the State Bentley as the national anthem is played.
2.45 pm: The procession, which is slated to take eight minutes, will set off with the firing of minute guns by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
2.53 pm: The Land Rover will arrive at the foot of the West Steps of the chapel, following which the coffin will be carried up and halt on the second landing as members of the Royal Family take their positions on the steps.
3 pm: The National Minute's Silence will now begin, after being signaled by a gun fired by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery. Following this, the Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury will receive the coffin, which has been followed by members of the Royal Family who participated in the procession.
After the National Minute's Silence, the coffin will be placed on the Catafalque in the Quire, and participant members of the Royal Family will take their positions for the service, to be conducted by the Dean of Windsor and is slated to last 50 minutes.
After the service: The Queen, along with members of the Royal Family and Philip's relatives will leave St George's Chapel via the Galilee Porch.
Where to watch
People can watch Prince Philip's funeral LIVE on BBC One, BBC News, Sky News, and ITV on Saturday, April 17, with Huw Edwards-presented coverage repeated on BBC Two later that evening. Radio 4, 5Live, and BBC Local Radio will also provide coverage.
Meanwhile, in the US, news channels like ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, and PBS will be covering the ceremony live.
Apart from Queen Elizabeth II, members of the Royal Family like Prince William and his Kate Middleton, Prince Charles and wife Camilla, Prince Harry, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and more will be attending the funeral. The Palace has already announced that the ceremony will be "much reduced in scale with no public access."