The Queen’s first cousins flocked to support Her Majesty on Saturday afternoon as they were among just 30 selected guests who were invited to attend Prince Philip’s funeral.
Princess Alexandra, the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent, who loyally supported the monarch and Philip by carrying out royal duties over the decades, mourned the loss of the Duke of Edinburgh at his funeral.
The Queen’s three cousins were among the short guest list of just 30 people who were invited to attend the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, which was scaled back amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, 85, and Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, 76, looked sombre as they wore smart suits decorated with their military badges while attending the funeral at St George’s Chapel on Saturday afternoon.
The Duke of Kent (right), who loyally supported the monarch and Philip by carrying out royal duties over the decades, mourned the loss of the Duke of Edinburgh on Saturday
Before the intimate funeral, Princess Alexandra (above) wore a wide-brimmed black hat and a statement pair of glistening stud earrings as she waved at crowds before Prince Philip’s funeral on Saturday afternoon
Before the intimate funeral, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy, 84, greeted crowds from her vehicle, which was scaled back amid Covid-19 restrictions.
Princess Alexandra wore a wide-brimmed black hat and a statement pair of glistening stud earrings as she waved at crowds ahead of Prince Philip’s funeral on Saturday afternoon.
There was not room for the spouses of the Queen’s cousins – the Duchess of Gloucester and the Duchess of Kent – at the ceremony. Also missing from the list of the monarch’s cousins was Prince Michael of Kent, 78, who is not a working royal.
the children of the Queen’s late sister Princess Margaret – the Earl of Snowdon and Lady Sarah Chatto and her husband David Chatto – also attended the close-knit ceremony. The Queen is particularly close to Lady Sarah.
The Duchess of Sussex, who is pregnant with her second child and was told by doctors not to fly, was also missing from the list as well as the duke’s 10-great-grandchildren, who were all considered too young to attend.
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, looked sombre as he wore smart suits decorated with his military badges while attending the funeral at St George’s Chapel
There was not room for the spouses of the Queen’s cousins – the Duchess of Gloucester and the Duchess of Kent (pictured Duke of Kent arriving at funeral)
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, 85, looked sombre as he wore a smart suit decorated with his military badges while attending the funeral at St George’s Chapel
The guests who were involved in Prince Philip’s funeral procession (left) and those who were St George’s Chapel (right)
WHO ARE THE QUEEN’S COUSINS WHO HAVE DEDICATED DECADES TO CARRYING OUT ROYAL DUTIES?
A first cousin of the Queen, Richard cut short his career as an architect to devote his life to royal duties following the death of his older brother Prince William in 1972.
Mostly operating behind the scenes away from the glare of the media, the Gloucesters, with the Kents and Princess Alexandra, are part of the band of minor royals formed of the Queen’s cousins, who have supported the monarch and Philip during her reign.
Princess Alexandra, another first cousin, has devoted decades of her life to royal duty and charity work. One of the most popular members of the family with royal relatives, the princess, 84, is loved for her kindness and warm nature.
A first cousin of the Queen, Richard cut short his career as an architect to devote his life to royal duties following the death of his older brother Prince William in 1972
Princess Alexandra, the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent (all pictured with the Duchess of Gloucester), who loyally supported the monarch and Philip by carrying out royal duties over the decades, were invited to the funeral on Saturday
Also the Queen’s first cousin, Edward or ‘Steady Eddie’ – as the royals reportedly call him – carries out his minor role within the family with a dutiful and reliable good grace. He is perhaps best known for being President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and presenting the Wimbledon trophies each summer.
Buckingham Palace said the Queen faced ‘some very difficult’ decisions as she selected the 30 guests permitted under Covid-19 rules, from the original 800-strong congregation, and had tried to ensure all branches of the duke’s family were there.
Guests also included the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Princess Royal and husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke of Sussex, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their spouses, Peter Phillips and Zara and Mike Tindall.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman previously said: ‘At its heart it is still a family event. We are following the Covid guidelines. There was a limit on who could be invited as a guest and Her Majesty wanted to ensure that all branches of the duke’s family were there, and had to make some very difficult decisions about who would be there.
‘For those that unfortunately can’t be there, I’m sure they will be making their own private arrangements about how they commemorate the duke, and indeed celebrate the duke.’
Also the Queen’s first cousin, Edward carries out his minor role within the family with a dutiful and reliable good grace. He is perhaps best known for being President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
