Prince Philip's funeral: How the day will unfold

Prince Philip's funeral will be held at Windsor Castle on Saturday, 17 April, attended by just 30 mourners.

The ceremonial royal event is happening on a much smaller scale than plans had been made for, but will still operate with precision.

Here is how the day will unfold.

11am: The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin will be moved from the private chapel to the Inner Hall of Windsor Castle by members of The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.

12.30pm: Coverage of the funeral will begin on the BBC at 12.30pm presented by Huw Edwards, Sophie Raworth and former Royal Marine JJ Chalmers.

Chalmers is a friend of Prince Harry. The Duke of Sussex sent him a message of support when he was taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.

1.15pm: Coverage of the funeral will begin on ITV, with presenter Tom Bradby and Julie Etchingham, as well as Mary Nightingale.

Bradby is a friend of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and has covered their decision to move to the US. He was the journalist who covered their royal tour to South Africa, in which the duchess said she was struggling in the limelight.

It has been reported that Prince William has not been in touch with Bradby in recent months over the reporting of his brother's move. They had been friends.

WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 19: Tom and Claudia Bradby arrive at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Ian West - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Tom and Claudia Bradby at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle. (Ian West - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (WPA Pool via Getty Images)

2pm: The Lord Chamberlain, the Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle and the Dean of Windsor will be in the Inner Hall of the castle with the coffin.

2.10pm: The Dean of Windsor will say prayers before leaving to go to the chapel.

2.15pm: Those who are representing the duke's military connections will line the Quadrangle and the procession route.

2.20pm: Members of the Royal Family and guests who are not in the procession will travel by car from the Castle to the chapel.

2.27pm: The Land Rover, on which the coffin will travel, will enter the Quadrangle, and the bands in those sites will begin to play.

The Land Rover Defender that will be used to transport the coffin of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during the funeral procession is parked in Windsor Castle, Windsor on April 14, 2021. - The modified Land Rover Defender TD5 130 chassis cab vehicle was made at Land Rover's Solihull factory in 2003 and the Duke oversaw the modifications requesting a repaint in military green and designing the open top rear and special
The Land Rover Defender that will be used to transport the coffin of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during the funeral procession. (Steve Parsons/AFP) (STEVE PARSONS via Getty Images)

2.40pm: The first major royal moment will be at 2.40pm when the funeral procession will begin.

The coffin will have been moved to the State Entrance of Windsor Castle, and will emerge from this position at 2.40pm, placed onto the Land Rover designed by Prince Philip by the pall bearers.

It will begin the procession from here.

2.44pm: The Queen, accompanied by a lady-in-waiting, will leave from the Sovereign’s Entrance in the State Bentley as the national anthem is played.

2.45pm: The procession will be on its way by 2.45pm when Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward will follow the car and the coffin through the grounds of Windsor Castle.

Also in the procession will be Prince William, Peter Phillips and Prince Harry.

The two brothers will not be walking shoulder to shoulder, but separated by their cousin.

The procession route is from the State Entrance, to the Engine Court, Chapel Hill, Parade Ground and Horseshoe Cloister.

Watch: Senior royals will not wear uniforms at Prince Philip's funeral

Minute Guns will be fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn at Windsor Castle during the procession and the bell at the Curfew Tower will toll.

Also at this time the Queen will be received by the Dean of Windsor at the Chapel. Her lady-in-waiting will not stay with her during the service, but will wait in the nave.

2.53pm: The coffin will arrive at the West Steps of St George's Chapel.

Here a Guard of Honour and Band from The Rifles will receive the coffin, playing the national anthem.

Then a Royal Navy piping party will play 'Still'.

The coffin will be carried up the steps, with the Royal Family lining each side.

TOPSHOT - Members of the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery ride their horses into the grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London, on April 15, 2021, following the April 9 death of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the age of 99. - Prince Philip's funeral will take place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on Saturday, April 17. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by JUSTIN TALLIS has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Members of the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery] instead of [Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Members of the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery ride their horses into the grounds of Windsor Castle where Prince Philip's funeral will take place at St George's Chapel. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images) (JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)

3pm: A minute's silence will be held.

The coffin will be received by the Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Dean will give the commendation as the coffin is lowered into the Royal Vault.

A lament will be played and the Last Post will be sounded by buglers.

There will be a period of silence, and then the buglers of the Royal Marines will sound Action Stations. This is something the duke had requested specifically.

The Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the Blessing, after which the national anthem will be sung by the four singers present.

After the service, of which the order will be released on Friday, the family will leave the chapel by the Galilee Porch.

With no mingling allowed it's not known what the family will go on to do after the funeral, but they may have to depart quickly.

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