BBC One, Sky, and ITN will be broadcasting the the funeral live. Each of those networks can be accessed in the U.S. by using a VPN, and the coverage can be watched online for free at BBC.com starting at 5 a.m. ET (2 a.m. PT). As for American networks, broadcasts by CNN and Fox News will start at 9 a.m. ET (6 a.m. PT); NBC, ABC and CBS will start at 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT). At his request and as the result of COVID-19 restrictions in England, the service for Philip, who was 99 when he died, will be kept small. According to the BBC, he will receive a ceremonial funeral, as did Diana, Princess of Wales, and the Queen Mother, as opposed to a state funeral, which is usually reserved for regents. (Although Winston Churchill did receive a state funeral.)
The services for Prince Philip will be very different from previous television funerals for the British nobility; in line with common sense health precautions, the Royal Family requested people not gather outside Windsor Castle to watch the funeral, or to leave flowers or tributes at any of the royal residences. Instead, 30 people will attend the service, and all will be masked and practicing social distancing. Prince Harry, just weeks after his explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, will be one of those in attendance; his wife, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, remained in the United States due to her pregnancy on the advice of her doctor. In the days after his death on April 9, those who worked to portray a thinly veiled fictional version of Prince Philip on Netflix’s “The Crown” gave tributes to him on social media. The production companies behind the show also offered their condolences: “Netflix, Left Bank Pictures, Sony Pictures Television, and the production team on ‘The Crown’ are deeply saddened to hear of the death of The Duke of Edinburgh,” a statement read. “Our thoughts are with the royal family at this sad time.” Matt Smith, who was Emmy-nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama while playing the royal family patriarch in 2018, wrote in a statement: “I’d like to offer my condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family. Prince Philip was the man. And he knew it. 99 and out, but what an innings. And what style. Thank you for your service old chap — it won’t be the same without you.” Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
