Prince George will join his parents Prince William and Kate Middleton at today’s memorial service when four of the Duke of Edinburgh’s great-grandchildren pay tribute to their beloved great-grandfather.
The service at Westminster Abbey will be one of the most important outings yet for the eight-year-old future king, who had a close relationship with Prince Philip.
Savannah, 11, and Isla Phillips, 10, daughters of Peter, Prince Philip’s eldest grandson, will also be in attendance, as will Zara and Mike Tindall’s eight-year-old daughter Mia.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s other great-grandchildren are Princess Charlotte, six, Prince Louis, three, Lena Tindall, also three, and her one-year-old brother Lucas, Princess Eugenie’s one-year-old son August Brooksbank and Princess Beatrice’s daughter Sienna Mapelli Mozz, who died last September year was born.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children Archie, two, and Lilibet, nine months, are staying with the couple in California.
Prince George will join his parents Prince William and Kate Middleton at today’s memorial service when four of the Duke of Edinburgh’s great-grandchildren pay tribute to their beloved great-grandfather. Above George with Prince Philip in a carriage
Savannah (right), 11, and Isla Phillips (centre), 10, the daughters of Peter, Prince Philip’s eldest grandson, will also be in attendance, as will Zara and Mike Tindall’s daughter Mia (left).
The Queen and Prince Philip with Prince George, Prince Louis, Savannah Phillips, Princess Charlotte, Isla Phillips with Lena Tindall and Mia Tindall. The Duke of Edinburgh died before giving birth to his youngest grandchildren, Lilibet and Sienna
Around 1,800 guests, including high-ranking members of the royal family, will attend the service at Westminster Abbey.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s four children will be in attendance, as will spouses of Charles, Anne and Edward, the Duchess of Cornwall, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy and the Countess of Wessex.
Prince Andrew will make a rare public appearance and there is speculation that the Duchess of York may have received an invitation as well.
Seven of Prince Philip’s eight grandchildren will be in attendance, including the Duke of Cambridge, Zara Tindall and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, all of whom will be present with their spouses.
The only grandchild missing from the event is the Duke of Sussex.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children Archie, two, and Lilibet, nine months, are staying with the couple in California
The Queen and Prince Philip’s family tree shows the older great-grandchildren who could attend tonight’s service
The Queen is said to be determined to travel to London to honor the long and productive life of her husband Philip, in what would be her first major public engagement away from Windsor Castle in almost six months.
Royal aides revealed that the 95-year-old monarch was “actively involved” in plans for the service at Westminster Abbey, “with many elements reflecting Her Majesty’s wishes” when the order of service was unveiled overnight.
It includes several items the Duke had planned for his funeral in April last year but were banned by Covid restrictions at the time.
These include the participation of Gold Prize winners from the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) and Sea Cadets, his express wish for the congregation to sing the rousing hymn Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, and playing for clergymen from the royal estates of Windsor, Sandringham and Balmoral a special role.
His funeral at St George’s Chapel in Windsor was limited to just 30 mourners amid the pandemic and mass singing has been banned, with the Queen sitting alone in a mask.
Some 1,800 guests are expected to attend today’s service, including British and European royalty, representatives of the many charities of which the Duke has been patron or president, Boris and Carrie Johnson and Sir David Attenborough.
Prince Harry is facing “lifelong regrets” for missing the memorial for his beloved grandfather
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle may “regret” not attending the memorial service for his grandfather Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey tomorrow – and the Queen is likely to be “very upset” but unable to change her mind, royals say Experts.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to remain at home in Montecito, California while the rest of the royal family gathers in London for the poignant event.
Harry last returned to the UK eight months ago to unveil the statue of his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, with his brother Prince William in London on July 1.
The Duke – one of the Queen and Philip’s eight grandsons – is the only senior king not to attend tomorrow’s service organized by the monarch.
Royal author Phil Dampier told MailOnline: “It is very sad that Harry and Meghan will not be at the funeral service for Prince Philip and I think Harry may regret it one day. He has said he doesn’t feel safe without Scotland Yard security, but to me that sounds like an excuse not to return to the UK and shows the rift with his blood family is still dire.
“Harry was always very fond of his grandfather and was deeply honored to succeed him as Captain General of the Royal Marines, but unfortunately it didn’t last long. The couple attended a few Memorial Day events together and there was always a relationship between them as both served military personnel who were on active duty.
Mr Dampier said that Harry “loved” Philip’s sense of humor and praised him in interviews, adding that it made his absence “all the more puzzling and strange”.