London (AFP) After a week of mourning, the United Kingdom is today holding the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Philip, who died at the age of 99.
Following the will of the Duke of Edinburgh, who died last Friday, his remains will be buried at Windsor Castle, about 50 km west of London.
Due to the pandemic, only 30 people will be able to attend the funeral, most of them close relatives.
General Nick Carter, Commander of the Armed Forces, said the funeral, which will begin at 3:00 PM (10:00 AM Paraguay Time), will reflect the high esteem he enjoyed among the military.
Carter told the BBC that the ceremony would be “with military precision and above all a celebration of the good life.” “It will also show how much the army loves and respects him,” he added.
Prince Philip, who requested a simple but noticeable military-style ceremony, served as a naval officer in World War II.
His coffin would not be carried in the shroud but in an army green Land Rover designed according to instructions the Duke had given for years, which provided it with an open compartment to hold the coffin and even designed metal spikes that should keep it from moving.
The king’s late husband, to whom she had been married for 73 years, was a lifelong fan of Land Rover cars, engineering and design.
The three armies will be present at Windsor Park to receive the coffin. The Grenadier Guard procession, who was Felipe a colonel for 42 years, will lead the procession to the Church of San Jorge where the ceremony will take place.
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