MILITARY personnel from Somerset are playing a major role in the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh later today (Saturday).

Troops from Charlie Company, of Norton Manor Camp-based 40 Commando Royal Marines and services personnel from RNAS Yeovilton have been called on to take part in the ceremony at Windsor Castle this afternoon.

They will be part of the ceremonial procession leading to the funeral in St George's Chapel, inside the castle grounds.

The Royal Marines have been training all week under the watchful eye of First Drill warrant officer Steve Payne.

He said: "The Royal Marines have the honour of bearing the coffin of our former captain general, His Royal Highness, from the hearse and up into St George's Chapel, the final part of the ceremonial aspect of the funeral."

He added: "Personally, I have had a lot of high points of my career, but as a drill instructor there can be nothing better than helping to send off the former captain general in the very best way possible."

FUNERAL TIMINGS.

  • 2.15PM: The Household Cavalry and Foot Guards line up in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle, along with military detachments from units that had special connections with Prince Philip on the grass.
  • 2.20PM: Members of the Royal Family and Prince Philip's family not taking part in the procession leave Windsor Castle by car for St George's Chapel.
  • 2.40PM: The bands in the Quadrangle stop playing and the coffin will be carried out and placed onto a Land Rover which the Prince helped to design. Members of the Royal Family walking in the procession leave the State Entrance after the coffin and take up their positions. Behind the Land Rover will be the Duke's children Princes Charles, Andrew, Edward and Princess Anne, and his grandsons Princes William and Harry. They are joined by Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and the Earl of Snowdon. Members of the Duke's staff will follow.
  • 2.45PM: The procession moves off with the band of the Grenadier Guards at its head. They move to Horseshoe Cloister followed by the Major General's party and military chiefs of staff. The Land Rover follows, flanked by pallbearers from the Royal Marines and other regiments and corps associated with the duke. The Queen travels at the rear of the procession in the State Bentley and will enter St George's chapel through the Galilee porch. The procession route will be lined by personnel from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, The Highlanders, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Air Force. Guns will be fired by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn throughout, as a bell tolls in the Curfew Tower.
  • 2.53PM: The Land Rover arrives at the West Steps of St George's Chapel, met by a guard of honour and band from the Rifles Regiment playing the National Anthem. Household Cavalry members line the West Steps and a Royal Navy piping party will pipe a nautical call as the coffin is carried up the steps to the chapel. The coffin will be met by the Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Members of the Royal Family enter the chapel.
  • 3PM: A minute's silence nationwide.

The Duke's coffin, draped with his standard, with a wreath and his naval cap and sword on top, will be placed on the catafalque inside the chapel.

A choir of four in the nave will sing music chosen by Prince Philip.

LIST OF THE 30 PEOPLE ATTENDING THE FUNERAL.

  • The Queen.
  • Prince of Wales.
  • Duchess of Cornwall.
  • Duke of Cambridge.
  • Duchess of Cambridge.
  • Duke of Sussex.
  • Duke of York.
  • Princess Beatrice.
  • Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
  • Princess Eugenie.
  • Jack Brooksbank.
  • Earl of Wessex.
  • Countess of Wessex.
  • Lady Louise Windsor.
  • Viscount Severn.
  • Princess Anne.
  • Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
  • Peter Phillips.
  • Zara Phillips.
  • Mike Tindall.
  • Earl of Snowdon.
  • Lady Sarah Chatto.
  • Daniel Chatto.
  • Duke of Gloucester.
  • Duke of Kent.
  • Princess Alexandra.
  • Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden.
  • Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse.
  • Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.
  • Countess Mountbatten of Burma.

HOW TO WATCH THE FUNERAL.

Due to social distancing, only 30 people are attending the funeral.

You will be able to watch proceedings on TV.

  • BBC One begins coverage at 12.30PM and continues until 4.20PM.
  • ITV coverage is from 1.15PM until 4.30PM.