They also said they had no personal criticism of the Queen,but Harry talked openly about his fractured relationship with father Prince Charles and brother Prince William.
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Charles released a video message from his Highgrove home in south west England on Saturday paying tribute to Philip.
“I particularly wanted to say that my father,for I suppose the last 70 years,has given the most remarkable,devoted service to the Queen,to my family and to the country and also to the whole of the Commonwealth,” he said.
“As you can imagine my family and I miss my father enormously. He was a much-loved and appreciated figure.
“And apart from anything else,I can imagine he’d be so deeply touched by the number of other people here and elsewhere around the world and the Commonwealth,who also I think,share our loss and our sorrow.
“My dear papa was a very special person who above all else would have been amazed by the reaction and the touching things that have been said about him. And from that point of view,my family are deeply grateful for that.
“It will sustain us in this particular loss and at this particularly sad time.”
Philip’s coffin is resting inside the Queen’s small private chapel at Windsor Castle,draped in a flag and flowers,ahead of Saturday afternoon’s service.
It has been widely reported that a 12-year-old Harry and 15-year-old Prince William had reservations about walking behind the coffin of Princess Diana in 1997 but decided to participate after Philip warned the boys they might regret not doing it. He also offered to walk with them.
Prince Harry told the BBC in 2017 that it was a “group decision” and one he now feels happy to be part of. However earlier that year he toldNewsweek he was less comfortable with it.
“My mother had just died,and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin,surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television,” he said.
Prince Philip,Prince William,Earl Spencer,Prince Harry and Prince Charles walking behind Princess Diana’s coffin.Credit:AP
“I don’t think any child should be asked to do that,under any circumstances. I don’t think it would happen today.”
Inbound travellers from the US are required to quarantine at home in England for 10 days but can leave after five if they test negative to a privately-funded test.
There is speculation Harry might fly into London on Sunday,which would allow him to attend Saturday’s funeral provided he tests negative to COVID-19.
Philip’s other grandchildren - Prince William,Peter Phillips,Zara Tindall,Princess Beatrice,Princess Eugenie,Lady Louise Windsor and James,Viscount Severn - are also expected to attend the funeral.