Finally reunited. The late Queen Elizabeth II will be interred alongside her husband, Prince Philip, after her funeral on Monday, September 19, but their respective ceremonies couldn’t have been more different.
The queen’s funeral began with a short procession to Westminster Abbey from Westminster Hall, where her coffin had been lying in state since Wednesday, September 14. The solemn event was attended by her and Philip’s four children — King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — as well as their eight grandchildren.
Funeral guests also included a number of world leaders, including President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Liz Truss, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron. Royals from other countries were present as well, including Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
Though the Duke of Edinburgh could have had an elaborate funeral similar to his wife’s service, the coronavirus pandemic forced the royal family to scale back the ceremony. When the Greek native died at age 99 in April 2021, there were still strict restrictions in place that limited gatherings to 30 people.
“There will be no state funeral held at this time for Philip,” an insider exclusively told Us Weekly at the time. “They do not want his death to have a negative impact on the U.K.’s pandemic protocols.”
Despite the restrictions, plenty of royal family members gathered to say their goodbyes to the duke, who was married to Elizabeth for 73 years. The queen was joined at the event by her and Philip’s children — King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — as well as grandchildren Prince William, Prince Harry and Peter Phillips.
No members of the royal family wore their military uniforms for the ceremony, which was held at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021. “The congregation will wear masks for the service,” Buckingham Palace explained in a statement ahead of the funeral. “Members of the royal family will be wearing Morning Coat with medals or Day Dress.”
The more casual event stood in major contrast to the queen’s funeral, where Charles, 73, Anne, 72, and Edward, 58, all wore formal military dress. Andrew, 62, was only permitted to wear his military uniform at the queen’s final vigil on Friday, September 16, after he was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages in January.
The late monarch died at age 96 on September 8 at her Balmoral estate in Scotland. Buckingham Palace announced the news hours after confirming that Elizabeth had been placed under medical supervision.
Anne, who is the only daughter of Elizabeth and Philip, later revealed that she was with her mother just before her death. “I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest Mother’s life,” the Princess Royal said in a statement on September 13. “It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys. Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting.”
Keep scrolling for more details on how Elizabeth and Philip’s funerals differed.
While the plans for the queen's death were known as Operation London Bridge, Philip's funeral plans also had a code name: Operation Forth Bridge. The real Forth Bridge is located near Edinburgh, the Scottish city of his dukedom. Dominic Lipinski/AP/Shutterstock
Because the queen's funeral was an official state event, attendees who served in the military wore their uniforms. Philip's funeral, by contrast, was not a military event, so the royal family and other attendees wore morning dress. Harry and Andrew both wore morning dress to the queen's funeral, however, as they were stripped of their military titles. Sarah Meyssonnier/AP/Shutterstock
Because of pandemic protocols, Philip's funeral could only have a maximum of 30 guests. This meant that only close members of the royal family attended, including Elizabeth and her children. Elizabeth's funeral, by contrast, was attended by around 2,000 people. Phil Noble/Pool/Shutterstock
Elizabeth's funeral service was held at Westminster Abbey, where she married Philip in 1947 and had her coronation in 1953. Philip was honored at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where the queen had a second service following a procession from London to Windsor. Jack Hill/Pool/Shutterstock
The coronavirus pandemic limited the size of Philip's funeral, but the duke had also reportedly told his family he wasn't interested in the "fuss" of a state funeral. He did not lie in state following his death, though he did lie "at rest" in a private chapel at Windsor Castle before his service. Elizabeth, for her part, was moved to various locations throughout Scotland and England before her coffin was taken to Westminster Hall for a lying in state period of four days. Her funeral then featured a massive procession of members of Commonwealth armed forces, who escorted her coffin from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch. After the coffin was driven to Windsor, there was a second procession to Windsor Castle, where her favorite horse, Emma, and corgis looked on as she was taken to St George's Chapel. Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
Philip's Duke of Edinburgh title reverted to the crown after his death, but because no one has yet been named to the dukedom, his funeral did not include any rituals related to the passing of the title. The queen's funeral, meanwhile, included a symbolic passing of the torch to Charles, who became king immediately after his mother's death. After the service at St George's Chapel, the Lord Chamberlain broke the Wand of Office in half, signifying the end of the queen's reign. The wand will be buried with Elizabeth, but the Imperial State Crown, Orb and Sceptre adorning her coffin were removed and placed on the altar. The objects will likely be used again when Charles is coronated. Licensed by Story Picture Agency/Shutterstock
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