On Saturday, April 17, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was laid to rest after his unexpected death on April 9. 

According to The Guardian, the prince died at the age of 99 due to natural causes. The Duke of York told The Guardian that his “passing was a miracle”, since he passed at home and not alone at a hospital. 

The funeral, held in St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, was attended by only 30 members, including prominent members of the Royal Family such as Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry. The guest list was limited to only 30 members because of the palace’s COVID-19 restrictions.  

The event was a “relatively muted affair”, as told by CNN. The 50-minute service, in summary, included a minute-wide national silence, readings and music specifically chosen by the prince, including a hymn called “Eternal Father, Strong to Save”, and Bible verse Psalm 104. with the coffin being taken up by the Band of Grenadier Guards. The coffin holding the prince was then brought over to the chapel through a Land Rover that was followed on foot by the royal family, some royal aides, and children.

Queen Elizabeth, now newly widowed, arrived at the funeral by herself. The monarch was reserved during the event, but expressed gratitude towards people showing her sympathy in a statement to the press a few days later on her 95th birthday. 

“I have, on the occasion of my 95th birthday today, received many messages of good wishes, which I very much appreciate,” the queen communicated. “While as a family we are in a period of great sadness, it has been a comfort to us all to see and to hear the tributes paid to my husband, from those within the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world.”

Additionally, according to an interview done by Vanity Fair, the Queen felt content with the funeral, as the couple were able to have all their necessary conversations before his passing. 

“It has been a long and sad week, but the Queen has taken great comfort that she and Philip had his final days at Windsor and that in the last year they had so much time together,” a source from the royal family said. “Every conversation that needed to be had was had, Philip also got to spend some time with Prince Charles which was very important to them both. Philip was ready, he had had enough, it was time. This is the funeral he wanted.”

Throughout his life, Prince Philip got to see and experience the tragedies of poverty, WWII, his mother dying when he was young, and serving in the military. The life he lived was extraordinary, even for a royal, and is certainly a tale to tell for the ages to come.