From sugar lumps for his ponies to a haunting Russian hymn, the funeral incorporated elements that honored his ancestry, passions, and legacy.
Prince Philip’s funeral on April 17, 2021, was filled with personal tributes that reflected his multifaceted life. A red-topped plastic container, once used by the Duke to store sugar lumps for his beloved Fell ponies, was placed on his driving carriage, alongside his whip, driving cap, and gloves. His ponies, Balmoral Nevis and Notlaw Storm, were also present, highlighting his deep connection to his animals.
The music played during the ceremony was similarly personal, chosen to represent different aspects of his life. While some pieces had to be adapted for a smaller choir, the final anthem was a powerful translation of the Russian Kontakion of the Departed. This piece was especially meaningful, as it paid tribute to his mother, Princess Alice, who is buried in a Russian Orthodox convent, and his great-aunt, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, who was martyred in 1918 and later canonized as a saint.
A notable and historical part of the ceremony was the Royal Navy piping party, which performed traditional calls, such as the “Still” and “Carry On,” marking the significant moments of the procession. The Duke’s coffin was carried into the chapel and lowered into the royal vault by an electric lift system, originally installed by George III in the 19th century.
The use of this mechanism during the televised service marked a unique moment in royal history, as it had never been publicly shown before, symbolizing the finality of the moment in a way that was both poignant and historically significant.