The BBC is to mark the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh with a series of special programmes.
The broadcaster has announced it’s planned special programming of Prince Philip’s funeral ahead of this weekend after it received a record number of complaints over its coverage of the Duke’s death last Friday.
Huw Edwards will lead the live reporting of the funeral in three programmes broadcast from Windsor across Friday and Saturday.
The special programming will begin on Friday evening at 7pm with a programme titled HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Remembered.
The programme will be broadcast live from Windsor and feature commentary from ‘people who are playing key roles’ in Saturday’s ceremonial procession and funeral service.
The BBC says Huw Edwards will be joined by guests who knew The Duke, and Royal experts who share their thoughts on a remarkable life of duty and service.
Saturday’s coverage will begin at 11am on BBC one with a programme called The Duke in his own Words – an hour long feature made over the course of the year by the BBC at Windsor.
Huw Edwards (pictured) is set to present three special programmes spread over Friday and Saturday as part of the BBC’s coverage of the ceremonial funeral for the Duke of Edinburgh
Edwards will present coverage live from Windsor on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon
The corporation describes the programme as ‘a journey through the life of a very modern man, a pioneer and innovator who was at the heart of the British Monarchy, and the Queen’s side, for over seventy years’.
The BBC’s live coverage of the funeral will begin at 12.30pm and will be titled The Funeral of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Huw Edwards will introduce live coverage of the ceremonial funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh from Windsor.
Her Majesty The Queen, together with other members of the Royal Family will attend the Funeral Service.
A full military procession and members of the Royal Family will accompany the coffin, as it makes the final journey from Windsor Castle to St George’s Chapel.
Throughout the afternoon, Huw Edwards will be joined by special guests with royal experts sharing their thoughts and analysis on the historic occasion as well as paying tribute to The Duke of Edinburgh’ life of service and duty.
Sophie Raworth and JJ Chalmers will provide additional reporting for the BBC’s coverage of Prince Philip’s funeral on Saturday afternoon and reflective coverage in the evening on BBC2
Ceremonial: A full military procession and members of the Royal Family will accompany the coffin, as it makes the final journey from Windsor Castle to St George’s Chapel (pictured)
JJ Chalmers and Sophie Raworth in Windsor will report on the events from key locations around the castle and will meet people participating in Saturday’s ceremonial events.
The coverage is scheduled to conclude on BBC One at 4.20pm.
Later on Saturday, Huw Edwards will present a third programme on BBC Two from 8.10pm.
The hour-long programme, also titled The Funeral of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will see Edwards reflect on the day’s events at Windsor Castle.
There will also be additional reporting from JJ Chalmers and Sophie Raworth.
It comes following his death on Friday at the age of 99 – having spent more than 70 years at the Queen’s side.
A maximum of 30 people can attend the funeral because of coronavirus restrictions.
Social distancing will be in place, Buckingham Palace has said, with the Queen set to be wearing a mask at the funeral.
The monarch, 94, who returned to work on Tuesday four days after her husband’s death, may also have to sit at least two-meters from other royal family members due to social distancing rules.
On the day of his death, the BBC received a record number of complaints in response to their coverage.
The corporation was reported to have received more than 110,000 complaints from viewers who were unhappy with interrupted programming.
The figure proved to be the highest number of complaints ever published in the UK about television programming.
Many viewers expressing their disappointment over the cancelling of programmes – and the broadcaster set up a dedicated webpage for viewers to lodge their dissatisfaction.
The funeral will be broadcast with extended coverage on Saturday from 2pm until 4.10pm on Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live.
It will also be broadcast on BBC Radio Wales and BBC local radio with some variation in start times. Martha Kearney will present from the studio, with Jonny Dymond and historian Tracy Borman. Our commentators will be Eleanor Oldroyd in St George’s Chapel; and Allan Little, Clare Balding and Clive Myrie at Windsor Castle.
A maximum of 30 people can attend the funeral because of coronavirus restrictions