The photo of the Queen sitting alone in St Georgeâs Chapel as she said a final farewell to her husband is one of the most memorable photos from the latter years of her life.

As was his wish, Prince Philipâs funeral was a âminimal fussâ ceremony. He didnât want an eulogy or an elaborate state funeral; âHe doesnât see himself as important enough for that,â an aide once said of the Duke of Edinburgh.
The funeral â Operation Forth Bridge â was scaled back even further due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with just 30 mourners, primarily family members, in attendance.
Biographer Tom Bower paints a solemn picture of the days surrounding the funeral in April 2021 in his book, Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors.
He wrote: âThe mood in London was sombre. Daily, the media extolled Philipâs remarkable life and devotion to the country.
âThe Duke had planned a simple funeral at St Georgeâs Chapel, Windsor. The rehearsals displayed faultless military drill.
âFew would not be touched by the perfection of British ceremonial tradition. The weather was forecast to be perfect.
âThe only uncertainty was the relationship between Harry and his family.â
Philipâs death on April 9 came just a month after the Sussexesâ explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, during which the couple made racism accusations against an unknown member of the Royal Family.
The Duke of Edinburghâs funeral was planned for April 17 and Bower wrote: âNeither the Palace nor the media understood the Sussexesâ mindset when Harry arrived in London just before the service.
âHow would he cope with his father and brother? Meghan had cited her seven-month pregnancy as the reason for not travelling.

âIn Windsor Castle, the Queen was preparing to face the public on one of the saddest days of her life.
âPhilip had been her rock for the previous 70 years. To comply with Covid restrictions, she would grieve alone inside the chapel.â
She is reported to have said to her senior aides: âThank goodness Meghan is not coming.â
âThere was no mistaking the Queenâs dislike for the disruptive actress,â wrote Bower.
âHarryâs presence remained a problem. As a private citizen stripped of his military titles, he could not dress in uniform.
âTo minimise the embarrassment for both Harry and Andrew, who was mired in allegations of sexual sleaze, all the male members of the Royal Family dressed in morning suits.
âTo avoid any problems with William, the brothers separated as they walked towards St Georgeâs Chapel by their cousin Peter Phillips.â
Strategically, Peter was placed in between the feuding brothers to act as a âdiplomatic bufferâ, wrote royal author Robert Lacey.
It was the first time William and Harry appeared in public together in more than a year, and the brothers were seated opposite one another during the service.
Royal aides were said to have been âwalking on eggshellsâ as they tried to navigate the rift between the brothers following Harry and Meghanâs split from the Royal Family the year prior.
âDuring the short procession, many watched whether Harry signalled any regret towards his family,â Bower added.
But no one predicted that Harry was sitting on his Apple TV series that, as Bower wrote, would âconfirm not only his disloyalty but his disregard for his familyâs privacyâ.
âTransmission has been delayed until after the funeral. Once again, Harry had shafted the Windsors,â wrote the biographer.
Royal aides were said to have been âwalking on eggshellsâ as they tried to navigate the rift between the brothers following Harry and Meghanâs split from the Royal Family the year prior
Immediately after Philipâs funeral, Charles exited the church and stripped his face mask away. He had clearly been crying

A Bearer Party of Royal Marines carry Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghâs coffin (draped in his Royal Standard Flag and bearing his Royal Navy cap, sword and a bouquet of lilies, white roses, freesia and sweet peas) into St. Georgeâs Chapel

It was the first time William and Harry appeared in public together in more than a year, and the brothers were seated opposite one another during the service
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