Prince Philips Funeral.

Sometimes you want to be alone. Appropriate. The succour of ritual and art can offer more than sentiment at such a time. She was driven there and back with her trusted lady in waiting an old friend. It’s not as if nobody wanted to sit with her! It was her choice, if she had wanted someone protocol would have allowed. She wanted to be alone with her departed husband first in mind. Good for her.

Whitewavemark2

This moved me

“LOOK at the rainbow and praise its Maker; it shines with a supreme beauty, rounding the sky with its gleaming arc, a bow bent by the hands of the Most High. His command speeds the snow storm and sends the swift lightning to execute his sentence. To that end the storehouses are opened, and the clouds fly out like birds. By his mighty power the clouds are piled up and the hailstones broken small. The crash of his thunder makes the earth writhe, and, when he appears, an earthquake shakes the hills. At his will the south wind blows, the squall from the north and the hurricane. He scatters the snow-flakes like birds alighting; they settle like a swarm of locusts. The eye is dazzled by their beautiful whiteness, and as they fall the mind is entranced. He spreads frost on the earth like salt, and icicles form like pointed stakes. A cold blast from the north, and ice grows hard on the water, settling on every pool, as though the water were putting on a breastplate. He consumes the hills, scorches the wilderness, and withers the grass like fire. Cloudy weather quickly puts all to rights, and dew brings welcome relief after heat. By the power of his thought he tamed the deep and planted it with islands. Those who sail the sea tell stories of its dangers, which astonish all who hear them; in it are strange and wonderful creatures, all kinds of living things and huge sea-monsters. By his own action he achieves his end, and by his word all things are held together.”

I think this together with Psalm 104 reflected Philips love for the natural world.

The Flowers of the Forest finished me off!!

Such a beautiful piece. I thought it was a shame that David Conner read it in such a monotone voice. I appreciate this was a funeral but the words shout out such energy. Without Covid, it would have been wonderful to hear an actor deliver this reading.

Apart from the necessary social distancing the service was perfect and reflected the man. All the words that describe him were in the service somewhere - loyal, honourable, true, devoted, integrity, The verbal passages were wonderful, quietly and movingly read.
He could be testy but will be much missed from the public stage. He was an inspiring example of behaviour and leadership. True to himself. A true knight.
Oh that fabulous choral music!
It was all very moving. We don't know the full extent of what we've lost until it has gone. Brave queen too.
I watched it on BBC and they were respectful and didn't seem to intrude.

I sat watching with a mixture of love, pride and sadness.
It was as near to perfection as any event can get.

Annaram1 yes you are wrong. The bearer team that lead the coffin from the castle to the hearse was. Not sure how you tell when all heads were bent.

Very moving and poignant funeral. Upsetting seeing Queen sitting alone. Sad day for our country.

It was a very moving funeral. Correct me if I am wrong but I did not see any of the BAME community taking part. That surprised me. Perhaps there were some among the soldiers outside?

What I found touching, if not a bit strange was that after all the military presence, that after the service, the family walked out of the chapel and there was nobody about - all the members of the armed forces had gone.
Lovely to see all the family walk back up to the castle rather go in separate cars. I have to wonder if Princess Anne or even the Queen had turned round to them all as they left the vault and said "Are you coming back for a cup of tea ?"
Apparently Price Philip's lead lined coffin was lowered into the vault by an electric lift and he will only rest there until the Queen dies when he will be moved and both will be placed into the King George V1 chapel

I found the whole service very moving and also felt really proud to be British. We really can put on an impressive occasion can’t we ? It was perfect. I kept thinking of all the countries in the world who would be watching and how wonderful it looked. As there were only 30 mourners allowed I was surprised that on3vwas Prince Philips lady friend. Than must have been a difficult decision to make but she did look very sad but really elegant as did everyone.

I rather think the Queen chose to sit alone - that is how she feels now and wanted everyone to see. I also think she was showing solidarity with all her subjects who have had to do the very same thing. I do hope she has the strength to carry on.

My heart went out to our queen. She looked so little ,sad and alone. It was a lovely fitting service. I'm not usually soppy but I shed a tear or two.

I concur with the comments already made. What a fitting ceremony for PP and the family.

I’d go so far as to think that this scaled down event could be taken into the future so that the family can mourn in peace without all the press pushing and shoving for the best picture. It was so dignified.

I feel so sad for the Queen. Seventy three years is a life time of togetherness.

How beautifully calm, dignified and moving it was. The choice of music was wonderful;

'I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love'.

How well those lines sum up his life of duty, and that of the Queen. 'Such a small, bent and sad figure - I too wish she had had a family member to sit close to her.

It was both incredibly sad and beautiful heart wrenching. Such pride in the sensitivity yet professionalism of our military in each of their roles.

I didn't manage to watch. From what I have read and from GN contributors I would gather the service was just what the man wanted and probably even more so without all the pomp and ceremony had usual dignatories were attending. Did admire the man's forthrightness.

Whitewavemark2

This moved me

“LOOK at the rainbow and praise its Maker; it shines with a supreme beauty, rounding the sky with its gleaming arc, a bow bent by the hands of the Most High. His command speeds the snow storm and sends the swift lightning to execute his sentence. To that end the storehouses are opened, and the clouds fly out like birds. By his mighty power the clouds are piled up and the hailstones broken small. The crash of his thunder makes the earth writhe, and, when he appears, an earthquake shakes the hills. At his will the south wind blows, the squall from the north and the hurricane. He scatters the snow-flakes like birds alighting; they settle like a swarm of locusts. The eye is dazzled by their beautiful whiteness, and as they fall the mind is entranced. He spreads frost on the earth like salt, and icicles form like pointed stakes. A cold blast from the north, and ice grows hard on the water, settling on every pool, as though the water were putting on a breastplate. He consumes the hills, scorches the wilderness, and withers the grass like fire. Cloudy weather quickly puts all to rights, and dew brings welcome relief after heat. By the power of his thought he tamed the deep and planted it with islands. Those who sail the sea tell stories of its dangers, which astonish all who hear them; in it are strange and wonderful creatures, all kinds of living things and huge sea-monsters. By his own action he achieves his end, and by his word all things are held together.”

I think this together with Psalm 104 reflected Philips love for the natural world.

The Flowers of the Forest finished me off!!

I would have preferred the King James version, its more musical.

The whole service/celebration of his life was a very fitting tribute. Britain excels in these circumstances always with military precision and timing. Gosh I was nervous when they carried PP up the steps and had to stop half way.

Eleanor and Harris27, I too loved the carriage and the ponies, the cap, the gloves, the blanket......but did wonder what the jar with lid symbolised, and this morning it was said on one of the news programmes it was what Prince Philip kept the sugar lumps for the ponies in. As has been said a truly fitting funeral for a "relativity down to earth Prince". A funeral that gave us pomp and ceremony but a pared back pandemic option.

I thought the whole thing was magnificent. Not the 'low key' event I was expecting. All those servicemen marching then blending in with other regiments with incredible precision were so impressive. The carriage and ponies did me in. The well worn cap and gloves seemed more touching somehow than the formal cap and sword on the coffin. It was lovely to see all the chefs and house staff out too.
The service was immaculate. All anyone could expect. The Queen was wonderful (of course).
I'm sure she'll have organised a good tea for all the servicemen. I hope she had a good cup of tea and a quiet moment to herself after it all but suspect that she'll have stayed for a small tea party with the family. There's plenty of space for social distancing at Windsor Castle after all!

sorry, slip of the finger "intrusive"

I really don't think the queen should have been sat alone in the funeral service. Neither should anyone at that age when burying their spouse. She could have fainted or been taken ill and needed support as could anyone at a funeral. Surely the lady in waiting, Charles or William could have sat with her. A queen is still a human being and should have had support.
Really hoping William and Harry get back together on friendly terms too. Life is too short for grudges.

I'm so sad for the Queen, losing your lifelong partner is hard at the best of times but must be even harder when convention dictates that your life is quite constrained so that there are few people with whom you can be truly open.
I felt that it was instrusive to have cameras in the chapel, the close family deserve privacy at a time like this.

oh gosh, I chickened out, still grieving etc.
I was crying on and off throughout the day, just hearing/seeing clips.

thank you for these excerpts.
and thank you all for your comments

a very sad for for so many of us, God Bless and Save our wonderful Queen.

It was a very fitting funeral for the man he was and of course we do pomp and pageantry better than any other country.
I’m pleased it was conducted entirely with the current COVID guidelines. An example to us all.

Yes, a lovely service. We felt so sad for the Queen too, she needed a hug from her family. She is so stoic and having to say goodbye to the love of her life in the public eye must have been one of the hardest things she has ever had to do. I think she is amazing and almost 95! God Bless and RIP DOE.