Prince William and Kate Middleton pay tribute to ‘devoted consort’ Philip after stirring funeral service

PRINCE William and Kate paid tribute to Prince Philip as a "devoted consort" after the duke's funeral.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge commemorated the more than 70 years that Prince Philip was by the Queen's side with an emotional post on social media.

🔵 Read our Prince Philip funeral live blog for the latest updates

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In an online message, the couple said: "The Duke of Edinburgh was a devoted consort to Her Majesty The Queen for nearly 70 years, from Her Majesty’s Accession in 1952 until his death."

Prince Philip is the longest-serving consort in British royal history.

Due to Covid measures, just 30 mourners were able to attend his funeral at St. George's Chapel, Windsor this afternoon.

It comes as...

• A sombre Queen sat alone on the "saddest and most difficult day" as she bid farewell to husband prince Philip
• Prince Harry and William shared a private chat as they left the funeral
• The brothers sat facing each other during the service at St George's Chapel
• Meghan Markle left a handwritten note to Prince Philip
• The Duchess of Sussex watched the funeral from the US after not being able to fly to the UK for the service
• Prince Charles fought back tears at the emotional funeral
• Kate Middleton gave a touching nod to Diana and the Queen by wearing a pearl choker
• The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault

The Queen sat alone for the service, however members of the Royal Family were also present, including her four children Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew.

And Princes William, 38, and Harry, 36, came face-to-face for the first time since the Duke of Sussex quit royal life - and since his explosive Oprah Winfrey chat.

The pair were kept 12ft apart as they walked behind Prince Philip's coffin, separated by Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips, 43 - a pal of both.

But the brothers, who both walked behind their mother Princess Diana's coffin in 1997, shared a private moment and chatted after the service.

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The seating plans, which had the Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex sit opposite each other, represented Her Majesty's wishes, Buckingham Palace said this week.

Royal biographer Penny Junor said of their rift: "The Queen found an elegant solution to a very awkward problem. I imagine it has been difficult but she's been all over the detail."

Kate Middleton, 39, paid tribute to Princess Diana by wearing Her Majesty's pearl choker which was previously lent to her late mother-in-law.

The Queen often wore the priceless necklace during the 1980s and she loaned the four-strand choker to Princess Diana for a state banquet in the Netherlands in 1982.

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Prince William said on Monday that the Duke of Edinburgh's life was "defined by service - to his country and Commonwealth, to his wife and Queen, and to our family."

He added: "My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation.

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"Catherine and I will continue to do what he would have wanted and will support The Queen in the years ahead.

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"I will miss my Grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job."

Harry said his grandfather was the "master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right ‘til the end".