EXTRAORDINARY footage shows Prince Philip giving a tour of the small private chapel at Windsor where his body now lies.
The Duke of Edinburgh, 99, died on Friday after being at the Queen‘s side for more than 70 years.
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Video filmed by the BBC shows Philip walking around the chapel inside Windsor Castle during one of his last ever interviews.
Philip was put in charge of restoring the castle after a devastating fire in 1992.
The duke said during the interview: “When I got back after the fire, and was looking at all this destruction, it struck me that you could just fit a chapel into here.
“Because before that the chapel was also a passageway.”
A stained-glass window designed by the Duke himself now faces his coffin.
In the video, Philip tries to deflect credit for the video – before being reminded that by the interviewer that he had seen him holding the design.
Philip said: “Well I suggested this sort of general idea, yeah.
“Well, the idea was that the bottom would be the fire and the fire-fighters and then the smoke would turn into trees…”
The Queen will “have to sit on her own” during Prince Philip’s funeral because of strict coronavirus rules.
Members of the Royal Family will have to be at least two metres apart during the service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on Saturday.
FUNERAL PLANS
Royal sources told the Telegraph that the Queen, 94, would be alone at the funeral unless a member of her bubble also attended.
All in attendance will have to wear face masks and will not be allowed to sing.
Philip’s coffin will be carried from Windsor Castle in the back of an open-top Land Rover he helped develop with the Army.
The Palace has explored a number of options in relation to his coffin.
They include a £900 eco-friendly woollen casket in a nod to the Prince’s pioneering work on conservation.
A firm which made the ceremonial outfits for Princes William and Harry at their weddings produces the innovative textile coffin.
A lead-lined coffin made of oak has also been considered.
The coffins use lead as a lining to keep moisture out and preserve the body for longer.
The Duke’s coffin was made alongside one for the Queen but no one knows how old it is as the company inherited them in 1991.
Buckingham Palace have refused to comment on the type of coffin that will be used.
And it is unlikely to be shown at the funeral on Saturday as it will be draped in the Duke’s personal standard.
Although Philip will one day be buried with the Queen in the memorial chapel in Frogmore Gardens, his body will lie in the Royal Vault until the day comes.
His funeral will be different to that of any other royal after Covid made the family strip back all tradition.
Buckingham Palace will release full details of the service and guest list on Thursday.
A spokesperson has insisted the pared-back event is in keeping with the personal wishes of no-fuss Philip.
