As military bands played and a procession of royals escorted his coffin to the church, Prince Philip was laid to rest Saturday in a funeral ceremony that honored his lifetime of service to the U.K., the crown and his wife of 73 years, Queen Elizabeth II.
The widowed British monarch, setting an example amid the coronavirus pandemic, sat alone at the ceremony, dressed in black and with her head bowed in prayer.
Philip, who died on April 9, two months shy of his 100th birthday, was honored at Windsor Castle in a service that was steeped in military and royal tradition but also pared down and infused with his own personality. The entire royal procession and funeral took place out of public view on the grounds of the castle, a 950-year-old royal residence 20 miles (30 kilometers) west of London, but was shown live on television.
People across Britain observed one minute of silence in honor of Philip just before the funeral got underway.
Coronavirus restrictions meant that instead of the expected 800 mourners, only 30 people were allowed inside the castle’s St. George’s Chapel, including the queen, her four children and her eight grandchildren.
Following the strict social distancing rules that England is still under, the queen set an example even in grief, sitting apart from family members who were arrayed around the church.
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Danny Lawson/Pool via AP
Pall Bearers carry the coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh into St George’s Chapel for his funeral, as members of the royal family including Princess Anne, right, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William and Sir Tim Laurence follow, at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, Saturday April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Kirsty O'Connor/Pool via AP
Members of a military band march into the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England Saturday, April 17, 2021 ahead of the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Phil Noble/Pool via AP
Officers of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery arrive for the Gun Salute for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Jeremy Selwyn/Pool via AP
Members of the military during the procession ahead of Britain Prince Philip’s funeral at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, Saturday April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Adrian Dennis/Pool via AP
Members of the Royal family, led by Prince Charles, center left, and Princess Anne, center right, follow behind the coffin of Britain’s Prince Philip in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021 ahead of the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Chris Jackson/Pool via AP
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge looks out from a car window as she arrives for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Chris Jackson/Pool via AP
From left, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince Charles and Princess Anne arrive after walking in a procession behind the coffin of Prince Philip, with other members of the Royal family during the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Alastair Grant/Pool via AP
From front left, Britain’s Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew. Prince Edward, Prince William, Peter Phillips, Prince Harry, Earl of Snowdon and Tim Laurence follow the coffin in a ceremonial procession for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England Saturday April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Leon Neal/Pool via AP
Britain’s Prince Charles follows the coffin as it makes it’s way past the Round Tower during the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England Saturday April 17, 2021.
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Leon Neal/Pool via AP
Britain’s Prince Charles, from front left, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew. Prince Edward, Prince William, Peter Phillips, Prince Harry, Earl of Snowdon, Tim Laurence and Queen Elizabeth II, in car at rear, follow the coffin as it makes it’s way past the Round Tower during the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England Saturday April 17, 2021.
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Justin Tallis/Pool via AP
Family members follow the coffin arriving at St George’s Chapel for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Leon Neal/Pool via AP
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II follows the coffin in a car as it makes it’s way past the Round Tower during the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England Saturday April 17, 2021.
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Paul Edwards/Pool via AP
Prince Charles with other family members follows the coffin during a procession arriving at St George’s Chapel for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Victoria Jones/Pool via AP
Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry walk in the procession, ahead of Britain Prince Philip’s funeral at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, Saturday April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Justin Tallis/Pool via AP
The coffin arrives at St George’s Chapel for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Hannah McKay/Pool via AP
Prince Charles follows the coffin of his father Britain’s Prince Philip during the funeral inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool via AP
The coffin is carried inside the St George’s Chapel for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021.
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AP Photo/Rui Vieira
People observe a minute’s silence for Britain’s Prince Philip at Piccadilly Circus in London Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, died Friday April 9 aged 99. His funeral service is taking place at St. George’s Chapel inside Windsor Castle Saturday.
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Arthur Edwards/Pool via AP
The coffin is carried up the steps of St George’s Chapel during the procession of Britain Prince Philip’s funeral at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, Saturday April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Justin Tallis/Pool via AP
The coffin arrives at St George’s Chapel for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool via AP
Members of the Royal Family watch as thhe coffin is carried inside the St George’s Chapel for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021.
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Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool via AP
The coffin is carried inside the St George’s Chapel for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021.
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Gareth Fuller/Pool via AP
Britain’s Prince William, left, and Prince Harry follow the coffin as it slowly makes its way in a ceremonial procession during the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021.
