Royal biographer Penny Junor was surprised by the Land Rover’s starring role on Saturday but cautions “nothing should surprise us about Prince Philip”.

“It’s lovely,it’s quirky,it’s different and it’s probably quite economical. It’s very him,really.”

Prince Charles,Princess Anne,Prince Andrew and Prince Edward will walk behind their father’s car for the journey to St George’s Chapel,where thelongest-serving consort in British history will be remembered in the smallest royal funeral of modern times.

In a sign of thedeep rift between Princes William and Harry,the pair will walk together in the same row but be separated by Anne’s son Peter Phillips. The brothers also won’t walk shoulder-to-shoulder in the procession which follows the coffin into the chapel.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman would not be drawn on why:“This is a funeral – we’re not going to be drawn into those perceptions of drama or anything like that.”

Under Operation Forth Bridge,the codename for Philip’s funeral operation,crowds would have lined streets as his coffin made its way from central London to Wellington Arch behind Buckingham Palace. It would have then been loaded onto the Land Rover for the trip west to Windsor Castle,where 800 guests were to attend a service at St George’s Chapel.

Philip was entitled to a state funeral but did not want one. He also said a firm “no” to the idea of lying-in-state for hundreds of thousands of people to file past in the way they did the Queen Mother in 2002.

All previous plans had to be ripped up during the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions which restrict funeral services to just 30 guests. The whole thing will take place behind the castle’s walls and the public is being urged to stay away and watch on television.

The event begins when the coffin - draped in Philip’s insignia personal standard,his naval cap,sword and fresh flowers - will be brought into the castle’s quadrangle at 2.41pm and placed onto the Land Rover.

Philip’s personal protection officer,two pages and two valets will also walk behind the car when it sets off for St George’s Chapel at 2.45pm. The Queen will follow in the Bentley state limousine,accompanied by a Lady In Waiting.

A national minute’s silence will be held before the coffin is lifted into the chapel,and the doors closed. Inside,a choir of four will sing music selected by Philip.

A collection of the duke’s most important honours will be displayed on hand-made cushions resting on the chapel’s altar. Philipspecifically asked for the gold and jewelled insignia he was given after Tony Abbott controversially made him a Knight of the Order of Australia to be included.

Philip also requested Action Stations - a call made on a naval warship to signify that all hands should go to battle stations - be performed by the Buglers of the Royal Marines towards the end of the service.

“I think it just goes to show the level of detail that the duke went into around his own funeral service,” the Buckingham Palace spokesperson said.

“And it is,I suppose,a fitting testimony to remind many people who won’t have realised that the duke saw active service in the Second World War aboard a ship in the Royal Navy.”

Details about the order of the 50-minute service and who will deliver a eulogy won’t be released until late Saturday evening Australian-time.

The final guest list includes the Queen,she and Philip’s four children and their spouses,and the couple’s eight grandchildren. All married grandchildren will bring their partners with the exception of Harry,whose pregnant wife Meghan,the Duchess of Sussexhad to stay in California on doctor’s orders.

The Queen’s niece Lady Sarah Chatto and nephew David Armstrong,the Earl of Snowdon,will also be there - so too the Queen’s cousin Princess Alexandra.

In a surprise,three of Philip’s German relatives have been invited:his great-nephews Philipp,Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Bernhard,Hereditary Prince of Baden;and Prince Donatus,Landgrave of Hesse.

No great-grandchildren - including 7-year-old heir to the throne Prince George - will go.

The Queen and other mourners will wear face masks and sit two-metres apart from each other to adhere to England’s restrictions. Britain’s press,which is well tuned to the public’s huge affection for the Queen,has focussed heavily on the sadness of the 94-year-old monarch having to sit alone during the farewell for her husband of 73-years.

The Buckingham Palace spokesman says there are no immediate plans for the Queen to speak in the days after Saturday’s service.

“Her Majesty and the royal family are grateful for all the messages of condolence from around the world and have been touched to see and hear so many people sharing fond memories of the duke,in celebration of his life,” he added.

“The tributes received from the young and old are truly a testament to the remarkable life and lasting endeavours of His Royal Highness.”

The longest-serving consort in British history was two months short of his 100th birthday when hedied last Friday with the Queen by his side.

The two will eventually be reunited. While the duke will be interred in the royal vault underneath St George’s Chapel alongside kings George III,George IV and William IV,he will eventually join the Queen in the King George VI memorial chapel. The tiny stone chapel is the final resting place of the Queen’s father,mother and sister Princess Margaret.

Junor suspects Philip,known to have resisted some of the monarchy’s stuffier traditions,will be happy with Saturday’s slimmed-down farewell.

“The pandemic has sort of done him a favour,” the biographer says.

“He might have wanted a low key funeral before the pandemic hit but it still would have been a very public display. There would have been hundreds of people attending and crowds of people lining the route.

“But now,just 30 family members will be in the chapel on Saturday. It’s going to be unlike any royal funeral,ever. He might just like that.”