Zara Tindall supported by Mike at Prince Philip's memorial service

Matching with Mummy: Zara and her mini-me daughter Mia, eight, are elegant in navy coats as they’re joined by Mike Tindall at Westminster Abbey for Prince Philip’s memorial service

  • Zara Tindall, 40, was supported by her husband Mike at memorial for the Duke of Edinburgh earlier today 
  • The Queen’s granddaughter wore an understated round-necked gown for event at Westminster Abbey
  • The royal couple were joined by their eldest daughter Mia, eight, at event to celebrate Prince Philip’s life 
  • Zara had previously said: ‘You never really prepare yourself for losing him because he was always there.’ 
  • The Duke of Edinburgh’s eight grandchildren and spouses were also at the service. Last year, Mike Tindall posted a photo of Prince Philip with his eldest daughter Mia ahead of his funeral on April 17th 2021 

The Duke of Edinburgh’s granddaughter Zara Tindall was joined by her husband Mike and their eldest daughter Mia at Westminster Abbey for Prince Philip’s memorial service today. 

The mother-of-three looked poised as she wore an understated Laura Green navy coat which she paired with elegant silver earrings, as she was joined by her husband Mike for the event this morning. 

The couple were joined by their eldest daughter Mia, eight, who wore a black peplum coat with red piping along the cuffs and collar.

Zara accessorised with a chic Bee Smith velvet headband, a leather clutch bag and she added height to her frame in matching stilettos.  

The Duke of Edinburgh ‘s granddaughter Zara Tindall was joined by her husband Mike and their eldest daughter Mia at Westminster Abbey for Prince Philip’s memorial service today

The mother-of-three looked poised as she wore an understated Laura Green navy coat which she paired with elegant silver earrings, as she was joined by her husband Mike for the event this morning

Mike looked smart in a grey tailored suit which he paired with a white shirt and a navy tie.   

Royal aides previously revealed the Queen has been ‘actively involved’ in plans for the service ‘with many elements reflecting Her Majesty’s wishes’ as the order of service was unveiled overnight at midnight.

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Born just weeks before Prince Philip’s death, the couple paid tribute to the Duke by naming their son, Lucas Philip Tindall, in his honour. 

Shortly before the funeral, Mike posted a heartfelt Instagram tribute to Prince Philip, sharing a photo of the Duke of Edinburgh with Mia Grace. 

 The couple were joined by their eldest daughter Mia, eight, who wore a black peplum coat with red piping along the cuffs and collar

Zara accessorised with a chic Bee Smith velvet headband and leather clutch bag

Mike looked smart in a grey tailored suit which he paired with a white shirt and a navy tie

He shared the photo, taken by the Duchess of Cambridge, alongside a caption that read: ‘It’s been a very sad week but it has given us time to reflect on great memories and stories both personal and shared. A devoted family man who we will forever miss but always love.’ 

The snapshot of Prince Philip showed the Duke sitting outside a log cabin. He was leaned over a wooden table to enjoy a meal in the countryside setting alongside Mike and Zara’s seven-year-old daughter Mia Grace.  

Mike previously told how the funeral was ‘eerie’ due to social distancing which prevented more than 30 people attending. 

The husband of Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall spoke on his podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby last April, saying the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral was exactly how the royal would have wanted it because it’s ‘no fuss’. 

Speaking in the one-hour documentary special Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers last September, in Zara paid tribute to her grandfather.

Zara previously said the Duke provided an ever present leadership, adding she had ‘never prepared herself to losing him because he was always there’

 Ahead of the funeral last year, Mike paid tribute to Prince Philip by sharing a photograph of the Duke eating with his great-granddaughter Mia Grace, taken by the Duchess of Cambridge

She explained the ever present leadership Prince Philip afforded: ‘You never really prepare yourself for losing him because he was always there.’ 

The royal also paid tribute to the royal for shaping the role of consort to the Queen, saying: ‘The amazing thing he’s been able to do is be an incredible support to my grandmother but also to stay true to himself the whole way through.

‘That’s what my grandmother needed. that’s why they worked so well together and fell in love I think.’

In the same documentary, she revealed she has particularly fond memories of the Duke while she was competing in the London 2012 Olympics.

She said: ‘I have a huge fond memory of him when he came to the Olympics in London.

Zara appeared emotional at Prince Philip’s funeral last year, looking teary-eyed as she sat alongside Mike 

‘He came down to the stables afterwards and even though it isn’t his specialist sport, the understanding of what it took to get an animal to perform for you…

‘Obviously he had a huge passion for horses. He played polo before I remember and then went to driving and he was involved with the evolving of the sport.’ 

Zara’s silver medal was presented by her mother, Princess Anne, who has also competed in equestrian events at the Olympics. 

She followed in the success of her father, Captain Mark Phillips, who was a member of Britain’s last gold-winning team in the event – at the Munich Olympics of 1972.    

 

A graphic shows the plan for the service to remember Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey taking place this morning 

The funeral includes several elements the Duke had planned for his funeral at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in April last year but which were forbidden by Covid restrictions at the time. 

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’. 

Among them is the involvement of Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) gold award winners and Sea Cadets, his expressed wish for the congregation to sing the rousing hymn Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, and for clergy from the royal estates of Windsor, Sandringham and Balmoral to play a special part.

His funeral at St George’s Chapel in Windsor was limited to just 30 mourners in the midst of the pandemic and mass singing was banned, with the Queen sitting alone in a mask.

Around 1,800 guests are due at today’s service, including British and European royalty, representatives of the many charities of which the duke was patron or president, Boris and Carrie Johnson, and Sir David Attenborough.

But the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not returning from the US for the service

The Queen has recently been forced to pull out of a string of engagements because of ill health and old age. 

She was unable to attend the Commonwealth Day service this month because of concerns about her mobility and comfort.

Palace and Abbey aides are thought to have taken steps to ensure that the service, to be televised live on BBC One, is less taxing for the Queen.  

The service will gave thanks for the duke’s dedication to family, nation and Commonwealth and recognise the importance of his legacy in creating opportunities for young people, promoting conservation, and supporting the Armed Forces.

One of the elements planned for the funeral which has now been included in the service will see nine Gold Award holders from The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, plus representatives from UK Cadet Force Associations, line entry routes into Westminster Abbey.

Philip, who died in April last year aged 99, launched the DofE Award in 1956 and was Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Cadet Force, a role he first took up in 1953.

A tenth DofE gold award holder, Doyin Sonibare, 28, from London, will give a tribute to His Royal Highness’s legacy, recognising the impact of the Award on young people across the globe.

The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster, will conduct the service and describe the duke in the Bidding as ‘a man of rare ability and distinction’ who ‘ever directed our attention away from himself.’

He will say: ‘He put privilege to work and understood his rank as a spur to service. Working at pace, with so many claims on his attention, he encouraged us to focus, as he was focussed, on the things that matter.

‘His was a discipline and character that seized opportunity and overcame obstruction and difficulty. We recall, with affection and respect, the sustained offering of a long life lived fully.’ 

It was the duke’s expressed wish that clergy from Windsor, Sandringham and Balmoral – known as The Queen’s domestic chaplains – played a part in his funeral service, but this was not possible due to the Covid restrictions.

Today the Reverend Kenneth MacKenzie Minister of Crathie Church, the regular place of worship of the British royal family when they are in residence at nearby Balmoral Castle, the Reverend Canon Jonathan Riviere, the Rector of Sandringham, and the Reverend Canon Martin Poll, Chaplain to the Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor Great Park, will offer prayers recognising Philip’s energy, spirit of adventure and ‘good stewardship of the environment’.

The service will also be attended by around 30 foreign royals, including Prince Albert of Monaco, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, and Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.

The Queen and Prince Philip revisit Broadlands, to mark their Diamond Wedding Anniversary on November 20, 2007

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