What exactly happened to Prince Philip's coffin during the burial?
Royal officials clarified that the coffin had not in fact moved, but rather it was the result of an optical illusion created by the angle of the camera and the positioning of the pallbearers.
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was laid to rest on Saturday, April 17, 2021, in the Royal Vault at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The funeral service was a poignant and somber affair, honoring the life and legacy of the Queen's consort who passed away at the age of 99. However, there was one moment during the burial that captured the attention of viewers around the world - the movement of Prince Philip's coffin.
As the funeral service drew to a close and the members of the royal family began to depart, cameras caught a striking moment where Prince Philip's coffin appeared to move or shift slightly on the catafalque. This unexpected occurrence led to much speculation and debate among viewers, with many wondering what exactly happened to Prince Philip's coffin during the burial.
Some observers interpreted the movement of the coffin as a symbolic gesture, perhaps signifying Prince Philip's spirit departing from his physical body and ascending to the afterlife. Others attributed the movement to the shifting of the floor beneath the catafalque or the adjustment of the pallbearers as they prepared to move the coffin.
However, a more straightforward explanation for the apparent movement of Prince Philip's coffin emerged in the days following the funeral. Royal officials clarified that the coffin had not in fact moved, but rather it was the result of an optical illusion created by the angle of the camera and the positioning of the pallbearers.
The video footage of the burial showed the pallbearers releasing the straps of the coffin as they prepared to lift it off the catafalque and carry it into the Royal Vault. This action, combined with the lighting and perspective of the camera, created the illusion of movement as the coffin appeared to shift slightly on the dais.
While the movement of Prince Philip's coffin during the burial was ultimately explained as a trick of the camera, the moment captured the attention of viewers and added an element of intrigue to the somber proceedings. It served as a poignant reminder of the solemnity and significance of the occasion, as the royal family bid farewell to a beloved patriarch and dedicated servant of the crown.
The funeral of Prince Philip was a fitting tribute to a man who had dedicated his life to public service and duty. His burial in the Royal Vault at St. George's Chapel marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for the royal family. Though the movement of his coffin may have been a fleeting illusion, the memory of Prince Philip's life and legacy will endure for generations to come.