COVID, Philip's no-fuss attitude mean simpler funeral plan

Prince Philip will be laid to rest with all the honors due a prince of the United Kingdom and a consort to Queen Elizabeth II

Britain Prince Philip (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Prince Philip will be laid to rest with all the honors due a prince of the United Kingdom and a consort to Queen Elizabeth II

But the coronavirus pandemic means it will be a more low-key farewell than has marked many royal deaths. The pandemic has required changes to the well-prepared plans for Philip’s passing, code-named Operation Forth Bridge.

“During the coronavirus pandemic, and in light of current government advice and social distancing guidelines, modified Funeral and ceremonial arrangements for His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh are being considered by Her Majesty The Queen,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. “Details will be confirmed in due course.”

Flags on government buildings and royal residences were lowered to half-mast, and the BBC canceled scheduled programs to allow for special coverage after Philip died Friday at 99. But the palace and the British government urged people not to gather or lay flowers outside the royal residences.

Britain, which has Europe's highest toll in the pandemic at over 127,000 dead, is still under some lockdown restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19.

The palace instead invited well-wishers to sign a book of condolences — but only online, to avoid crowds and queues.

When the Queen Mother Elizabeth — the last royal consort to pass on — died in 2002, her coffin lay in state at Parliament’s Westminster Hall, and thousands of people filed past to pay their last respects.

Philip’s body will not lie in state, a function both of the pandemic and his own “no fuss” attitude. Nor will it be a state funeral, in keeping with his wishes.

The College of Arms, the body that oversees ceremonial protocol, said Friday that the duke’s body will lie at rest in Windsor Castle, 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of London where he spent his final weeks with the queen. His funeral will be held in St. George’s Chapel at the castle, the site of centuries of royal burials — and royal weddings, including the 2018 union of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

“This is in line with custom and with His Royal Highness’s wishes,” the college said.

Buckingham Palace is to announce when the funeral will be held or how many people will attend. Funerals are currently restricted to 30 people or fewer under England’s coronavirus restrictions, so it is likely to be immediate family only. It’s thought that Prince Harry will try to travel from his home in California to say goodbye to his grandfather.

Some aspects of British life will pause until after the funeral, with run-of-the mill government visits and announcements suspended.

Britain’s political parties paused campaigning for next month’s local and Scottish elections, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson led political tributes. Lawmakers will return a day early from their Easter break so they can pay tribute to Philip in the House of Commons on Monday.

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For AP’s full coverage of the death of Prince Philip go to https://apnews.com/hub/prince-philip