Princes William and Harry will reunite as they walk behind their grandfather's coffin at his funeral in a week's time.
The brothers are expected to stand shoulder to shoulder as they form part of the royal procession at the service for the Duke of Edinburgh in Windsor on Saturday.
It will be the first time the pair will be seen together since Harry's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey - in which he claimed his older brother was 'trapped' inside the Monarchy.
However, the Duchess of Sussex, who is pregnant with the couple's second child at home in California, will not be attending following medical advice.
Harry's attendance could be his chance to repair the 'deep damage' caused by his and Meghan's sit-down with Oprah, royal experts said today - as he spoke to senior members of the Royal Family ahead of his return to Britain.
A source told the Mail on Sunday that, while tensions have been 'high' following the fallout from the Oprah interview on March 7, the Royal Family are 'united in grief' following Prince Philip's death.
The Duke will be taken to St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on a Land Rover he helped to design, and will be flanked by pall bearers from the Royal Marines, Regiments, Corps and Air Stations.
The decision to carry Philip in the custom-built car comes after he is said to have told the Queen: 'Just stick me in the back of a Land Rover and drive me to Windsor.'
Immediately behind the Land Rover, the Prince of Wales and other members of the family, likely to be the Duke's other children and some of his grandchildren including Harry and William, will proceed on foot.
Whether the unity will prove more than a public façade remains to be seen, but some royal sources hope that the brothers' first meeting for more than a year could lead to some kind of reconciliation.
In other developments on the second day of national mourning since the Duke's death on Friday:
The Queen has shared a touching tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh - a day after her husband of 73 years died at Windsor Castle at the age of 99.
A portrait, which shows Her Majesty, 94, sitting next to Prince Philip, was posted on the Royal Family’s social media along with a moving quote from the monarch about her husband from a speech she made celebrating their golden wedding anniversary in 1997.
She said: ‘He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.’
The Queen was speaking in November 1997 during a lunch at Banqueting House in London, in which she looked back on ‘a remarkable fifty years’.
Her Majesty announced her husband's death at midday on Friday as the Union Flag was lowered to half-mast outside Buckingham Palace.
The touching portrait and quote were shared to Instagram today, alongside the caption: 'At The Queen’s Coronation in 1953, The Duke of Edinburgh swore to be Her Majesty’s "liege man of life and limb."
'The Duke was a devoted consort (companion to the Sovereign) for almost 70 years, from Her Majesty’s Accession in 1952 until his death.'
The image of the royal couple was first released as part of a series of photo portraits in 2016 to mark the Queen's 90th birthday, and was released the day before Philip's 95th birthday.
Taken at Windsor Castle after Easter that year, it was the sixth and final picture in a series of portraits taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz to mark the Queen's birthday.
The Duke of Sussex will make the journey from the couple's home in California and will be following Covid-19 protocols for the trip, as well as during his visit.
He is making arrangements for his first trip home since the pair quit royal life and moved out to the US.
Harry has already spoken to family members including Prince Charles, Beatrice and Eugenie, according to The Mirror.
A source said: 'He said he wants to be with everyone and was already making arrangements to come home.'
William is said to have been angered by claims of racism in Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah.
He is understood to be particularly hurt by Meghan's accusation that his wife Kate made her cry during a birdesmaid's dress fitting.
Coming together for the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral could help heal any tensions between the royal family and the Duke of Sussex, a religious leader has said.
Harry laid bare his rift with members of his family during an interview in the United States with Oprah Winfrey last month.
He is likely to fly in from his California home to attend his grandfather's funeral, but it is not known if he will be joined by the Duchess of Sussex as she is pregnant.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, said gathering for Philip's funeral could allow the family to have 'a comparative bit of privacy' together.
He told Times Radio: 'I think there might be a bit of consolation in it for the royal family actually because it just gives them a chance to be close and to have a comparative bit of privacy.
'Obviously the whole ceremony will be watched by everybody but you think of the complexities of the dynamics in that family and we have to think of Harry, so far away. I'm sure he'll come but not being, the whole time, in the public eye might just help.
'Many a family gather and get over tension and broken relationships at the time of a funeral. Something very profound unites them all again. And that would be true for this family, I'm sure.'
Speaking of William's reunion with his brother, a source told the Mail on Sunday: 'All eyes will be on William and Harry at the funeral.
'This is the first time we're going to see them together since Harry and Meghan left for their new life in America.
'There has been so much bad blood but everyone is hoping that, perhaps, this will mark the beginning of a reconciliation.'
The sourced added that, even though tensions have been 'high', the Royal Family are 'united in grief'.
'Harry was told the news about his grandfather at the same time as other members of the family.'
Prince Charles will walk alongside his sons as they follow the Land Rover on its journey to St George’s Chapel.
The source added: 'They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Everyone will be watching the funeral closely to see the body language between the brothers.'
Following their mother's death in 1997, William and Harry walked behind her coffin as it made its way to Westminster Abbey.
In the run-up to the tragic event, the Duke of Edinburgh reportedly told the then Prime MInister Tony Blair's aides to 'f*** off' during a row over suggestions that William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin.
The Duke reportedly made an 'anguished' intervention during a call with Mr Blair's team, saying over speakerphone: 'F*** off. We are talking about two boys who have lost their mother.'
Five-bedroom Frogmore House, the Sussexes' UK residence where Archie spent the first few months of his life, is currently on loan to Princess Eugenie, 31, and her husband Jack Brooksbank, so could be where Harry stays while attending the funeral.
Penny Junor told MailOnline: 'My hope is that if something good can come out of the Duke's death it will be that it brings the family together. But clearly there is a lot of hurt there on all sides, and I imagine they will all be feeling apprehensive about seeing one another again.
'With luck, their desire to support the Queen and pull together for her sake, which I am sure is what the Duke would have wanted, will win the day.'
Meanwhile, Richard Fitzwilliams, said a 'show of unity' was vital for repairing relations after the 'very damaging' Oprah revelations, as he pointed to the strong relationship between Harry and his grandfather.
'Harry will undoubtedly want to be there and this might start a process which helped to heal the current royal rift,' he said. 'His grandfather would undoubtedly welcome it if the monarchy, the institution he spent his life supporting, was strengthened as a result of the start of a reconciliation which began after his death.'
Their comments were echoed by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, who said gathering for Philip's funeral could allow the family to have 'a comparative bit of privacy' together.
Also today, Prince Charles paid tribute to his 'dear Papa' as he spoke for the first time following news of his father Prince Philip's death yesterday morning.
In a pre-recorded video message, the Prince of Wales said his father had given 'the most remarkable, devoted service' to 'The Queen, to my family and to the country', as well as the Commonwealth.
The duke's coffin, accompanied by the Dean of Windsor and the Lord Chamberlain, will be moved to the State Entrance of Windsor Castle by a Bearer Party of The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
The coffin will emerge and the Bearer Party will place it onto a specially modified Land Rover, which Philip helped to design, to transport it to St George's Chapel.
The procession from the state entrance to the West Steps of the chapel will take eight minutes.
The Prince of Wales and members of the royal family will take part in the procession on foot, immediately behind the duke's coffin, together with staff from Philip's household.
The route of the procession will be lined by representatives drawn from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Highlanders, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Air Force.
Minute guns will be fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the east lawn of Windsor Castle for the duration of the procession, and the Curfew Tower Bell will toll.
A Guard of Honour and Band from The Rifles will receive the coffin at the foot of the West Steps, with the national anthem being played as the coffin enters Horseshoe Cloister.
A bearing party of Royal Marines will carry the coffin up the steps and pause for the minute's silence.
Following the minute's silence, the Dean of Windsor, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury, will receive the coffin at the top of the West Steps.
In keeping with coronavirus guidelines to limit guests inside the chapel, most of the procession will not enter the chapel, except for members of the royal family, and the duke's private secretary Archie Miller Bakewell.
The funeral service will begin as the coffin enters St George's Chapel.
The Duke of Edinburgh was, he said, a 'very special person' who would have been 'deeply touched' by the sorrow felt by millions of people in Britain and across the world at news of his passing.
He said he would miss his father 'enormously' and added that his family were 'deeply grateful' for the condolences offered, which he said would 'sustain us' at this 'particularly sad time'.
Prince Charles finished his message by simply saying: 'Thank you'.
Yesterday, Harry and Meghan paid a short tribute to Prince Philip following news of the Duke of Edinburgh's death.
In a post on their Archwell website, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex paid tribute to his grandfather with the two line message: 'Thank you for your services... You will be greatly missed.'
Harry is likely to make the journey to London by private jet from his home near Los Angeles and it is understood he may be permitted to use a diplomatic exemption to waive the normal Covid quarantine rules applying to flights from the USA.
It has been reported that Harry was already largely self-isolating at the £11m mansion near Santa Barbara from when his grandfather entered hospital.
It is thought he will be tested for Covid-19 before departure from the US and upon arrival in the UK, instead of being subject to the normal 10-day quarantine, though travellers are allowed to leave quarantine if they test negative after five days.
It is not known where he will stay during his stay in the UK, nor for how long he will remain after the funeral.
The reunion of the Duke of Sussex with his brother William and father Prince Charles will be awkward enough following his and Meghan's shocking accusations of racism in the TV show aired only last month.
Despite the obvious rift, the Queen will expect her grandsons to put on a united front, along with the rest of the Royals as a mark of respect for the late Duke of Edinburgh.
While Harry claimed in the interview to have always had a good relationship with the Queen, it's unclear what kind of relationship, if any, he now has with Prince William and his father, Prince Charles.
According to CBS host Gayle King, a close friend of Oprah, Prince William, 38, reached out to Prince Harry after the explosive interview, but talks were 'not productive'.
Harry's claims that William was 'trapped' inside the monarchy are believed to have caused deep offence. Some royal experts believe that William is willing to give his brother a final chance.
The pair would almost certainly have met anyway on July 1 for the unveiling of a statue of Diana in London, but there was always a question mark over that reunion because of Meghan's imminent due date, which has not been publically confirmed.
It is not clear if Harry had planned to return in June, when Prince Philip would have turned 100, and when a Trooping of the Colour was planned.
The pregnant Duchess of Sussex will not be attending the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral after medical advice.
The Duke of Sussex will make the journey from the couple's home in California and will be following Covid-19 protocols for the trip, as well as during his visit.
It is understood that Meghan, who is pregnant with her second child, had made every effort to join her husband but was not given clearance to travel by her doctor.
Harry has not returned to the UK since stepping down as a senior royal just over a year ago.
It also be the first time he has seen his family in person since his and Meghan's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey - in which they accused the royal family of racism and the institution failing to support a suicidal Meghan.
The Duke of Cambridge, in a rare move on a royal engagement, spoke out publicly saying 'We're very much not a racist family', as the royals' ability to carry out official duties linked to diversity, inclusion and mental health was called into question.
Harry told Oprah Winfrey that he felt let down by his father the Prince of Wales and that 'there's a lot of hurt that's happened' between them, and that his relationship with his brother William was 'space' but he loved him to bits.
Now events have forced William and Harry to meet sooner than expected, and other members of the Royal Family will be hoping that a healing of the brothers' rift will be a silver lining in the cloud of Prince Philip's passing.
The Sussexes, who ignored calls to postpone the March 7 CBS interview because Philip was unwell, accused an unnamed royal, not the Queen nor the duke, of raising concerns about how dark their son Archie's skin tone would be before he was born.
Ms King claimed afterwards that the pair had a contingency plan that if Prince Philip's condition worsened, the interview would not have aired. That has not been confirmed by TV networks.
The interview was sold by CBS to dozens of countries around the world, and CBS paid a reported $8million for it.
Meghan also claimed that she'd been trapped by the 'institution' and was at one point suicidal, but that when she sought help, was told she could not have it.
Meghan is now pregnant with their second child and due to give birth sometime in the summer but she has not disclosed exactly when. The couple has not commented on any plan to return to the UK.
The Queen said after the interview that the allegations were 'concerning' but that 'some recollections may vary' and the matter was a family one that would be dealt with privately.
The Sussexes, who faced calls to postpone the interview because Philip was unwell, accused an unnamed royal, not the Queen nor the duke, of raising concerns about how dark their son Archie's skin tone would be before he was born.
Since then, they have launched a charity, accepted lucrative business deals with Netflix and Spotify, given public talks, appeared on Zoom conferences, and on March 7, they criticised the Royal Family in a sit-down interview with Oprah that was viewed around the world.
Meghan is now pregnant with their second child and due to give birth sometime in the summer but she has not disclosed exactly when.
According to government guidelines, people travelling to England must self-isolate from arrival into the country for 10 full days.
However, arriving travellers can take a test five days after arriving in the country and - if this is negative - may leave self-isolation.
This is the most likely option for Prince Harry unless he claims special status accorded to diplomats.
Harry was last pictured with Philip on May 8, 2019, when they were seen posing for a charming photograph with baby Archie at Buckingham Palace.
Since then they kept up over Zoom, with Harry telling James Corden: 'We've Zoomed them a few times, they've seen Archie running around.
But my grandfather, instead of pressing 'leave meeting', he just goes 'doof' [mimics shutting the laptop]. I'm like, okay, bye…' Harry explained, laughing.
Meanwhile, Meghan spoke about Philip's illness on Oprah, saying: 'This morning, I woke up earlier than H, and saw a note from someone on our team in the UK saying that the Duke of Edinburgh had gone to the hospital.
'But I just picked up the phone and I called the Queen just to check-in. That's what we do, being able to default to not having to every moment go, 'Is that appropriate?''
What kind of reception the Sussexes will receive if they return to the UK after their extraordinary interview and behaviour over the last year is uncertain.
The Queen has shared a touching tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh - a day after her husband of 73 years died at Windsor Castle at the age of 99.
A portrait, which shows Her Majesty, 94, sitting next to Prince Philip, was posted on the Royal Family's social media along with a moving quote from the monarch about her husband from a speech she made celebrating their golden wedding anniversary in 1997.
She said: 'He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.'
The Queen was speaking in November 1997 during a lunch at Banqueting House in London, in which she looked back on 'a remarkable fifty years'.
Her Majesty announced her husband's death at midday on Friday as the Union Flag was lowered to half-mast outside Buckingham Palace.
The touching portrait and quote were shared to Instagram today, alongside the caption: 'At The Queen's Coronation in 1953, The Duke of Edinburgh swore to be Her Majesty's 'liege man of life and limb.'
'The Duke was a devoted consort (companion to the Sovereign) for almost 70 years, from Her Majesty's Accession in 1952 until his death.'
The image of the royal couple was first released as part of a series of photo portraits in 2016 to mark the Queen's 90th birthday, and was released the day before Philip's 95th birthday.
Taken at Windsor Castle after Easter that year, it was the sixth and final picture in a series of portraits taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz to mark the Queen's birthday.
CBS host Gayle King, who is a close friend of Oprah, claimed afterwards that the pair had a contingency plan that if Prince Philip's condition worsened, the interview would not have aired. It has not been confirmed by TV networks that that is the case.
The interview was sold by CBS to dozens of countries around the world, and CBS paid a reported $8million(£5.8m) for it.
The Queen said after the interview that the allegations were 'concerning' and that she would address them within Buckingham Palace.
While Harry claimed in the interview to have always had a good relationship with the Queen, it's unclear what kind of relationship, if any, he now has with Prince William and his father, Prince Charles.
Meghan claimed during the interview that contrary to public reports based on palace sources, she did not make Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, cry during the run-up to her wedding and that it was Kate who made her cry instead.
She also claimed that she'd been trapped by the 'institution' and was at one point suicidal but that when she sought mental health help, she was told she could not have it.
The Royal Family has not commented on those claims.
The Duke of Edinburgh spent his final days at Windsor Castle with his wife, who he lovingly called Lilibet throughout their long life together, after a 28-night stay in hospital having been admitted in mid-February for an infection and a pre-existing heart condition.
Her Majesty announced her husband's death at midday as the Union Flag was lowered to half-mast outside Buckingham Palace and on public buildings across the UK and Commonwealth, while members of the public hugged and wiped away tears as they laid flowers in his memory - and messages of love and support for the Queen and her family.
The Royal Family said in a statement: 'It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss'.
Her Majesty, who remains at Windsor Castle, is now expected to enter an eight-day period of mourning. She will not carry out any duties, even in private, while laws will not be given the Royal Assent and affairs of state will also be paused.
As with all royal births, marriages and deaths, a notice announcing Philip's passing was displayed outside Buckingham Palace. Mourners are already laying flowers at the palace, Sandringham, Balmoral and Windsor Castle, where he is expected to be buried in Frogmore Gardens following a small family service at St George's Chapel.
A frail Philip was last seen leaving hospital on March 16 and his death plunges the nation and the Royal Family into mourning, and brings to an end Philip's lifetime of service to Britain and to Elizabeth, the Queen who adored him since her teens. The couple shared their 73rd wedding anniversary last November and he was due to turn 100 on June 10 this year.
Boris Johnson led the tributes and addressed the nation outside No 10 Downing Street shortly after the announcement. He said: 'We give thanks, as a nation and a kingdom, for the extraordinary life and work of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh'.
He added: 'Speaking on their golden wedding anniversary, Her Majesty said that our country owed her husband 'a greater debt than he would ever claim or we shall ever know' and I am sure that estimate is correct So we mourn today with Her Majesty The Queen.
'We remember the duke for all of this and above all for his steadfast support for Her Majesty the Queen. Not just as her consort, by her side every day of her reign, but as her husband, her 'strength and stay', of more than 70 years.
'And it is to Her Majesty, and her family, that our nation's thoughts must turn today. Because they have lost not just a much-loved and highly respected public figure, but a devoted husband and a proud and loving father, grandfather and, in recent years, great-grandfather.'
Mr Johnson also praised his Duke of Edinburgh scheme, which has 'shaped and inspired the lives of countless young people'.
Prince Charles today paid tribute to his 'dear Papa' as he spoke for the first time following news of his father Prince Philip's death yesterday morning.
In a pre-recorded video message, the Prince of Wales said his father had given 'the most remarkable, devoted service' to 'The Queen, to my family and to the country', as well as the Commonwealth.
The Duke of Edinburgh was, he said, a 'very special person' who would have been 'deeply touched' by the sorrow felt by millions of people in Britain and across the world at news of his passing.
He said he would miss his father 'enormously' and added that his family were 'deeply grateful' for the condolences offered, which he said would 'sustain us' at this 'particularly sad time'.
Speaking from his Gloucestershire home, Highgrove, Charles said: 'I particularly wanted to say that my father, for I suppose the last 70 years, has given the most remarkable, devoted service to The Queen, to my family and to the country, but also to the whole of the Commonwealth.
'As you can imagine, my family and I miss my father enormously. He was a much loved and appreciated figure and apart from anything else, I can imagine, he would be so deeply touched by the number of other people here and elsewhere around the world and the Commonwealth, who also I think, share our loss and our sorrow.
'My dear Papa was a very special person who I think above all else would have been amazed by the reaction and the touching things that have been said about him and from that point of view we are, my family, deeply grateful for all that.
'It will sustain us in this particular loss and at this particularly sad time. Thank you.'
By Mail on Sunday reporter
Borne by a Land Rover and in the presence of his family and representatives of the military establishment that was so close to his heart, Philip's body will be taken to the steps of St George's Chapel, Windsor.
Based on details released by Buckingham Palace yesterday, this is how his funeral service will then take place next Saturday afternoon.
1 The coffin, covered with Philip's personal standard and a wreath of flowers, is borne by 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards from Windsor Castle's private chapel.
2 2.40pm. It reaches the castle state entrance. Accompanying the coffin will be the Dean of Windsor and the Lord Chamberlain.
Those gathered in the quadrangle 'pay compliments'.
Royal Marines place the coffin on a Land Rover.
The procession sets off, led by Band of the Grenadier Guards, followed by the Major General's Party and the Service Chiefs.
3 The route is lined by representatives of the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Highlanders, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and the RAF.
Minute guns are fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn. The Curfew Tower bell tolls.
4 2.53pm. The procession reaches St George's Chapel West Steps. A Guard of Honour and Band from The Rifles receives the coffin at the foot of the steps.
The National Anthem is played as the coffin enters Horseshoe Cloister.
A bearing party of Royal Marines carries the coffin up the steps.
3pm. Pause for a minute's silence. The Archbishop of Canterbury and Dean of Windsor receive the coffin. Only members of the Royal Family and Philip's private secretary, Archie Miller-Bakewell, enter the chapel.
The Service begins with the coffin carried to the catafalque in the Quire.
Albert Memorial Chapel
Philip's body is believed to have been moved here.
The chapel was created by Queen Victoria in honour of her husband, Albert, in 1875.
Portraits of the couple's nine children were included among decorations of gilding, marble, mosaics, precious stones and coloured glass.
King George VI Memorial Chapel
It is widely believed the Queen wishes to be buried alongside Philip here.
The bodies of her parents, George VI and the Queen Mother, as well as the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret, are interred here.
His personal standard
Prince Philip's Standard knits together his rich lineage and personal history. The flag is quartered into Denmark, Greece, Mountbatten and Edinburgh – representing the two royal families he descends from, as well as his surname and title.
Born into the Greek and Danish royal families, he renounced his right to either throne when he became a British subject before his marriage to Princess Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey in 1947.
Denmark is represented on the standard by three blue lions passant and nine red hearts on a yellow field, while Greece consists of a white cross on a blue field.
Before his wedding, he adopted his mother's surname of Mountbatten, represented by five vertical stripes. After his marriage, he was designated a Royal highness and became the Duke of Edinburgh. The city is represented by a three-towered castle.
Buried in his Naval finery
Philip is expected to be buried in his ceremonial naval uniform.
Traditionally, this includes a ceremonial day coat with aiguillettes – long strands of weaved gilt thread – worn on the right shoulder, the Royal Cypher and Sleeve Lace Distinction Marks of Rank consisting of rows of gold lace with a circle (or 'curl'); gold-laced trousers; white, long-sleeved shirt; black socks; black shoes; white gloves.
His coffin will be draped with his personal standard, and decorated with a wreath of flowers and his naval cap and sword.
'Just stick me in the back of a Land Rover and drive me to Windsor': Prince Philip is granted wish to be taken to funeral in 'specially modified' vehicle as nations prepares for a Royal goodbye like no other
By Ian Gallagher for the Mail on Sunday
In typically insouciant fashion, Prince Philip often remarked to the Queen when discussing his funeral: 'Just stick me in the back of a Land Rover and drive me to Windsor.' Now it transpires that his wish will come true.
Buckingham Palace yesterday announced that a 'specially modified' Land Rover, which the Duke himself helped design, will carry his coffin on its final journey on Saturday.
In a Royal funeral like no other, the eight-minute procession will begin at the state entrance of Windsor Castle, ending at nearby St George's Chapel.
Once there – at 3pm – there will be a national minute's silence heralding the start of a no-frills service attended by just 30 members of the Royal Family.
The Duke had always insisted that he wanted minimal fuss but he was, nevertheless, a traditionalist and some may find his choice of hearse surprising.
Aides are confident, however, that his playful final act will find favour with a nation that has long celebrated his occasional irreverence.
In 1948, King George VI, the Queen's father, was presented with the 100th vehicle off the first Land Rover production line and the Royal Family has had a love affair with them ever since.
Such has been the Duke's close association that Jeremy Clarkson once dubbed the Land Rover 'an automotive Prince Philip'.
Two years ago, the Prince had a remarkable escape after his Land Rover collided with another car near Sandringham House.
Buckingham Palace confirmed yesterday that Philip will have a Royal ceremonial funeral similar to that of the Queen Mother in 2002. A period of national mourning, which began on Friday, will continue until Saturday.
The funeral plans were approved by the Queen who, along with the rest of her family will wear a face mask at the service. The congregation will observe social-distancing rules for the service, which will be televised live.
A former spymaster will be responsible for overseeing the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral planning.
Lord Parker of Minsmere, who became Lord Chamberlain of the Household after previously serving as Director-General of MI5, is just ten days into his new job, but will play a key role in Operation Forth Bridge – the codename for the Duke’s funeral plan.
Once described as ‘the safest pair of hands in Britain’, he guided MI5 through a series of Islamist attacks in 2017 and the Salisbury poisonings in 2018. He hosted the Queen’s first visit to MI5’s headquarters in London last February.
While the Lord Chamberlain will remain in overall control, it is the Lord Chamberlain’s Office – headed by its Comptroller, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Vernon – which will deal with the practicalities. A former Extra Equerry to the Queen, Col Vernon previously served in the Coldstream Guards.
The Office draws up funeral plans years in advance and is expected to be working round the clock over the next week.
Vice Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt, the Master of the Queen’s Household and one of 22 loyal staff who formed ‘HMS Bubble’ around the Queen and the Duke during the pandemic, will also play a key role as will Sir Edward Young, the Queen’s private secretary, who will be the bridge between the Monarch and the Government.
The Land Rover bearing the Duke's coffin – draped in his personal standard, a wreath of flowers and his naval cap and sword – will be followed by the Prince of Wales and other senior Royals on foot.
The Queen has decided that the Royal Family will enter two weeks of mourning and mourning bands will be worn by its members. The entire funeral will take place within the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Public elements of Operation Forth Bridge – the codename for the Duke's funeral plans – were abandoned for fear of drawing crowds, including long-held arrangements for military processions through London and Windsor.
A Palace spokesman said: 'This event will be much reduced in scale with no public access. In line with Government guidelines and public health measures, there will be no public processions and the Duke's funeral will take place entirely within the grounds of Windsor Castle.
'The plans have been given final approval by the Queen and reflect appropriately Government advice. Despite these necessary changes, they still very much reflect the personal wishes of the Duke.
'Although the ceremonial arrangements are reduced, the occasion will still celebrate and recognise the Duke's life and his more than 70 years of service to the Queen, the UK and the Commonwealth.'
On Saturday, the Duke's coffin, accompanied by the Dean of Windsor and the Lord Chamberlain, will be moved from the Queen's private chapel of worship to the State Entrance of Windsor Castle by a Bearer Party of The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
On the grass in the Castle's Quadrangle will be representative detachments drawn from Philip's military special relationships, including the Household Cavalry and The Foot Guards.
The Band of the Grenadier Guards, of which Philip was Colonel for 42 years, will lead the procession to St George's Chapel, followed by the Major General's Party, and then the Service Chiefs, reflecting His Royal Highness's close relationship with the military.
Minute guns will be fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn of Windsor Castle for the duration of the procession, and the Curfew Tower Bell will toll.
The Duke, who died peacefully last Friday, is believed to have requested his favourite seafarers' hymn, For Those In Peril On The Sea. At the end of the service a Psalm and the 'ashes to ashes' text will be read as a piper plays a lament. The coffin will lie in the Royal Vault until the Queen dies.
She wishes to be buried beside him, her parents – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother – and sister, Princess Margaret, in the tiny adjacent George VI Memorial Chapel. On her death, Philip's coffin will be interred alongside her there.
St George's Chapel is the resting place of ten monarchs. Steeped in history, the 15th Century gothic church, set in the Lower Ward of the Queen's favourite residence, has seen many Royal funerals and weddings.
They include the marriage of the Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, in May 2018 and the wedding of Princess Eugenie to Jack Brooksbank in October 2018.
As well as the scene of Royal celebrations, it has also been a place of sadness for the Windsors.
The funeral of Princess Margaret took place there in 2002, as did the private committal service for the Queen Mother the same year.
By Robert Jobson, Royal Commentator for the Mail on Sunday
With his life drawing to a close, a frail Duke of Edinburgh had just three important things to say when he asked to see his eldest son in hospital a few weeks ago. In an emotional bedside conversation, the Duke advised Prince Charles on caring for the Queen when he was gone, and on how Charles should lead the Royal Family through the years ahead.
And, fully aware he was unlikely to recover after weeks in hospital, the 99-year-old expressed a wish to go finally home, a Palace source revealed. He wanted to die in his own bed, behind the walls of Windsor Castle.
This heart-to-heart marked not just the ending of a long and successful era, a changing of the guard, but a much-changed relationship between father and son, too.
For after a lifetime of well-publicised disagreement, it is understood that the Duke and Charles have found much common ground in recent years, and particularly in the past few months.
Like so many fathers and sons with sharp minds and forthright beliefs, they had frequent clashes – often on questions such as organic and genetically engineered food production.
'They've both mellowed,' said a well-placed source. 'In recent years they were much more accepting of the other's point of view.
'They have always loved one another – that was never in question. But there was a deeper respect and it was growing.
'They shared common ground on the future direction of the monarchy, on religious issues – even on the environment. They both believed in inter-faith dialogue and that talking openly and honestly can only help strengthen communities and understanding.'
A close friend of the Prince added: 'The idea that these are two men who spent a lifetime at loggerheads, and that Princess Anne was the son he wished he'd had, is out of date and wrong. A much more accurate picture over the last ten years is of two very strong-willed people who came to understand each other's point of view.
'A father and son who loved each other and enjoyed a relationship of mutual respect and affection.
'Over the last year of Philip's life, they were the closest that they've ever been.'
Prince Charles is said to have been in constant contact with his father both in person and by telephone over the past few weeks and is believed to have seen him for the last time on Tuesday.
Although resting at home, Prince Philip remained gravely ill after his weeks in hospital and heart operation. Yet there was a time when relations between father and son were so tense that letters were the only means of communication between them. When they did meet in person, disagreement would soon break out.
'They kissed each other when they met, but within a short time the mood would change. They would fundamentally disagree about big issues,' said one senior figure in the Royal Household.
The difficulties began early, with alpha-male Philip apparently struggling to understand his more sensitive first-born son. Perhaps worried Charles would be seen as weak, Philip deliberately set about attempting to 'toughen him up'.
He believed in, and practised, so-called 'authoritarian parenting'.
In his defence, Philip was concerned by signs that Charles was being over-indulged by those around him, not least the Queen Mother, and felt it was his duty to introduce some 'tough love' to counteract the spoiling.
Philip's choice of school for Charles was similarly no-nonsense. The Duke favoured Gordonstoun in Scotland, which he had attended. He had loved the rugged approach and the emphasis on outdoor life and physical activity.
But the decision seemed to disregard Charles's very different nature and has since been viewed as a mistake – not least by Charles himself, who variously described Gordonstoun as 'hell on earth' and 'a prison sentence'.
Later, it was claimed that the Prince of Wales and his father fell out over Princess Diana.
In fact, it is wholly wrong to suggest that Philip forced Charles to marry her. He did not – and Charles did not consider his father in any way to blame for the marriage or its subsequent failure.
What is true is that the Duke, along with the Queen, was keen for Charles to marry a suitable bride and, in time, to produce an heir.
Given Charles was approaching 32, Philip decided to write to his eldest son about it, stressing he felt he should either propose marriage to Lady Diana or let her go.
It was a warm, affectionate and encouraging letter – not an abrupt order, as some of his critics have maintained.
However, the Duke was deeply hurt by the way Charles aired his feelings in interviews with biographer Jonathan Dimbleby in 1994.
As well as admitting infidelity following the breakdown of his marriage, Charles spoke of his unhappiness as a child, and accused the Queen of being emotionally and physically distant. His greatest anger, however, was reserved for his father, who was described as 'harsh' and 'hectoring'. All that Philip would say at the time was that he and the Queen had done the best they could as parents.
Father and son disagreed about many issues, but none more prominently than the environment.
In 2008, for example, the Duke told Sir Trevor McDonald he doubted the value of organic farming – despite his son's passionate commitment – claiming it may not have 'real benefit'. He told viewers that, in contrast, he supported the genetic modification of crops – something opposed by Charles.
'I think people are beginning to realise that some of the chickens are coming home to roost and settle heavily in the genetically modified trees,' noted the Duke.
Yet even on this subject, there has been a significant rapprochement between the two men in recent years. The most significant sign of this came in 2017, when Philip was happy to let Charles take over the Home Farms at Sandringham and Windsor. 'They didn't see eye to eye on this for years but it is interesting that the Duke now respects the work the Prince of Wales has done in this field,' said a current member of the Royal household.
Another informed source added: 'They came to have very similar views on a whole range of issues from social mobility to religion to the environment.
'Even when they didn't agree, on organic farming, for example, Philip didn't get in the way of Charles's plan to turn the Sandringham estate organic.
'The Duke in the end respected that it was now Charles's turn to run the farms, and to do it how he sees fit.'
The two men grew notably closer after Philip announced his retirement from public duties in August that same year.
No longer burdened by officialdom, the Duke found more time to spend with his four children, as well as be a grandfather and great-grandfather to new generations of Royals.
He left the decision-making to his wife, the Monarch, and his eldest son, the future King. But he still stepped in when he felt it was necessary.
In 2019, following days of mounting pressure over Prince Andrew's disastrous television interview over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, it was Philip who orchestrated the showdown meeting with Charles at Sandringham.
And it was Philip who elected to speak to Andrew first – to soften the blow that the Duke of York would have no choice but to step back from Royal duties.
The relationship between Charles and Philip was beginning to look very much like a partnership – a fondness evident in the tribute Charles, 72, paid to his 'dear papa' yesterday.
Philip was a 'much loved and appreciated figure', the Prince said in a special televised tribute and 'a very special person'.
Perhaps it is only with the benefit of hindsight, reflecting on a long life of service.
Or perhaps father and son were always far closer than they liked to believe.
'They were both extremely passionate about their beliefs. That didn't make them enemies – it just meant that they disagreed,' said a Royal source.
And as for all those formal sounding letters?
'The Prince often wrote to his father when he was away on overseas tours,' said a friend. 'It was a way they shared ideas.'
In an interview with Alan Titchmarsh for ITV some years ago, the presenter asked Philip how important he considered his role as a father compared to that of a Queen's consort. 'Was that a role you were conscious of fulfilling?' Titchmarsh asked.
'No, I was a father,' Philip snapped back. 'Are you a father? Well, do you think about it?'
By Mark Hookham and Brendan Carlin for the Mail on Sunday
Prince Philip was upset by a 'shockingly malicious' episode of The Crown in which his father angrily blamed him for his sister's death in a plane crash, according to two Royal biographers.
The respected authors said Philip had been hurt by the manner in which the 1937 death of Princess Cecilie of Greece and Denmark had been depicted in the drama – and renewed calls for Netflix to apologise and add a disclaimer.
Slurs during the first four series include the suggestions that the Prince was a serial philanderer who had an affair with a ballerina, was involved in the Profumo sex scandal and delivered a menacing threat to Princess Diana.
Producers of The Crown said on Friday they were 'deeply saddened' by his death, while actors Matt Smith and Tobias Menzies – who both played Philip over the four series – paid their own tributes. But the drama's creator, Peter Morgan, and Netflix fell silent this weekend when asked if they would apologise for the portrayal of Philip.
Sally Bedell Smith, who published a bestselling biography of the Queen, said the 'most egregious' falsehood involved a scene in the second series during which Philip's father, Prince Andrew, blames his son for Cecilie's death.
According to the show, Philip was meant to visit her in Germany but was forbidden from going after getting into trouble at Gordonstoun School in Scotland. Cecilie decided instead to fly to England, but her plane hit a factory chimney in Belgium and crashed, killing her, her husband, their two sons and unborn baby boy, and her mother-in-law.
At Cecilie's funeral in Germany, Prince Andrew is shown confronting Philip, saying: 'You are the reason we are all here, burying my favourite child.'
Ms Bedell Smith, 72, said Philip 'had nothing to do with his sister's death' and there was no rift with his father after the tragedy. 'Cecilie did die in an air crash but that's the only thing that was true,' she added. 'Everything else was invented in a shockingly malicious way.'
The author has been told by Royal sources that Philip was made aware of the hurtful storyline, although both he and the Queen refused to watch the drama. 'The whole thing about Cecilie, which he did learn about, was terribly upsetting to him,' she said. 'They [Netflix] should emphatically apologise and I think a disclaimer is necessary more than ever. Now that he is gone, what they have done to his reputation is in even sharper relief.'
Hugo Vickers, a Royal biographer who has dissected The Crown's falsehoods, described the depiction of Cecilie's death as 'disgraceful', adding that Philip had been 'very upset' about it.
'How disgraceful it was [of The Crown] to turn Prince Philip into a caricature person – never doing any work in the series. The depiction was cruel and deeply unfair. The least Netflix could do was to alert viewers with a disclaimer.'
Chris Parry, a retired Royal Navy commander who studied the 1937 plane crash as part of a PhD, said its depiction in The Crown was 'outrageous', adding: 'It was rubbish. This man had integrity. This generation has forgotten just what people stood for in his generation.'
Another falsehood in The Crown is an implied affair between Philip and ballerina Galina Ulanova. While Ms Ulanova was a real dancer, performing acclaimed lead roles in Swan Lake and Romeo And Juliet, there is no evidence of an affair with the Duke.
'It was complete fantasy,' said Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine. 'He never even met the ballet dancer.'
In the final episode of The Crown's latest series, Philip is shown threatening Diana at Sandringham in 1990.
Diana, played by Emma Corrin, is seen telling her father-in-law that her marriage to Prince Charles is a 'dark, loveless cave' and she wants to 'break away'.
Philip menacingly says 'I can't see it ending well for you', prompting Diana to reply: 'I hope that isn't a threat, Sir.'
Former Culture Secretary Karen Bradley urged Netflix to correct its error of not attaching a disclaimer stating that the drama is a work of fiction, not fact.
'While Prince Philip was still alive, Netflix badly misrepresented the behaviour and conduct of this noble and dignified man,' she said.
'Now that he has died, the least they can do is to make amends by acknowledging that the picture of the Duke of Edinburgh in The Crown was unjust and, in many respects, simply fictional.
Prince Philip was upset about 'shockingly malicious' episode of The Crown, says Royal biographer'Netflix should also add a health warning to previous and future episodes so that viewers know that what they are watching is not an accurate and faithful account of the Royal Family.'
