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Queen Elizabeth and Britain bid farewell to Prince Philip

Queen Elizabeth bid a final farewell to Prince Philip, her husband of more than seven decades, at a ceremonial funeral on Saturday (Apr 17), with the nation set to fall silent to mark the passing of a pivotal figure in the British monarchy.

While the ceremony include some of the traditional grandeur of a significant royal event, there are just 30 mourners inside St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the funeral service because of COVID-19 restrictions.

There are no public procession, all the congregation wear masks, and the queen, who says the death has left a "huge void", sit alone.

"She's the queen, she behave with the extraordinary dignity and extraordinary courage that she always does. And at the same time, she is saying farewell to someone to who she was married for 73 years," said Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who help officiate at the service.

He said he expected the funeral to resonate with the millions of people around the world who have lost loved ones during the pandemic.

"I think there will be tears in many homes because other names will be on their minds, faces they've lost that they don't see again, funerals they couldn't go to as many haven't been able to go to this one because it is limited to 30 in the congregation," he said. "That will break many a heart."He called on the British public to pray for the monarch.

Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who had been by his wife's side throughout her record-breaking 69-year reign, died peacefully at the age of 99 last week at the castle where the royal couple had been staying during a recent lockdown.

A decorated Royal Navy veteran of World War Two, his funeral, much of which was planned in meticulous detail by the prince himself, has a strong military feel, with personnel from across the armed forces playing prominent roles.

At 1400 GMT, before the service starts, there will be a minute's silence.

The congregation will be limited to members of the royal family and Philip's family, with no place for political figures such as Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who will watch the event on television where it will be broadcast live.

The entire event will be held within the walls of Windsor Castle and the public have been asked not to congregate outside or at any other royal residences to show their respects//CNA