Philip refuses a state funeral at Westminster Abbey - despite the Queen's wishes

Senior Buckingham Palace sources have disclosed that despite the Queen’s wish to give her husband of 60 years a State funeral at Westminster Abbey, Prince Philip has opted for a more intimate ‘Royal’ affair that emphasises his service in the Armed Forces.

The 87-year-old Duke – who enjoys general good health despite having a heart condition since 1992 – will be interred in the mausoleum of Frogmore House at the private Home Park in Windsor Castle, where Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert are buried.

Married for 60 years: The Queen wanted Philip to have a state funeral at Westminster Abbey

A unique feature of Prince Philip’s service – codenamed ‘Forth Bridge’ by Palace officials – is that the Duke, the oldest serving Royal consort in British history, has requested his coffin be borne by the same gun carriage used to carry Victoria at her funeral in 1901.

He wants the carriage to be pulled by Royal Navy ratings along the Long Walk from St George’s Chapel to Frogmore.

The same gun carriage was pulled by a naval detachment that stepped in at the last minute at Victoria’s funeral after a splinter bar connector broke, causing the horses pulling the cortege to panic.

Prince Philip, a former Royal Navy officer who was mentioned in dispatches during the Second World War, has even chosen the funeral’s order of service, including his favourite seafarers’ hymn, For Those In Peril On The Sea.

He has requested that representatives of the many Armed Forces units with which he has been associated should be present.

The Duke has been closely involved with the arrangements for his funeral, which are being co-ordinated by the Lord Chamberlain’s Office at Buckingham Palace, and he is updated at regular intervals.

According to senior Royal sources, the Duke – who is known for his acerbic wit – has been highly amused by the fact that many of those involved in the planning of his final journey have themselves died before him.

In April this year, Prince Philip was admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital in London for assessment and treatment for a chest infection.

He walked into the hospital unaided, sat up in bed attending to his usual papers and left three days later – again under his own steam.

After a brief recuperation period at Windsor Castle, he resumed his Royal duties.
Despite taking regular medication for his heart condition, the Duke has refused to reduce his workload.

He carries out more than 300 engagements a year, second only to his daughter, the Princess Royal.

Currently relaxing and enjoying his favourite country pursuits during the Royal Family’s traditional summer holiday at the Balmoral estate in Scotland, Philip has undertaken at least 13 engagements since mid-July, and will resume his duties in September.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said last night: ‘Any funeral arrangements for members of the Royal Family are private, and we do not discuss them.’