Soldiers carry out rehearsal drills ahead of Prince Philip’s funeral

Soldiers took part in rehearsal drills today ahead of Prince Philip‘s funeral this Saturday as mourners continued to gather outside royal residences to pay their respects following his death five days ago aged 99.

Members of the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals, which make up the senior Household Cavalry regiment, took part in rehearsals on the Drill Square at the Army Training Centre Pirbright in Woking, Surrey.

Soldiers from the Welsh Guards, the Coldstream Guards, and the Royal Regiment of Scotland 4 Scots (the Highlanders) were also involved in practice sessions ahead of the funeral at Windsor Castle.

Armed guards and wardens continued to patrol outside Windsor as preparations were made to the streets outside including signs referred to the coronavirus pandemic, saying: ‘Don’t let your guard down.’

Media companies were busy setting up tents for broadcasting facilities ahead of Saturday while flowers continued to be laid outside the castle, as well as at Buckingham Palace in London where police were monitoring crowds.

Thames Valley Police are carrying out specialist searches around Windsor town, with officers examining street furniture including phone boxes, post boxes, drains and bins as part of the operation.  

One cafe worker in Windsor said the Duke of Edinburgh was a ‘big part of the community’, and is expecting the Berkshire town to be ‘very busy’ on the day of Philip’s ceremonial royal funeral at St George’s Chapel. 

Tone Mendez, who has worked at the nearby Clairmont’s cafe for 12 years, said he may be working from 3am that day due to an expected influx of visitors.

But the 39-year-old, originally from Portugal, said the cafe in the High Street has been ordered by the local council not to put any tables outside.

Authorities have already warned well-wishers not to visit the town on the day of the funeral due to concerns over the potential transmission of Covid-19.

‘This weekend we received a letter from the council saying we’re not allowed to put any tables from Friday night until six o’clock on Saturday,’ Mr Mendez said.

‘It is a big shame. It will be lovely to put all the tables out and people just sit there on (a) sunny day. But they probably think the town is going to be very busy and, for safety reasons, we’re not allowed to put tables outside.’ 

He said the last time such a rule was imposed was for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in May 2018, when thousands lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.

Asked about his expectations for Saturday, Mr Mendez said: ‘I believe it’s going to be very, very busy. I’ve been hearing things around that they are going to shut Windsor, but I don’t know if it’s true or not.’

Mr Mendez said lockdown had meant a ‘tough few weeks’ for the cafe, but the last few days have been ‘quite intense’. He added: ‘Windsor is packed now. Every weekend is going mental now,. And we expect to be more busy this weekend.’

The duke’s funeral will take place entirely behind the walls of Windsor Castle, with members of the public urged not to visit the historic market town to try to watch the proceedings.

John Story, mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead, previously said: ‘It is a very difficult time for people and people have very strong feelings, but we have to ask everyone to put theirs and the health and safety of others at the top of their list of priorities and not come in to Windsor.’

When he initially learned of Philip’s death from his daughter, Mr Mendez said he thought it was ‘a joke’ but when he saw ‘a lot of people walking by with flowers’ he knew it was ‘real’.

He added: ‘He’s a big part of the community of Windsor. We see him in the Long Walk riding his horses… at the market he’s there talking to people. He’s a very nice person to deal with. But now he’s gone, it’s a shame.’

Thames Valley Police have also advised people to respect the Royal Household’s wishes and Government advice by not visiting royal residences or gathering in public to protect against coronavirus transmission.

Additional officers are due to be patrolling Windsor town centre. The UK is officially in a period of national mourning for the next week, up to and including Philip’s funeral on Saturday afternoon. 

The service at St George’s Chapel will be like no other, with the Queen and her family wearing face masks and socially distancing as they gather to say their final farewell amid Covid-19 restrictions.  

Philip’s wishes are the driving force behind the funeral plans, and on the day his coffin will be transported from the castle to the chapel in a specially modified Land Rover he helped to design.

This will be followed by Prince Charles and senior royals on foot. The coffin will be covered by the duke’s personal standard together with his naval cap and sword and a wreath of flowers.

Only 30 people – expected to be the Duke’s children, grandchildren and other close family – will attend as guests, but the Duchess of Sussex has been advised by her doctor not to travel to the UK for the funeral.

Mourners coming from outside England are required to self-isolate for the first full ten days after they arrive, but are allowed to leave on compassionate grounds to attend a funeral of a close family member.

The Duke of Sussex, who is in quarantine at Frogmore Cottage after travelling from the US, could also be released from quarantine if he gets a negative private test on day five under the Test to Release scheme.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has given up his seat at the funeral to allow a family member to attend. While all public elements of the funeral – to take place entirely in the grounds of the castle – have been cancelled, it will be televised.

As the funeral procession makes its way through the grounds of the castle, Charles will be joined by senior royals – but not the Queen – walking behind the coffin and followed by Philip’s household, the most senior figure his private secretary Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell.

The route of the procession will be lined by representatives from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and RAF and the Service chiefs will walk ahead of the coffin, with the cortege led by the Band of the Grenadier Guards.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and David Conner, the Dean of Windsor, are expected to officiate at the service. 

The duke died peacefully in his sleep at Windsor Castle on Friday, two months before his 100th birthday. On Saturday, gun salutes were fired across the UK, in Gibraltar and at sea in tribute. 

The royal family has appealed to people who wish to pay their respects in person to stay at home instead.

The Queen may have to sit alone during the service due to social distancing rules, the Telegraph has reported. She is staying at Windsor with a reduced number of around 22 staff, in what has been dubbed HMS Bubble. 

It is thought Philip’s funeral could attract one of the largest television audiences of the year.

The biggest TV audience so far saw 25.1 million people watch Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s televised address on January 4 announcing a new national lockdown, while 13.9 million viewers tuned in for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s interview with US broadcaster Oprah Winfrey last month.

Broadcasters have yet to confirm their plans for Philip’s funeral, but the BBC and ITV are likely to devote several hours to the event, including the ceremony at 3pm.