Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark), 99, the husband of the United Kingdom’s Queen Elizabeth II, died April 9, 2021 at Windsor Castle in the English county of Berkshire, two months before his 100th birthday, following an undisclosed infection and a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition. His televised funeral April 17 at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle was attended by a small group of his close family and friends.

Staying close to the traditional Anglican funeral liturgy, the service’s hymns and readings reflected Philip’s service in the Royal Navy and his environmental work, with a nod to his Greek Orthodox Christian beginnings.

[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Faith of Queen Elizabeth: An Interview with Dudley Delffs]

The following Bible verses were either alluded to or directly read during the service:

John 11:25-26

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

Job 19:25-27

I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.

1 Timothy 6:7

We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Job 1:21

The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Ecclesiasticus 43:11-26

Look at the rainbow, and praise him who made it;
    it is exceedingly beautiful in its brightness.
It encircles the sky with its glorious arc;
    the hands of the Most High have stretched it out.
By his command he sends the driving snow
    and speeds the lightnings of his judgement.
Therefore the storehouses are opened,
    and the clouds fly out like birds.
In his majesty he gives the clouds their strength,
    and the hailstones are broken in pieces.
The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth;
    when he appears, the mountains shake.
At his will the south wind blows;
    so do the storm from the north and the whirlwind.
He scatters the snow like birds flying down,
    and its descent is like locusts alighting.
The eye is dazzled by the beauty of its whiteness,
    and the mind is amazed as it falls.
He pours frost over the earth like salt,
    and icicles form like pointed thorns.
The cold north wind blows,
    and ice freezes on the water;
it settles on every pool of water,
    and the water puts it on like a breastplate.
He consumes the mountains and burns up the wilderness,
    and withers the tender grass like fire.
A mist quickly heals all things;
    the falling dew gives refreshment from the heat.
By his plan he stilled the deep
    and planted islands in it.
Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers,
    and we marvel at what we hear.
In it are strange and marvelous creatures,
    all kinds of living things, and huge sea-monsters.
Because of him each of his messengers succeeds,
    and by his word all things hold together.

John 11:21-27

Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’

Psalm 104 (set to music)

Bless the LORD, O my soul.
    O LORD my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honour and majesty,
    wrapped in light as with a garment.
You stretch out the heavens like a tent,
    you set the beams of your chambers on the waters,
you make the clouds your chariot,
    you ride on the wings of the wind,
you make the winds your messengers,
    fire and flame your ministers.

You set the earth on its foundations,
    so that it shall never be shaken.
You cover it with the deep as with a garment;
    the waters stood above the mountains.
At your rebuke they flee;
    at the sound of your thunder they take to flight.
They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys
    to the place that you appointed for them.
You set a boundary that they may not pass,
    so that they might not again cover the earth.

You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
    they flow between the hills,
giving drink to every wild animal;
    the wild asses quench their thirst.
By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation;
    they sing among the branches.
From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
    the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

You cause the grass to grow for the cattle,
    and plants for people to use,
to bring forth food from the earth,
    and wine to gladden the human heart,
oil to make the face shine,
    and bread to strengthen the human heart.
The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly,
    the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
In them the birds build their nests;
    the stork has its home in the fir trees.
The high mountains are for the wild goats;
    the rocks are a refuge for the coneys.
You have made the moon to mark the seasons;
    the sun knows its time for setting.
You make darkness, and it is night,
    when all the animals of the forest come creeping out.
The young lions roar for their prey,
    seeking their food from God.
When the sun rises, they withdraw
    and lie down in their dens.
People go out to their work
    and to their labour until the evening.

O LORD, how manifold are your works!
    In wisdom you have made them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.
Yonder is the sea, great and wide,
    creeping things innumerable are there,
    living things both small and great.
There go the ships,
    and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.

These all look to you
    to give them their food in due season;
when you give to them, they gather it up;
    when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
    when you take away their breath, they die
    and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created;
    and you renew the face of the ground.

May the glory of the LORD endure for ever;
    may the LORD rejoice in his works—
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
    who touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
    I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
    for I rejoice in the LORD.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
    and let the wicked be no more.
Bless the LORD, O my soul.
Praise the LORD!

Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

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