HIS FINAL SALUTE

It was a royal funeral like no other and Prince Philip’s hand was in every detail – from the custom hearse to the military battle cry

- NICIDE WET

IT WAS as if the weather gods knew they had to pull out all the stops. After weeks of dismal days, spring burst forth with a flourish, sending blue skies soaring above the turrets of Windsor Castle and bathing every­ thing in a glorious golden glow.

And as the procession reached St George’s Chapel, even the hills of daffo­dils seemed to bow their heads as the world bid a final farewell to the man dubbed the “grandfather of the nation”.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, died in his bed at Windsor Castle on 9 April, just the way he wanted to – and those in the know say his send­off would’ve pleased him too.

“Philip was ready,” a royal insider told Vanity Fair. “He’d had enough. This is the funeral he wanted.”

JUST WHAT THE DUKE ORDERED

Famously no­nonsense Prince Philip wanted a few­frills funeral and Covid­19 restrictions saw to that all the more. Only 30 mourners – most close family – were gathered in the chapel for the hour­long service, presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Dean of Windsor, David Conner.

Philip chose everything from the read­ ing to the hymns, rousingly sung by a quartet of voices. A nod to his illustrious military career came when members of the armed forces performed The Last Post (the bugle call that in military tradi­ tion signals the end of the day’s activi­ ties), Reveille (a trumpet call used to wake military personnel at sunrise) and the warship battle cry Action Stations.

Philip’s coffin was draped with his per­ sonal standard, which featured tributes to his heritage with the Danish coat of arms, the Greek cross, Edinburgh Castle and the stripes of the Mountbatten family. His Admiral of the Fleet Naval cap and sword were placed on top.