Millions are tuning in to watch Prince Philip‘s funeral as the BBC‘s Huw Edwards goes head-to-head with ITV’s Tom Bradby in today’s coverage.
Mourners have begun to gather at Windsor Castle where the Queen will today say her final farewell to her ‘strength and stay’ Prince Philip – despite the Government and police urging the public to stay away.
For those watching from their homes, the BBC launched it’s six hours of funeral coverage at 11am on BBC One with The Duke: In His Own Words, one of Prince Philip’s last interviews, which was conducted by the Daily Mail’s Robert Hardman.
At 12.30pm, Edwards kicked off the corporation’s live broadcast of the day – with JJ Chalmers and Sophie Raworth reporting from ‘key locations’.
It follows a week which saw the BBC receive nearly 110,000 complaints about the amount of coverage it gave to Philip’s death.
Meanwhile, ITV’s funeral coverage began at 1.15pm fronted by Bradby and Julie Etchingham. Prince William recently ended his long-standing friendship with Bradby because of his concerns he sided with Prince Harry.
At 12.30pm, Huw Edwards kicked off the corporation’s live broadcast of the day – with JJ Chalmers and Sophie Raworth reporting from ‘key locations’
Meanwhile, ITV’s funeral coverage began at 1.15pm fronted by Tom Bradby and Julie Etchingham (pictured). Prince William recently ended his long-standing friendship with Bradby because of his concerns he sided with Prince Harry
Sir David Attenborough – a friend of the duke’s – described Philip as ‘an extraordinary combination of being formidable and actually being cheerful’
The BBC’s and ITV’s programming will mean further schedule changes which could again spark complaints. Pictured: Major General Sir William George Cubitt (bottom left), journalist Eve Pollard (bottom right) and royal biographer Hugo Vickers (top)
A police officer surveys the wreathes left by European royal families and world governments on the lawn outside St George’s Chapel
A man raises a bowler hat to the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery as they ride past on the Long Walk
The BBC’s coverage has so far seen Edwards joined by guests who knew The Duke, and Royal experts who share their thoughts on a remarkable life of duty and service.
Sir David Attenborough – a friend of the duke’s – described Philip as ‘an extraordinary combination of being formidable and actually being cheerful’.
He added: ‘You knew he was there in an extraordinary way, he had an amazing presence.’
He said the duke performed a ‘balancing act between formality and informality’, adding that he ‘both put you at your ease but also made you aware that you were actually to some degree on parade’.
Edwards is leading the coverage from 12.30pm to 4.20pm on BBC One – and a show on BBC Two reflecting on the day’s events from 8.10pm.
Other planned programming on BBC One will go ahead from 5pm tonight including the FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Manchester City, followed by I Can See Your Voice, Casualty and Keeping Faith.
Sky News will have dedicated live coverage of the funeral from 12.30pm to 5pm from Windsor, with breakfast with Jayne Secker, mid-morning Sarah Hewson, special coverage by Dermot Murnaghan, and Mark Austin from 5pm.
But the BBC’s and ITV’s programming will mean further schedule changes which could again spark complaints.
Meanwhile the BBC revealed it had received a record 109,741 complaints about the amount of coverage it had given to Philip’s death, which is believed to be the record for complaints in British television history.
The BBC cleared its schedules last Friday, the day of the duke’s death, to simulcast special programmes on BBC One and BBC Two, with episodes of shows such as MasterChef and EastEnders dropped from that day’s TV guide.
Prince Charles and Prince William have already arrived at Windsor Castle with their wives ahead of the ceremony later today.
The grieving Prince of Wales, who shed tears for his late father when viewing tributes left at Buckingham Palace this week, looked sombre in a black mask as he was driven into his mother’s Berkshire home.
His wife Camilla arrived separately just as the duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who was wearing the Queen’s pearls, left Kensington Palace.
Prince Charles, wearing a black mask, arrives at Windsor Castle for his father Prince Philip’s funeral today
William and Kate leave Kensington Palace ahead of their first meeting with Prince Harry for more than a year following the turmoil of Megxit
A sombre Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrived separately from her husband as the world watched Windsor
Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips, who recently had a baby named after the Duke of Edinburgh, drive into the castle this afternoon
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were smiling as they saw the crowds at Windsor as they arrived for the sad event
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was driven to the castle. He will praise Philip’s ‘life of service to the nation and Commonwealth’ at the service. Lady Penny Brabourne, the duke’s close friend and confidante, was also seen arriving
Zara Tindall and her husband Mike arrived at the castle shortly afterwards followed by Philip’s other grandchildren including Princess Beatrice and spouse Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
The Cambridges are set to see Prince Harry for the first time in a year after the brothers fell out over Megxit and the Sussexes extraordinary and damaging Oprah interview.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s insignia, Field Marshal’s baton, RAF wings and decorations from Denmark and Greece resting on cushions have been placed on the altar of St George’s Chapel to mark the passing of the ‘grandfather of the nation’.
At 11am his coffin, covered with Philip’s personal standard along with his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers, was moved from Her Majesty’s private chapel to the Inner Hall of Windsor Castle by members of The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
The Kings Troop and their artillery arrive for the funeral, with the ceremonial event involved 700 members of the armed forces
The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery move along The Long Walk towards the castle ahead of the procession this afternoon as crowds amassed
The first glimpse of the altar inside the chapel shows the Duke’s insignia, Field Marshal’s baton, RAF wings and decorations from Denmark and Greece resting on cushions
The first mourners have been swept into Windsor Castle as Prince Philip’s coffin is moved into position ahead of his funeral this afternoon
Minutes later a convoy of funeral cars swept the first mourners into the main gates as a single Queen’s Guard stood to attention, as soldiers on horses trotted into the grounds where 700 armed forces personnel will gather.
The early guests arriving included The Countess Mountbatten of Burma, Lady Penny Brabourne, Philip’s close friend and confidante, and Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The castle has a ‘ring of steel’ protecting it led by armed units from the Metropolitan Police. Tens of millions of people in Britain and around the world will be watching the most important royal funeral since the Queen Mother died in 2002.
The event, pared back because of the pandemic, was overseen by Philip for at least 20 years before his death.
Members of the Household Cavalry march past St George’s Chapel where Prince Philip’s funeral is taking place
The Household Cavalry would normally be flanked by huge crowds of mourners, but today only a sea of flowers surrounded them
Her Majesty is determined to ensure it reflects his ‘unwavering loyalty’ to her during their 73-year marriage and her 68-year reign on the throne as well his lifetime of service to the UK and the Commonwealth in his 99-year life.
Philip was the longest serving consort to a monarch in history, a record unlikely to be ever broken.
In pre-pandemic times thousands of mourners would have travelled to the Berkshire town to pay their respects, but the Royal Family, the Government and police are asking the public to stay away. However, it appears hundreds have defied the warnings and gathered to pay their respects in Windsor despite the risk of fines or even arrest.
People who knew Philip best have said he would be pleased about the smaller crowds because he always demanded ‘no fuss’ in the event of his death.
People staying at home for the funeral decked their homes in Union Flags and pictures of the duke and his wife, with many enjoying traditional full English breakfasts or afternoon teas as they watched on TV.