Great royal occasions and make no mistake, the funeral of Prince Philip was a very great occasion indeed are always charged with historical meaning.
For the senior members of the House of Windsor, this was above all a poignant personal farewell. I defy even the most strident republican to watch the footage of our widowed Queen, alone with her grief after almost 75 years of marriage, without feeling a rush of sympathy.
Yet for the vast majority of her subjects, Saturday’s funeral was loaded with public, not private, significance. It was a genuinely unifying national moment, a chance to reflect on what Britain means, and on how much we owe our Royal Family.
The royal family will continue to grieve this week following the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, although the period of national mourning has ended.
After almost 70 years as head of state, the Queen will reign without her husband by her side, as she sat on her own during the funeral service that bore Philip’s touch and celebrated his life and legacy.
The ceremony in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday reflected Philip’s lifelong support of the armed forces, having had a close connection with the Navy for more than 80 years.
His coffin, draped with his personal standard, featured his Admiral of the Fleet naval cap and sword next to a wreath of white flowers chosen by the Queen with a handwritten card from his wife of 73 years.
What does interred in the Royal Vault mean? thesun.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thesun.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The royal family will continue to grieve this week following the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, although the period of national mourning has ended.
After almost 70 years as head of state, the Queen will reign without her husband by her side, as she sat on her own during the funeral service that bore Philip’s touch and celebrated his life and legacy.
The ceremony in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday reflected Philip’s lifelong support of the armed forces, having had a close connection with the Navy for more than 80 years.
His coffin, draped with his personal standard, featured his Admiral of the Fleet naval cap and sword next to a wreath of white flowers chosen by the Queen with a handwritten card from his wife of 73 years.
How the Queen and Prince Philip joyfully lived like a normal couple in early years dailymail.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailymail.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.