THE DUKE of Edinburgh will be carried to his funeral on a specially-modified Land Rover he helped design.
Prince Philip’s funeral will be broadcast to the nation on TV next Saturday, with Charles leading a procession to the chapel at Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace revealed today.
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The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin will be transported in a ceremonial procession to his funeral on a Land Rover he helped to design.
Philip was known for his practical skills and his enduring interest in design and engineering.
The purpose-built Land Rover was specially modified to carry a coffin in a project that the Duke helped with many years ago.
A bearer party from the Grenadier Guards will place the coffin on the Land Rover at the state entrance of the castle, before the vehicle begins the eight-minute journey at walking pace to the west steps of the chapel.
It will be flanked by pall bearers reflecting the Duke’s special relationships with the military – the Royal Marines, Regiments, Corps and Air Stations.
Immediately behind the Land Rover, the Prince of Wales and other members of the royal family, likely to be the Duke’s other children and some of his grandchildren, will proceed on foot.
The Land Rover’s poignant role in the funeral proceedings always formed part of Operation Forth Bridge – the codename given to the plans following Philip’s death.
A senior Palace official said: “The Duke of Edinburgh had a hand many years ago in the design of these vehicles.”
The official added that there were two Land Rovers for “belt and braces.”
Officials say there will be a national minute’s silence in the moments before the service at St George’s Chapel begins.
And, in line with the Duke’s wishes, he will be laid to rest in a ceremonial – rather than state – funeral.
There will be no public procession as a result of the Covid restrictions, and the entire service will take place in the grounds of the castle. Philip’s body is currently resting in Windsor’s private chapel.
All of those attending the funeral – apart from the Queen – will be in the private procession to the chapel.
The coffin will be moved to the state entrance of the castle next Saturday by a bearer party from the Grenadier Guards – the elite Queen’s Company regiment at Windsor, of which Philip was Colonel for 42 years.
The coffin, draped with his personal standard, and decorated with a wreath of flowers and his Naval cap and sword, will then be taken to the chapel by a specially-modified Land Rover.
