A family united in grief, a Queen alone to farewell Prince Philip

A unique and moving farewell to the man who supported Queen Elizabeth II for more than seven decades has reunited his grandsons in a grief the Queen herself had to endure alone.

Of all the remarkable images to emerge from a day of mourning and celebration — Prince Philip's coffin resting on a classic Land Rover he had custom built, Princes Harry and William together again, a small choir dwarfed by their cavernous surrounds —  the site of the Queen seated alone in the pews of St George's Chapel was perhaps the most poignant.

Her solitude was remarkable on a day dedicated to the man who was always by her side throughout 73 years of marriage.

PRINCE PHILIP FUNERAL: As it happened

READ MORE: Seated alone, Queen farewells the man who was always by her side

It was a funeral the likes of which Britain had never seen, replete with the pomp and splendour befitting a royal — even one who reportedly wanted a send-off with a minimum of fuss — but constricted by the coronavirus pandemic still gripping the UK and the world.

READ MORE: Prince Harry and Prince William reunited in grief at Prince Philip's funeral

Flowers left by members of the public dotted the ground and bright, blue skies shone over Windsor Castle as hundreds of troops marched in to stud the great, green lawn in honour of the Duke of Edinburgh, who died on April 9, aged 99.

Heads bowed and the band began to play as Philip's beloved Land Rover, which he had custom-designed himself before it was converted into a hearse for his farewell, came through the gates into the Quadrangle.

A royal salute echoed across the grounds before the prince's coffin, adorned with his personal standard, naval cap and sword was borne by armed forces officers, feet crunching loudly on gravel, and slowly lowered onto the vehicle.

The royal procession, led by Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Andrew and Prince Edward, faces set, walking in unison but socially distanced, followed the Land Rover towards St George's Chapel.

Minute Guns fired, the Curfew Tower Bell tolled and a steady drumbeat marked the slow and solemn walk to Philip's final resting place

After so many years standing by the Queen's side, and in her shadow, the prince's final journey placed him at the head of the family.

Princes Harry and William, whose relationship has reportedly been fractured since Harry quit royal duties and moved to California, notably did not walk side-by-side, but were seen chatting amicably after the service.

The Queen, alone in her Bentley at the foot of the procession, was the first to enter the chapel, pausing briefly as one final shot rang out around the grounds.

She cut a solemn figure, dressed all in black with a white-trimmed face mask, seated alone, head bowed, in the almost empty chapel.

Then, at the stroke of 3pm (midnight AEST), the grounds and the nation fell silent. The pallbearers, all distinguished military officers, paused their ascent of the West Steps, harsh shadows cast on the ground by the bright sunlight.

One by one, the remaining royals replaced their solemn, black face masks as they filed into the chapel, the doors closed and Royal Navy Piping Party began to play.

The Queen, accompanied in grieving by her closest family members but very much alone inside, was seen with her head bowed, her face barely visible underneath a sombre black hat.

"We are here today in St George's Chapel to commit into the hands of God the soul of his servant, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh," the Dean of Windsor said.

"With grateful hearts, we remember the many ways in which his long life has been a blessing to us. 

"We have been inspired by his unwavering loyalty to our Queen, by his service to the nation, and the Commonwealth, by his courage, fortitude and faith. 

"Our lives have been enriched through the challenges that he has set us, the encouragement that he has given us. His kindness, humour, and humanity."

In the Nave, away from the seated congregation, the cavernous space was starkly empty as a choir of just four singers performed poignant hymns selected by the duke himself.

Leading a prayer, the dean said: "Grant unto him the assurance of thine ancient promise that thou wilt ever be with those who go down to the sea in ships and occupy their business in great waters."

As Philip's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault, Royal Marine buglers sounded Action Stations, an alarm that alerts sailors to prepare for battle. 

Its inclusion, after the traditional bugle call of The Last Post, was a personal request from Philip.

He was placed in the vault alongside the remains of 24 other royals, including three kings of England but it will likely not be his permanent resting place. 

After the queen's death, she and Philip are expected to be buried in the Royal Burial Ground on the Frogmore Estate close to Windsor Castle.

Coronavirus restrictions meant instead of the 800 mourners expected in the longstanding funeral plans, only 30 were allowed inside the chapel, including the queen, her four children and her eight grandchildren.

With Associated Press