THEY were married for over seven decades and stood side by side through all of the biggest milestones of their lives.
So it was only fitting that the late Queen chose to make one last, poignant tribute to her late husband Prince Philip during the funeral service she’s said to have carefully planned herself.
Mere moments before Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin is set to be lowered into the Royal vault to join the late Duke of Edinburgh, a committal service took place at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
During the service, conducted by the Dean of Windsor, the choir sang the moving lyrics to Russian Kontakion of the Departed.
The hymn, which dates back thousands of years, is sung during funerals in the Russian and Greek Orthodox Church as a declaration of our own mortality and the inevitability that life will end.
Royal fans will indeed recognise it from Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021, as it was the final anthem to play before he was laid to rest.
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In that instance, Russian Kontakion of the Departed paid tribute to Philip’s ancestry – in particular his mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, who is buried in a Russian Orthodox Convent in Jerusalem.
While the Queen’s choice to include it in her own order of service was no doubt a nod to the dedicated husband she was married to for 73 years.
Royal mourners were quick to pick up on the touching tribute, as they said its inclusion was a lovely touch and provided a "beautiful" moment.
One social media user wrote: “The choir sang The Russian Kontakion of the Departed, which was also sung at the funeral of the Queen’s husband, Prince Philip, in 2021.”
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Another added of the emotional moment: “The Russian Kontakion of the Departed was done beautifully.”
While a third commented: “That Russian Kontakion of the Departed was so beautiful. Interesting it was used for Prince Philip too.”
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While a third said hearing the hymn sung in the chapel was “majestic” and resulted in the hairs on the back of their neck standing up.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will be buried alongside one another during a private service in George VI memorial chapel in St. George’s chapel.
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