An athletics club based at a stadium in Watford opened by the Duke of Edinburgh has paid a touching tribute to him ahead of his funeral.
After 73 years of marriage, the Queen will say farewell to Prince Philip during a televised funeral service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle this afternoon, attended by a small group of close family and friends.
Covid regulations have reduced the scope of the service with public elements cancelled, mourners reduced from around 800 to just 30, and all guests wearing face masks and sitting apart.
Watford Harriers Athletics Club, which holds events at Woodside Stadium, says it is “proud” of the legacy left in the town by Prince Philip, who was invited to open the arena in 1955.
It was on November 4 when Prince Philip arrived at Woodside Playing Fields with town Mayor Amey to officially open the new grounds.
Photos show smiling children as the Prince, who would have been 34 at the time, met and chatted with dignitaries, before declaring the playing fields open.
Watford Harriers, which was formed just a few years after the birth of Prince Philip in 1921, said: “Our thoughts remain with The Royal Family and those close to Prince Philip, during this difficult time.
“We are confident that his legacy and the inspiration that he would have brought to the club at the Arena’s opening in 1955, will continue to live on through Watford Harriers.”
The club added: “We all know that he was a keen sports enthusiast, participating in sports such as Polo, Carriage Driving and Sailing. He was also patron, president or member of hundreds of organisations, and then a year after visiting Watford, founded in his name The Duke of Edinburgh's (D of E) in 1956.
“The Duke of Edinburgh was well known for his sense of humour and making experiences enjoyable. One of the values we hold within Watford Harriers is to uphold ‘Enjoyable Excellence’ – created through hard work & discipline with strong team spirit & fun.
"We reflect on this and, as athletes and volunteers, are inspired by the hard work and discipline he demonstrated, through his many years of devotion to public service.”
The Prince of Wales and Princess Royal will lead the Duke of York, Earl of Wessex and other family members walking behind the duke’s coffin, carried on a Land Rover hearse he helped design, during the funeral procession which the Queen will join, travelling by car.
Royal brothers the Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex, who have a troubled relationship, will not walk shoulder to shoulder but with their cousin Peter Phillips between them.
Philip’s love of carriage-driving will be a poignant feature of his funeral, with his carriage, which he designed, and ponies making an appearance.
The polished dark green four-wheeled carriage, accompanied by two of Philip’s grooms, will stand in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle as the duke’s coffin is carried past in the procession.
Among the mourners will be the Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Wessex and her children Viscount Severn and Lady Louise.
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