The Queen will sit alone at Philip’s funeral due to ongoing pandemic

All attendees will wear face masks

(Getty Images)

The Queen will sit alone during Prince Philip’s funeral this weekend to ensure her protection amid the ongoing pandemic.

On Saturday, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died on 9 April at the age of 99, will be honoured with a royal ceremonial funeral attended by a small number of close friends and family.

Following a royal procession to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, which will include Prince Harry, Prince William and a number of other royals walking on foot, the 94-year-old monarch will arrive at the service inthe state Bentley accompanied by a lady-in-waiting.

Upon her arrival, the Queen will sit by herself in the quire of St George’s Chapel as the royal family commemorates her husband of more than 70 years.

In addition to planning for the Queen to sit separately from the rest of the guests, the remaining attendees will also socially distance and wear face masks.

During the service, Covid precautions will also apply to the choir, which has been reduced to just four singers, and guests will be instructed not to sing.

The royal funeral also had to be scaled back significantly from what it would have been due to the pandemic, with the Queen reportedly finding it difficult to choose just 30 guests to attend.

The service will see the Queen and Prince Philip’s four children in attendance, as well as the duke’s grandchildren and their spouses.

Three of Prince Philip’s German relatives have also been invited, as was the duke’s close friend and carriage driving partner, Countess Mountbatten of Burma.

The safety precautions for the Queen are in place despite both her and her late husband receiving the Covid-19 vaccine in January.