Queen Elizabeth Will Sit Alone at Prince Philip's Funeral
The royal family dramatically modified their original plans for Prince Philip's funeral due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of safety requirements, tomorrow's ceremony will be a small affair, limited to just thirty attendees. The 50-minute service will take place at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, and the guest list is essentially family-only. Another major change is Queen Elizabeth's seating situation, as she will now be sitting alone.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Queen will wear a mask for the duration of the services and be seated by herself. Because of current coronavirus restrictions, all guests who are not members of the same household must sit two meters (roughly six feet) apart.
Luckily, the monarch will not be alone driving to or from the funeral. Proceeding the services, the Queen will be driven in a procession around the Windsor Castle grounds. According to the palace, she will ride in a State Bentley accompanied by a lady-in-waiting. Her vehicle will be the final car in the procession.
Though the Queen may be seated alone, she will see many family members at the event. Guests include her four children, eight grandchildren, and most of their partners, as well as three relatives from Prince Philip's German side of his family. The Queen’s cousins, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra, will also attend.
Saturday is sure to be a difficult day for the monarch, as she mourns her husband of 73 years. The couple would have celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary this November. Prince Philip was the longest-serving consort in British history, with the Queen referring to him as "a constant strength and guide."
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