The late Prince Philip, who passed away on 9 April 2021, just two months before his 100th birthday, is set to be honoured at Westminster Abbey on 29 March. The Service of Thanksgiving, which will commemorate the life of the Duke of Edinburgh, is one of the many celebrations planned for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
Discover our latest podcast
The service is by invitation only, and one guest of honour is raising eyebrows. It has been reported that Prince Andrew, who is in the middle of a sex scandal, will be in attendance.
Read more:
- Prince Andrew told to ‘stay invisible’ during Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
- Dates for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee bank holiday confirmed
Prince Andrew to stand next to the Queen
The Service of Thanksgiving will be the first official event honouring the life of the late Prince Philip, the longest-serving royal consort in history. Philip died of old age, at 99 years old, with the Queen standing at his bedside.
His funeral was held on 17 April 2021, eight days after his passing, at St. George’s Chapel, where he was laid to rest, alongside other Royals that have passed away.
Due to COVID restrictions, Prince Philip’s funeral was much more austere than expected. Only 30 people were allowed to attend the funeral. Her Majesty was seated alone at the front of the chapel, as only people living together were allowed to sit beside each other.
Read also: Queen 'rejected' Boris Johnson's offer to break COVID rules for Prince Philip’s funeral
Now, with almost all COVID restrictions lifted, Prince Philip’s Service of Thanksgiving is set to be a much more joyful occasion, celebrated by many. While there isn't much official information on how the service will unfold as of now, on Westminster's Abbey's official website, it is being reported that Prince Andrew will be in attendance to celebrate the life of his father.
The news comes as a shock to many, as the Duke of York is currently part of a civil sex assault case.
What are the latest developments in the Prince Andrew case?
Virgina Giuffre is suing Prince Andrew over claims she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and forced to have sex with the Duke of York on three occasions when she was only 17. Andrew, the father of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, denies the claims.
After months of legal battling between Andrew’s lawyers and Giuffre’s lawyers, it was finally confirmed that the case is going to trial. The duke is set to testify under oath on 10 March, days before the Service of Thanksgiving.
The duke was recently stripped of his military titles and royal peerages. If he is to attend his father’s service, he will do so as a private citizen.
Read more:
