Royals to break tradition at Prince Philip’s funeral to avoid embarrassment

LONDON (CU)_In a break with tradition, the male members of the Royal Family will not be dressed in
military uniform for the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh, in an attempt to spare Prince Andrew and
Prince Harry the embarrassment.

Over the recent day, some British media reported that the Queen’s second son wished to wear an
admiral uniform for the event, which caused consternation within the Royal Navy. Although the Duke of
York joined the Royal Navy in 1979 and was promoted to the rank of vice-admiral in 2015, however, lost
the opportunity to be elevated to admiral owing to the his disastrous interview with the BBC regarding
his relationship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The incident prompted Prince Andrew to step
back from his royal duties a couple of years ago.

The decision against uniforms will also solve the dilemma faced by Prince Harry, who also lost his
honorary military titles when he stepped down from his role as a senior royal, along with his wife
Meghan last year. During his military service, which ended in 2015, the Duke of Sussex had served two
tours in Afghanistan and has achieved the rank of captain.

Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace has revealed the people who will make the small congregation of 30
family members at Prince Philip’s funeral service on Saturday. The Duke will be laid to rest at 3pm (10am
ET) at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, west of London.

Although the arrangements of the service have been in the works for many years, however, certain
changes have had to be made in light of the pandemic. For instance, the congregation of mourners will
only include close family and friends of the late-Duke. Nevertheless, over 700 personnel from the Royal
Navy, British Army, Royal Marines and the Royal Air Force will provide ceremonial support during the
event.

A private procession will be held ahead of the funeral service on Saturday, although the Queen will not
take part, but instead would watch the parade outside the chapel’s Galilee Porch, along with the
Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Cambridge.

Prince Philip’s coffin will be carried to the chapel in a specially modified Land Rover, which will be
followed by Prince Charles and his sister Princess Anne. Their siblings, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward,
will join the parade immediately behind them. Prince William, who will be next in line in the procession,
will be joined by Prince Harry, although the brothers will be separated from walking together by Princess
Anne’s eldest child, Peter Philips. Behind them will be Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, Princess Anne’s
husband and the Earl of Snowdon, Princess Margaret’s husband.

memorial on Saturday will be unlike any other royal funeral owing to the Coronavirus pandemic. For
instance, the congregation will wear masks throughout the service. Although a choir of four will sing
music selected by Prince Philip for the occasion, however, congregational singing will be absent as it is
currently prohibited by public health regulations.

The Congregation of 30 people will include the following guests.

1. The Queen
2. The Prince of Wales
3. The Duchess of Cornwall
4. The Duke of Cambridge
5. The Duchess of Cambridge
6. The Duke of Sussex
7. The Duke of York
8. Princess Beatrice
9. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
10. Princess Eugenie
11. Jack Brooksbank
12. The Earl of Wessex
13. The Countess of Wessex
14. Lady Louise Windsor
15. Viscount Severn
16. The Princess Royal
17. Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence
18. Peter Phillips
19. Zara Phillips
20. Mike Tindall
21. Earl of Snowdon

22. Lady Sarah Chatto
23. Daniel Chatto
24. Duke of Gloucester
25. Duke of Kent
26. Princess Alexandra
27. Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden
28. Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse
29. Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
30. The Countess Mountbatten of Burma