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Buckingham Palace confirms there will be no singing during Prince Philip's funeral

There will be no congregational singing during the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, Buckingham Palace confirmed.

Instead, a small choir of four, comprising three lay clarks from the St George’s Chapel choir and a soprano, who is a member of the St George’s community, will perform each piece of music.

The choir will be located in the nave of the chapel, away from the congregation seated in the Quire.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman explained that although the Duke had personally chosen all of the music himself, it had been adapted in order to be performed by a small group.

Towards the end of the service, after the Duke’s coffin has been lowered into the royal vault, a Lament will be played by a Pipe Major of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The Last Post will be sounded by buglers of the Royal Marines from the west end of the Nave.

After a period of silence, the Reveille will be sounded by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry, also located in the west end of the Nave.

The Buglers of the Royal Marines will then sound Action Stations, a Naval tradition, at the Duke’s "specific request".

A senior palace official said: "Action Stations is an announcement that would be made on a naval warship to signify that all hands should go to battle stations.

"It has been performed at Naval funerals in the past."

A Buckingham Palace spokesman added: "I think it just goes to show the level of detail that the Duke went into around his own funeral service.

"And it is, I suppose, a fitting testimony to remind many people who won’t have realised that the Duke saw active service in the Second World War, aboard a ship in the Royal Navy."

At the end of the service, the choir will sing the National Anthem before the Royal Family leave.

Earlier, before the service begins and as the Duke’s coffin arrives at the West Steps of St George’s Chapel on board the modified Land Rover he designed himself, a Royal Naval piping party will perform Still and then Side.

Full details of the music will be released on Saturday.

Source: msn.com
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