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Prince Philip's family arrive at Westminster Abbey for the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service 

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Prince Philip’s family unite for memorial: The Hereditary Prince and Princess of Baden are among 51 relatives from Greek, Danish and German branches of the late Duke’s family to arrive at Westminster Abbey

  • It’s thought 51 members of Prince Philip’s extended family from across Europe have travelled to the service
  • Among them were representatives of the Greek, Danish and German branches of the late Duke’s family
  • Pictured arriving among the first guests at Westminster Abbey were Hereditary Prince and Princess of Baden
  •  The Queen has been determined to travel to London to mark long and productive life of husband Philip

By Jo Tweedy For Mailonline

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The extended family of Prince Philip – thought to be around 51 people from across Europe – were among the first to arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of the ceremony to honour the late Duke’s life today. 

The Duke of Edinburgh’s family members, many travelling from overseas, have made the journey to London to represent the Greek, Danish and German branches of the late consort’s family. 

The representatives included the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Baden, who were also invited to Prince Philip’s funeral – which was limited to just 30 people – on April 17th 2021. 

The Baden royals had shared a close relationship with the Duke of Edinburgh throughout much of his life. 

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Extended family: It's thought 51 members of Prince Philip's extended family from across Europe have travelled to the service

Extended family: It’s thought 51 members of Prince Philip’s extended family from across Europe have travelled to the service

Among the first guests to arrive at Westminster Abbey today were representatives of the Greek, Danish and German branches of the late Duke's family - including the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Baden

Among the first guests to arrive at Westminster Abbey today were representatives of the Greek, Danish and German branches of the late Duke’s family – including the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Baden

Seated in the far right of the Abbey in the front row this morning were the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Baden, close confidants of the late Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Bernhard, pictured with his wife at the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Monaco in 2011, is the grandson of the late Duke's sister Theodora

Great nephew: Seated in the far right of the Abbey in the front row this morning were the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Baden, close confidants of the late Duke of Edinburgh. Right: Prince Bernhard, pictured with his wife at the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Monaco in 2011, is the grandson of the late Duke’s sister Theodora

Arriving ahead of the Queen, who travelled to the ceremony with her disgraced son Prince Andrew from Windsor Castle to Westminster Abbey, Prince Philip’s more distant family members chatted quietly as they entered the Abbey.  

Bernhard, the Prince of Baden is the great nephew of Prince Philip. The father-of-three is a grandson of the Duke’s second sister, Theodora (known as ‘Dolla’).  

Also from the German branch of Prince Philip’s family was Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. His grandmother, Princess Margarita, was the Duke’s elder sister and the Duke paid many visits to the family home, Langenburg Castle in southern Germany.  

Her Majesty was determined to be amongst the 1,800 guests despite the 95-year-old’s mobility problems that have prevented her doing a major public engagement away from Windsor Castle in nearly six months.

And in a move that royal watchers believe may have upset her son Prince Charles and grandson Prince William – both instrumental in the decision to take away the Duke of York’s ‘HRH’ – the Queen chose her second son to join her in the back of her royal car. 

The royal family, who joined the service shortly before its 11:30am start, were seated in the front pews of the Abbey

The royal family, who joined the service shortly before its 11:30am start, were seated in the front pews of the Abbey

Gathered in the pews of Westminster Abbey, the extended family of Prince Philip, only a few of whom were invited to the scaled-down royal funeral in April 2021, greeted each other ahead of the memorial service today

Gathered in the pews of Westminster Abbey, the extended family of Prince Philip, only a few of whom were invited to the scaled-down royal funeral in April 2021, greeted each other ahead of the memorial service today

Today the monarch will ensure that her beloved husband’s final wishes are fulfilled after his Covid-hit funeral left her sat alone without the rousing hymns and guests he loved so much.

Her Majesty has been ‘actively involved’ in every element of his service of thanksgiving that will see Westminster Abbey packed to the rafters.

All Prince Philip’s family will attend apart from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. On Prince Andrew’s left will be his brother the Earl of Wessex and Edward’s family the Countess of Wessex and their children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

Across an aisle on his right will the Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince of Wales and the Queen.

Prince Harry faces ‘lifetime of regret’ for missing memorial to his beloved grandfather

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle could ‘regret’ not attending the memorial service for his grandfather Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey tomorrow – and the Queen is likely to be ‘very upset’ but cannot change his mind, royal experts say.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to remain at home in Montecito, California, while the rest of the Royal Family gather in London for the poignant event. 

Harry last returned to the UK eight months ago to unveil the statue of his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales in London on July 1 with his brother Prince William.

The Duke – one of the Queen and Philip’s eight grandchildren – is the only top-level royal not attending tomorrow’s service which was organised by the monarch.

Royal author Phil Dampier told MailOnline: ‘It’s very sad that Harry and Meghan won’t be at Prince Philip’s memorial service and I think one day Harry might regret it. He has said that he doesn’t feel safe without Scotland Yard security but to me that sounds like an excuse not to come back to the UK and indicates the rift with his blood family is still bad.

‘Harry was always very fond of his grandfather and was deeply honoured when he took over from him as Captain General of the Royal Marines, but sadly that didn’t last long. The pair attended some Remembrance Day events together and there was always a rapport between them, both being serving military men who had seen active service.’

Mr Dampier said that Harry ‘loved’ Philip’s sense of humour and praised him in interviews, adding that this makes his non-attendance ‘all the more mystifying and strange’. 

source: dailymail.co.uk