Princes Guillem and Enric will not walk side by side on Saturday at their grandfather’s funeral procession prior to his funeral, minimizing the chances of rare moments between siblings who are going through tensions in their relationship since Enric made the decision. of giving up his real duties last year.
Buckingham Palace on Thursday released a general guide to the funeral program for Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, who died last Friday at the age of 99. The palace revealed that William and Henry’s cousin Peter Phillips will walk among the princes as they escort the coffin to St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, west London.
Prince Charles, the heir to the throne and father of the princes, along with his sister Princess Anna, will lead the 15-member procession.
The siblings have been watched very closely, as Saturday’s funeral will most likely remember how they shared their grief at the royal funeral of their mother Princess Diana in 1997. As minors, the two walked together. behind the coffin of the princess in London in a ceremony that was seen all over the world.
Palace officials declined to comment when asked if the positions Henry and William will take were an effort to minimize family tensions, which have risen after Henry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. , granted an explosive interview to Oprah Winfrey in which they hinted that an undisclosed member of the royal family made a racist comment to Henry prior to the birth of his son Archie.
Meghan, who is pregnant and living in California with Enrique, will not attend the funeral on the advice of her doctors.
“We will not be carried away by these perceptions of drama or anything like that,” a palace spokesman said as he spoke on condition of anonymity, following the institution’s policies. “This is a funeral and the arrangements have been agreed upon and represent Her Majesty’s wishes.”
In another effort to preserve family unity, the palace said the most prominent members of the royal family will wear civilian clothes for the funeral. The decision, approved by the queen, means that Henry will not risk being the only member of the royal family who does not wear a uniform at the funeral.
Members of the royal family usually wear uniforms for public events for their honorary roles in the British Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, but Henry lost his honorary military titles when he decided to relinquish his duties. real last year. As a result, the protocol suggests that Henry, an army veteran who was twice on missions in Afghanistan, wear only a suit with medals to perform royal duties.
The decision also avoids another possible controversy after reports that Prince Andrew, the queen’s second son, considered wearing an admiral’s uniform for his father’s funeral. Andrew retains his military titles even though he was forced to relinquish his royal duties after a disastrous interview with the BBC about his friendship with the late financier accused of sex trafficking Jeffrey Epstein.
Attendance at the funeral will be limited to 30 people due to coronavirus restrictions in England. The list will include several of Philip’s relatives from Germany along with immediate members of the royal family. The children of the family will not attend.
Guests will wear mouthpieces inside the chapel and maintain social distancing. The queen, who is always the first to set the example, will wear a mask.
In other details that became known about the funeral, Royal Navy bugles will play “Action Stations,” an alarm that alerts sailors to prepare for battle.
Philip, also known as 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 a major role in honoring Saturday despite limited attendance.
Members of the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Royal Air Force and the British Army will take part in the funeral procession. Philip’s coffin will be carried from St. George’s Chapel in a specially adapted Land Rover van that was designed by him.