National minute’s silence at 3pm for Prince Philip

The funeral of His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, takes place today [Saturday 17 April] at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.

The service will start after a national minute’s silence at 3pm, and it will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, with the Archbishop of Canterbury pronouncing the blessing.

The Duke of Edinburgh, husband and consort to Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II, died at Windsor Castle on Friday 9 April at the age of 99.

After the Duke’s passing, The Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, sent a message of condolence to Her Majesty The Queen, on behalf of the Church, and a Prayer of Commemoration was offered on behalf of the Liturgy Committee:

Gracious God, giver of all life,
in whom our earthly course finds its fulfilment:
we give you thanks for the life of Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,
for his service to this nation, the Commonwealth, and humanity,
in war and in peace,
in the pursuit of knowledge,
and in his example of reverence for your creation.
We give thanks for the encouragement he offered to the young,
and for his faithful support for Elizabeth our Queen.
We pray that, as you receive him into your presence,
his family and all who mourn may know your comfort
in the assurance that death is swallowed up in victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
now and in eternity.
Amen.

(Photograph of Prince Philip Copyright © Steve Punter, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.)