Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle be at Prince Philip's funeral?

Buckingham Palace says April 17 ceremony will be greatly scaled back with Covid-19 regulations

• 

  The Honourable Artillery Company fires a gun salute at the Tower of London, with Tower Bridge in the background, to mark the death of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the age of 99. Getty Images

• 

  The Death Gun Salute is fired by the 104th Regiment Royal Artillery to mark the death of Prince Philip, at Cardiff Castle in Wales. AFP

• 

  Britain's Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex arrive at Windsor Castle, England. AP Photo

• 

  Members of the Household Cavalry ride past Buckingham Palace, London. Reuters

• 

  Members of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery arrive at the Parade Ground, Woolwich Barracks, London. AFP

• 

  Members of the Honourable Artillery Company in advance of a gun salute to mark the death of Prince Philip, at the Tower of London. AFP

• 

  A well-wisher waits in line to lay a floral tribute to Britain's Prince Philip, outside Buckingham Palace, London. AFP

• 

  A cyclist rides past a digital display commemorating Prince Philip, in Glasgow, Scotland. Getty Images

• 

  Rugby players observe a minute's silence in tribute to Prince Philip before the European Challenge Cup Quarter Final match between Bath Rugby and London Irish, in Bath, England. Reuters

• 

  Copies of the 'Courier Mail' at a news stand in Brisbane, Australia, with news of Prince Philip's death. Getty Images

• 

  Flags on Sydney Harbour Bridge fly at half-mast, in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images

• 

  Flags at half-mast outside the Senedd, home of the Welsh Parliament, in Cardiff, Wales. Getty Images

• 

  Members of media near a community gate at the home of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex in Montecito, California, US, after the announcement of the death of Britain's Prince Philip. AP Photo

• 

  Actor Sir Ian McKellen looks at floral tributes outside Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England. Getty Images

• 

  The big screen inside the stadium displays a commemorative message on the death of Prince Philip, at Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground, in Manchester, England. Getty Images

• 

  The British Columbia Legislature flies the Canadian flag at half-mast in Victoria, as piper Ken Wilson plays the 'Heights of Dargai'. AP Photo

• 

  Floral tributes outside Buckingham Palace in London. Getty Images

• 

  Floral tributes outside Windsor Castle. Getty Images

• 

  A mourner draped in a British Union Jack flag takes pictures of flowers placed outside Windsor Castle. Reuters

• 

  Miniature Schnauzer dog Lady Trixie of Linfield sits in front of tributes to Prince Philip at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland, during the midday 41 gun salute. Getty Images

• 

  Naomi Armstrong and her daughters Lily and Essie leave a bunch of flowers at the gates of Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland, in tribute to Prince Philip. Getty Images

• 

  The Union Jack flag flies at half-mast at Buckingham Palace, London. Getty Images

• 

  Members of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fire a gun salute to mark the death of Prince Philip, at the Parade Ground, Woolwich Barracks, London. Reuters

• 

  A member of the public person holds a floral tribute to Prince Philip outside Buckingham Palace, London. Reuters

• 

  A girl lays flowers as tribute to Prince Philip outside Buckingham Palace, in London. Getty Images

• 

  Soldiers from 206 Battery, 105 Royal Artillery, take part in a gun salute to the Duke of Edinburgh at Hillsborough Castle in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland. Getty Images

• 

  Britain's Prince Charles addresses the media, outside Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, England, following the death of his father, Prince Philip. AP Photo

• 

  A big screen displays an image commemorating Prince Philip, before the Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea at Selhurst Park, London. Reuters

Prince Harry will attend the Duke of Edinburgh's burial on Saturday due to government rules in England that allow international travellers to attend the funerals of loved ones.

Buckingham Palace announced the funeral for Prince Philip, who died on Friday, will take place at Windsor Castle on April 17. He was 99.

The duke is expected to be laid to rest at the Royal Burial Ground on Frogmore Estate, part of Windsor Home Park, not far from the castle.

The funeral procession and ceremony will be greatly scaled back because of the UK's Covid-19 restrictions, which allow only 30 people in attendance.

Prince Harry will be there but his wife Meghan Markle, who is heavily pregnant, has been advised by her doctor to stay at home in California.

Prince Harry talks to Prince Philip as members of the royal family appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. AP.

Arrivals in England from a foreign country must isolate themselves for 10 days.

Those who have travelled through a "red list" country with a high infection risk must stay in a hotel for quarantine.

It is not yet known when Harry will arrive back in England or how long he will be in isolation, but government restrictions allow mourners to attend funerals, as long as rules are followed.

They must return to isolation when services are over. And those with coronavirus symptoms must remain in isolation.

Under the English government's Test to Release scheme, anyone can leave mandatory isolation after five days if they pay for a private Covid-19 test and the result is negative.

Plans for Prince Philip's funeral

Buckingham Palace says the ceremony will take place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, at 3pm on Saturday.

It will be preceded by a national minute's silence.

Public elements of the funeral have been taken out and the whole service will be televised from behind castle walls to prevent large crowds from assembling.

Harry and Meghan were married at St George's Chapel in 2018.

A more sombre mood will prevail as Harry returns from the US, where he and Meghan moved last year and from where they have launched broadsides against the royals, including charges of racism and neglecting her mental health.

"Operation Forth Bridge" had originally planned for 800 people to attend the duke's funeral. Now, it is a much smaller affair.

Queen Elizabeth II, 94, is expected to be joined at the service by her four children – Charles, 72, Anne, 70, Andrew, 61, and Edward, 57 – and grandchildren, as well as other close family members.

All will have to wear face masks and observe social distancing rules.

Britain's longest-serving consort, the duke was well known for his aversion to "fuss".

His coffin is in the private chapel of Windsor Castle but will be moved on the morning of the funeral in a small ceremonial procession to St George's Chapel.

The coffin will then be taken in a specially modified Land Rover that the duke helped to design. Charles and other senior royals will follow on foot.

The coffin will be draped with Philip's personal standard and decorated with a wreath of flowers, as well as his naval cap and sword.

There will be a strong military presence at the funeral, reflecting his life in and association with the armed forces, including representative detachments in the castle grounds.

The route of the procession will be lined by members of the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and several British Army units.

Field guns from the castle's east lawn will be fired during the procession, as a mourning bell tolls.

A military guard of honour and band will receive the coffin, and God Save the Queen – the national anthem – will be played.

Royal Marine pallbearers will carry the coffin up the steps and pause for the minute's silence before the coffin is received by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dean of Windsor.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has of course required us to make significant adaptations to the original arrangements for His Royal Highness's funeral," a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.

"However, we are certain that the occasion will be no less fitting a farewell to His Royal Highness, marking his significant duty and service to the nation and the Commonwealth.

"Despite these necessary changes, they still very much reflect the personal wishes of the duke.

"Although the ceremonial arrangements are reduced, the occasion will still celebrate and recognise the duke's life and his more than 70 years of service to the Queen, the UK and the Commonwealth."

A period of national mourning began on Friday and will run until the day of the funeral. The royal family will observe two weeks' mourning.