PRINCE Philip has been buried with a special engraved sword given to him by King George VI when he married the Queen.
Her Majesty, 94, laid the Duke of Edinburgh, who stood by her side for seven decades of unwavering service, to rest in St George’s Chapel today.
Read our Prince Philip funeral live blog for the latest updates
The Duke’s body was then interred in the Royal Vault of St George’s Chapel after being placed on a catafalque on a marble slab.
But this is not his final resting place as he will eventually be buried alongside his doting wife when she passes away.
When the time comes, His Royal Highness will be buried with his Admiral of the Fleet naval cap and sword.
The special sword was given to him by King George VI for his marriage to the Queen in 1947 and is engraved with a message from his father-in-law.
It comes as…
- A sombre Queen sat alone on the “saddest and most difficult day” as she bid farewell to husband prince Philip
- Prince Harry and William shared a private chat as they left the funeral
- The brothers sat facing each other during the service at St George’s Chapel
- Meghan Markle left a handwritten note to Prince Philip
- The Duchess of Sussex watched the funeral from the US after not being able to fly to the UK for the service
- Prince Charles fought back tears at the emotional funeral
- Kate Middleton gave a touching nod to Diana and the Queen by wearing a pearl choker
- The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault
The lowering of Philip’s coffin using an electric motor in front of millions of TV viewers was a first for the Royal Family.
It is one of many factors that have made Philip’s funeral unlike any other royal ceremony.
The emotion of the day was evident throughout the 50-minute service – magnified by the drastically-shortened guestlist of just 30 mourners.
Despite the royals having to wear face masks in the chapels, tears were clearly visible at times.
At one point, Prince Charles welled up as he led the procession behind his father’s coffin.
Meanwhile Harry and William regularly bowed their heads as their granddad’s lengthy honours were reflected in the scaled-back service.
Outside the chapel, the public gathered to say goodbye to the one-of-a-kind royal despite pleas to stay away due to Covid.
The duke’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief, with a sea of flowers left outside Windsor Castle.
And at 3pm, the nation fell silent for one minute to honour Philip as he made his final journey.
Royals fans have speculated that as the longest-serving monarch in history, the Queen may want to be buried in a more prestigious resting place at Westminster Abbey.
Currently, seventeen British monarchs are buried there, including King Henry V and all the Tudors except for Henry VIII.
