Almost a year after the ceremony and scale of Prince Philip’s funeral was limited due to Covid-19, his funeral wishes were today honoured at the Westminster Abbey memorial service.
The Queen has been closely involved with the organisation of the Service of Thanksgiving for the Duke of Edinburgh, from which hymns were sang to the choice of orchids that were in her wedding bouquet in the floral arrangements. The dresscode, meanwhile, has been implemented to reflect Prince Philip’s ‘understated and modest’ style. Translation: ‘lounge suits and day dresses’ in place of military uniforms (this also removed a predicament for Prince Andrew making his first public appearance since being stripped of his military titlesearlier this year).
For the service, guests were not wearing black as this is not considered an official period of mourning. A colour theme nevertheless emerged as guests were primarily dressed in green or navy indicative that although this was a sober event it was not sombre one.
Wearing dark green were the Queen, the Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Anne and Queen Letizia of Spain. This, was possibly a subtle tribute to Prince Philip whose livery colour was Edinburgh Green.
The majority of the remaining guests wore navy which could also be read as an homage to Duke of Edinburgh’s lengthy naval career. Those guests included Sophie Wessex, who wore a velvet coat by Suzannah and the Duchess of Cambridge who wore one of her favourite designers: Alessandra Rich, a designer she turns to again and again, most recently for the Caribbean tour. Her polka dot dress, which had gilded buttons on the shoulder, will feel familiar to many: she has worn another white collared version by the designer several times in the past. In a sweet moment of family unity, the print coordinated with Prince George’s tie.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie continued the muted theme: Eugenie in a dark floral Erdem dress (a label also loved by Kate Middleton) with a cropped cape and Beatrice in a grey Nonoo Lyons coat. Nonoo Lyons is co-founded by Misha Nonoo, a friend of Meghan Markle’s and the designer behind her famous ‘Husband’ shirt. Neither Meghan nor Prince Harry were at the service.