National silence to mark the death of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
16th April 2021
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To mark the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on 9th April 2021, there will be a national one minute silence at 3pm on Saturday 17 April.
The Ceremonial Royal Funeral
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Funeral will be a “Ceremonial Royal Funeral”, the same as that of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. It will not be a “State Funeral” - something that is generally reserved for Monarchs.
The Dean of Windsor will conduct the Funeral Service and the Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the Blessing.
Due to the current public health guidelines, some elements of the Funeral plan have been modified, although the day will still be very much in line with His Royal Highness’s wishes.
The Funeral will be broadcast live on TV and radio to allow people around the world to take part in mourning The Duke and members of the public are asked not to gather in public places.
On Saturday 17 April at 2.40pm, the coffin will emerge from the State Entrance of Windsor Castle into the Quadrangle, followed by the members of the Royal Family who will be walking in the procession. All those in the Quadrangle will give the coffin a Royal Salute before the coffin is placed onto the Land Rover.
The Queen will depart from the Sovereign’s Entrance in the State Bentley.
The Procession will move towards St. George’s Chapel, through Engine Court, Chapel Hill Parade Ground and into Horseshoe Cloister, arriving at the West Steps. The procession route will be lined by representatives from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Highlanders, and 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Air Force.
Minute Guns will be fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn of Windsor Castle for the duration of the Procession. The Curfew Tower Bell will also toll.
The Funeral Service is expected to last for approximately 50 minutes.
Book of condolence and gifts
During the current public health situation, the Royal Family has provided guidance that Books of Condolence will not be available for the public to sign.
Members of the public wishing to express their condolences are encouraged to send a message to the Royal Family via the online Book of Condolence on the Royal Family website - https://www.royal.uk/commemoration-and-condolence-0
There is no official arrangement for giving donations in memory of The Duke of Edinburgh with the Royal Household urging members of the public not to lay flowers or gifts in public spaces.
However, members of the public who wish to make a donation as a tribute to His Royal Highness are encouraged to give to a charity of their choosing or one of the charities or organisations which The Duke of Edinburgh supported in his public duties.
Over the course of his life, The Duke of Edinburgh was patron or president of some 992 organisations, with special interests in scientific and technological research and development, industry, the welfare of young people, conservation and the environment and the encouragement of sport.
Flags
All official flags, including the Union Flag, are to be half-masted on all UK government buildings, and on council buildings if it is possible, until 8am on the day following the Funeral. Flags may be flown overnight during this period but should remain at half-mast.
Half-mast means the flag is flown a third of the way down the flagpole from the top, with at least the height of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the flagpole. On poles that are more than 45° from the vertical, flags cannot be flown at half-mast and should not be flown at all.