REIGNING TEARS

SADNESS for her beloved Philip was captured in the Queen’s eyes yesterday as the tearful royals bid farewell to the Duke of Edinburgh.

- RUSSELL MYERS

Forced to sit alone because of Covid, the monarch bowed in solemn prayer while gunshots rang out at 3pm for a minute’s silence.

As the coffin was carried in Her Majesty cut a solitary yet defiant and dignified figure, alone in her pew. It was the first time she had been seen since Philip, 99, died nine days ago.

Wearing a black face mask edged in white, the Queen led 30 mourners at the funeral in Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel. The 50-minute service followed Philip’s precise orders. His simple oak casket was draped in his striking 12ft personal standard and decorated with a white wreath chosen by the Queen. On top was his Admiral of the Fleet Naval Cap and sword given by the Queen’s father King George VI when they married.

An emotional Prince Charles and Princess Anne led family members as they followed Grenadier Guardsmen, who placed the coffin on to the rear of a green Land Rover Defender hearse designed by the Duke himself.

More than 700 members of the Forces took part in the ceremony, marking Philip’s association with the military and Navy service in World War Two. Haunting music chosen by Philip, including bugle players and stirring naval hymns, rang out from the largely deserted gothic landscape.

Before the coffin emerged from the castle, military bands spaced out across the quadrangle in brilliant sunshine to play I Vow To Thee My Country, Jerusalem and Nimrod.