Princes William and Harry won't walk side

Princes William and Harry won’t walk side-by-side at Prince Philip’s funeral

Prince William and Prince Harry won’t walk side-by-side as they follow their grandfather’s coffin into the church ahead of Prince Philip’s funeral.

The decision should minimise the chances of any awkward moments between the brothers, who are grappling with strained relations since Prince Harry’s decision to step away from royal duties last year.

Buckingham Palace on Thursday released the broad outlines of the funeral program for Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, who died on April 9 at 99.

The princes won’t walk next to each other. (AP)

The palace has revealed William and Harry’s cousin, Peter Phillips, will walk between the princes as they escort the coffin to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, west of London.

Prince Charles, the heir to the throne and the father of the princes, together with his sister, Princess Anne, will lead the 15-member procession.

Some details around Prince Philip's funeral have been announced. — Some details around Prince Philip’s funeral have been announced. (Graphic: Tara Blancato)

The brothers have been closely watched as Saturday’s funeral will almost certainly remind the pair of their shared grief at another royal funeral more than two decades ago.

As young boys, both walked behind their mother Princess Diana’s coffin in 1997 in London in a ceremony watched around the world.

Prince William (left) and Prince Harry, the sons of Diana, Princess of Wales, bow their heads as their mother's coffin is taken out of Westminster Abbey following her funeral service. — Prince William and Prince Harry at the funeral of their mother. (PA Images via Getty Images)

Palace officials refused to comment when asked whether the positioning of William and Harry was an effort to minimise family tensions, which have grown after Harry and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, gave an explosive interview to Oprah Winfrey that suggested an unnamed member of the royal family had made a racist comment to Harry before the birth of their son, Archie.

Meghan, who is pregnant and living in California with Harry, is not coming to the funeral on the advice of her doctor.

“We’re not going to be drawn into those perceptions of drama or anything like that,” a palace spokesman said while speaking on condition of anonymity in line with policy.

“This is a funeral and the arrangements have been agreed and they represent Her Majesty’s wishes.”

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, speak to Oprah Winfrey. Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions via AP) (AP)

In another effort to preserve family unity, the palace said senior royals would wear civilian clothes to the funeral.

The decision, signed off by the Queen, means Harry won’t risk being the only member of the royal family not in uniform during the funeral.

Members of the royal family often wear uniforms to public events by virtue of their honorary roles with the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, but Harry lost his honorary military titles when he decided to give up frontline royal duties last year.

As a result, protocol suggests that Harry, an army veteran who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, would only wear a suit with medals at royal functions.

The decision also sidesteps another potential controversy after reports Prince Andrew, the queen’s second-oldest son, considered wearing an admiral’s uniform to his father’s funeral.

Andrew retains his military titles even though he was forced to step away from royal duties after a disastrous interview with the BBC about his acquaintance with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Attendance at the funeral will be limited to 30 people because of the coronavirus restrictions in England.

Prince Philip funeral – who will be in the procession (Graphic: Tara Blancato)

The list will include several of Philip’s relatives from Germany, together with immediate members of the royal family. The children in the family will not attend.

Guests will wear masks inside the chapel and observe social distancing. The queen, always the first to set an example, will also wear a mask.

In other details released about the funeral, Royal Marine buglers will play Action Stations, an alarm that alerts sailors to prepare for battle.

The Duke of Edinburgh served in the Royal Navy for 12 years and maintained close ties to the armed forces throughout his life. Military personnel will have a large role in honouring him on Saturday despite the attendance limit

Members of the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Royal Air Force and the British Army will take part in the funeral procession.

Philip’s coffin will be carried to St George’s Chapel on a specially adapted Land Rover that he designed himself.