WINDSOR, England (Reuters) – When Prince Philip’s coffin is conveyed to church for his funeral service, it will be taken in a specially-commissioned Land Rover that the British royal himself helped design.
Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth, died last week aged 99 and his funeral will be held entirely at Windsor Castle on Saturday, with no public allowed.
Although the event has been scaled down because of COVID-19 restrictions, many traditional elements will remain, with a military procession inside the castle and pall bearers from units with close links to Philip.
However, in place of the usual hearse, Philip’s body will be taken from its current resting place to St George’s Chapel on a Land Rover Defender which has been modified to carry a coffin – in keeping with Philip’s original plans for the funeral.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told parliament on Monday it was fitting that Philip would be taken to his final resting place on a Land Rover, “with a long wheel base and a capacious rear cabin”, which the prince had helped design.
“That vehicle’s unique and idiosyncratic silhouette reminds the world that he was above all a practical man, who could take something very traditional – whether a machine or indeed a great national institution – and find a way by his own ingenuity to improve it, to adapt it for the 20th or the 21st century,” Johnson said.
(Writing by Michael Holden; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
