WINDSOR. Angela is with her little girl and reads aloud the messages of the only two wreaths on the lawn of Windsor Castle: “My beloved his royal highness, my dear ‘dad’ …”, as he called him days makes his son Carlo. Angela is a middle-aged woman and lives nearby, in the green and enchanted Berkshire, west of London: “But we were just walking around”, she tells us, “we didn’t come on purpose, we respect the anti Covid regulations. Later at 3 pm we will all be at home, watch the funeral on TV and pay homage to Prince Philip ”. With a pint of beer? “No, with a cup of tea.”
Philip, the life of the prince in four weddings and two funerals
by Enrico Franceschini
Yet today six million pints of beer will be tapped at the outside tables of the pubs, it is estimated, because it is the first Saturday after the very long lockdown of three and a half months, and certainly many glasses will be raised in honor of Elizabeth’s consort, who died on Friday. 9, and whose funeral is celebrated today and also a sort of “celebration of life.” Perhaps a perfect synthesis could not be found: Filippo did not want a state funeral but private and reserved, it is a beautiful and mild day in the south of ‘England and many here in Windsor, at least until lunch, did not even show up, as requested by the government and the authorities in the name of the anti Covid regulations: better Brighton, Richmond Park or a walk in Surrey. Prince Philip who today, after the minute of national silence at 3pm local time (4pm in Italy), will be buried in the crypt under St George’s Chapel, part of Windsor Castle, thus closing the national mourning of October or days.
From cars to hymns: this is how Prince Philip prepared his funeral for 18 years
by our correspondent Antonello Guerrera
Then of course, there are those who showed up in Windsor anyway. As Kaya Mar, a London artist who also brought a portrait of Elizabeth’s deceased husband: “It is my first non-satirical work” tells us, before indulging in catastrophism: “Without Philip it will always be worse. And without the Royal Family this country will go to ruin, I tell you ”.
United Kingdom, William and Harry separated at Philip’s funeral
by our correspondent Antonello Guerrera
And then there are the Italians. Pietro Menghi, Mrs. Tiziana and their daughter Beatrice are taking, as often at the weekend, a long walk right on the Long Walk that leads to the castle: “We have been living here since 2012 and we feel the royal family at home”, explains Mr. Menghi, who lives with his family in nearby Egham and here leads an insurance start-up, “Neosurance”. “When Harry and Meghan got married we didn’t even get close, too many people. Today, however, there is hardly anyone: in general, the British respect the rules, are very pragmatic and it seems a day like any other ”.
London, the queen returns to work 4 days after Philip’s death
by Enrico Franceschini
After all, there are more journalists, policemen and plainclothes agents than mourning subjects on this surreal day of mourning. All the reporters are around the castle, to grasp every nuance of what is a unique and perhaps unrepeatable funeral: only thirty guests, Queen Elizabeth abandoned to her pain and two meters of social distancing, William and Harry who will meet again live world after a long time and resentment and they will march separately behind the coffin placed on the green Land Rover “customized” by Filippo himself (who meticulously prepared his funeral for 18 years), the heir Carlo in the front line behind the coffin together with his sister Anna . All together, finally, even if in pain. Apart from Meghan, she stayed in California because she was pregnant. She is the only one missing from this historic and desolate family reunion.
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