PRINCE William and Kate Middleton have arrived at a service honouring Prince Philip with Princess Charlotte and Prince George.
The poignant event will feature elements the Duke of Edinburgh planned for his funeral that were axed due to Covid.
The first guests are now arriving for the service at Westminster Abbey led by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and two of their children.
Zara Tindall and husband Mike with daughter Mia are also at the church along with Peter Phillips and his children Savannah and Isla.
Philip’s daughter Princess Anne stopped to speak to Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award holders and members of the youth UK Cadet Force associations who are attending under Philip’s wishes.
Fans dressed in Union Jack flags lined the streets surrounding the church from the early hours hoping to catch a glimpse of the royals.
It comes after Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen would be attending to lead her family in honouring her beloved late husband.
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She was pictured travelling from Windsor to London with Prince Andrew in her car despite his recent sex case shame.
Fears had been growing Her Majesty, 95, would be forced to pull out of the event after she missed a string of recent engagements.
This will be her first public engagement since February 5 after she faced a number of health scares including a battle with Covid.
It is also the first she has taken part in outside one of her homes for five and a half months since travelling to Cardiff.
She has been “actively involved” in planning the service, which will feature elements Philip planned for his funeral that were banned due to Covid.
The Queen will be joined by senior royals including Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex.
Shamed Prince Andrew is also be attending after he paid millions out of court earlier this month to settle a civil sexual assault case.
He will sit with Edward and Sophie and their children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn in the Abbey.
His daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are also joining the congregation.
Royals from around the world – including Prince Albert of Monaco, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, and Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia – will be in the Abbey.
It is understood Prince Charles will sit beside his mother during the service after she was made to sit alone at Philip’s funeral in Windsor.
They will also be joined by Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and the Duchess of Cornwall.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be seated behind the Queen with Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
While Peter Phillips, and Zara and Mike Tindall and their daughters are to sit behind Andrew and Edward’s family.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not be flying in from the States to honour the Duke amid a row over their security.
FINAL WISHES
Hymn Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer will be sung after Covid put an end to the royal’s funeral wishes.
The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth (Royal Band) will also provide rousing music before and after as part of his longstanding relationship with the Armed Forces.
The flowers also have a touching nod to Philip and the Queen’s 73-year marriage with orchids that appeared in her wedding bouquet to bloom in the church.
Prayers will be said for the duke’s “gifts of character; for his humour and resilience; his fortitude and devotion to duty”.
Philip was associated with over 700 charities and organisations and undertook 22,200 solo engagements.
The royal – the longest-standest consort ever – also stood by the Queen’s side on countless tours and engagements.
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FLOWER POWER
Queen’s sweet personal tribute to beloved husband Philip’s memorial service
Following Philip’s death in April, the Queen said she and her family were in a “period of great sadness” but were touched by tributes paid to him.
Philip was laid to rest in Windsor Castle that month as Her Majesty was seen sitting alone in silent mourning for her husband of more than 70 years.
