Queen Elizabeth 'Had To Make Difficult Decisions' About Who Could Attend Prince Philip's Funeral, Palace Reveals
Queen Elizabeth 'had to make difficult decisions' about who could attend Prince Philip's funeral, a Palace spokesman said.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Prince Philip's funeral will be much smaller than expected. So, it's no surprise that Queen Elizabeth had to "make some difficult decisions" about which 30 people to invite, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.
"We are dealing with a family funeral and at its heart it is still a family event," the spokesman added.
On April 15, the Palace revealed who will be in attendance at the event, which will take place on Saturday, April 17.
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The couple's four children — Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — will be there, along with Charles' wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Anne's husband, Timothy Laurence, and Edward's wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
Philip's eight grandchildren — Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn — will also be there.
Some of the grandchildren's significant others made the list, including Prince William's wife, Kate Middleton, Zara Tindall's husband, Mike Tindall, Princess Eugenie's husband, Jack Brooksbank, and Princess Beatrice's husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Some of the Queen's family members will be there as well — Princess Margaret's daughter, Lady Sarah, and her husband, Daniel Chatto, Prince Richard of Gloucester, Prince Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra.
Meanwhile, some of Philip's German relatives — two-great nephews and a cousin — will be in attendance: Prince Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden; Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse; and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.
Additionally, Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, has also made the list.
All guests must wear a mask include St George's Chapel and sit six feet apart, per COVID-19 rules.
That same day, it was revealed that Prince William and Prince Harry will not walk next to each other at the funeral — but it has nothing to do with their strained relationship.
The order was "a practical change rather than sending a signal," a Buckingham Palace spokesman revealed. "This is a funeral and we are not going to be drawn into perceptions of drama. The arrangements have been agreed and represent Her Majesty's wishes."
