How Prince Philip's death overturned strict royal protocol - and late Queen's heartbreak - Mirror Online

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PRIVACY

How Prince Philip's death overturned strict royal protocol - and late Queen's heartbreak

Prince Philip's death three years ago not only marked the end of an extraordinary life of public service - but it also upended hundreds of years of royal tradition

Prince Philip passed away on 9 April 2021 at the age of 99(PA)

It's three years to the day since Prince Philip was laid to rest at Windsor Castle.

The Duke - the late Queen's husband of 74 years and the longest-serving royal consort in history, died of old age at the age of 99 on 9 April. His funeral service took place eight days later at St George's Chapel.

At the time of his passing, Britain was in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. It not only affected almost every aspect of his funeral arrangements but upended the usual royal protocols.

It's traditional for notices about births and deaths within the Royal Family to be posted at the gates of Buckingham Palace for 24 hours. But when Prince Philip died, the sign was taken down within an hour to prevent crowds from gathering amid distancing restrictions.

The sign announcing Prince Philip's death was removed after an hour(PA)

The palace also asked that well-wishers refrain from laying flowers at the gates, as is customary following deaths within the Royal Family. Mourners reportedly managed to leave about 100 bouquets, as mounted police reminded visitors to stay at least six feet apart from one another.

His funeral was also much smaller than previous royal burials. The slimmed down contingent of mourners numbered 30, including his heartbroken wife, four children, eight grandchildren and other close family members and friends. They came together for a hour-long ceremony full of heartfelt emotion at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021.

Philip himself had been highly involved in planning the funeral, which took place entirely within the castle grounds. His wishes included a customised Land Rover hearse and the music, which included the Royal Navy Hymn, in a nod to his military roots.

In keeping with guidance at the time, all attendees, including the late Queen, wore face masks inside St. George's Chapel. One of the most heartbreaking images from the funeral showed the monarch sitting alone in the pews due to social distancing.