Prince Philip funeral: Queen wipes away tears and bows her head in respect as she sits alone at royal ceremony
Queen Elizabeth was seen wiping away tears as she mourned alone in St George's Chapel during her husband's Windsor Castle funeral. In an emotional final goodbye, the 94-year-old monarch described Prince Philip as her "strength and stay" during their 73-year marriage.
Looking considerably grief-stricken, the Queen bowed her head in tribute as she accompanied her beloved husband's casket on its final journey. Meanwhile, her eldest son Prince Charles cried as he followed the procession into church alongside other devastated royals, the Daily Mail reported.
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Covered in his personal standard, the Duke of Edinburgh's casket carried his sword, naval cap, and a wreath of flowers as pallbearers placed him on a custom-made Land Rover hearse (that he had helped design) in Windsor Castle's quadrangle.
The coffin was lowered into the royal vault following an eight-minute procession and a 50-minute service. A lone piper of the Royal Regiment of Scotland played a lament, before the 'Last Post' was sounded by buglers of Philip's favorite Royal Marines, who subsequently played 'Action Stations'.
The 30 royal mourners who were allowed to attend the service in person quietly made their way out of the church after Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, pronounced the Blessing. They subsequently traveled back to the castle. Princes Harry and William decided to walk back with Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, and exchanged smiles and a few words as they were reunited for the first time after a year fraught with controversies.
That said, the Queen had arrived at the funeral as the national anthem played and her royal Bentley stopped nearby her late husband's casket, where she paused for a moment of reflection as cannons fired and bells tolled in his remembrance.
The Queen was subsequently driven to St George's Chapel in the company of a lady-in-waiting. She later sat alone at the front of the church, bowing her head in respect during the national minute's silence.
Prince Philip died peacefully on April 9, after loyally serving as the Queen's consort for over seven decades. He was just two months shy of turning 100, but his lifelong service is being remembered as being full of beautiful memories that will be cherished for generations to come. Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, has been laid to rest in the grounds of Windsor Castle. However, his casket will reportedly be moved to where the Queen is buried when she dies.
