Meaning of the flag draped over Prince Philip’s coffin – his personal standard

Prince Philip's coffin was draped with a flag known as a standard that reflected his family and heritage.

The duke's private secretary Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell, Philip's former Metropolitan Police personal security officer, and his two former valets and two ex-pages followed behind the royal family in the parade.

Prince Philip's lead-lined coffin was also decorated with his Royal Navy Officer's sword, and was carried in a modified Land Rover hearse.

The standard is divided into quarters and tells the tale of the Duke's history, including his Greek and Danish origins.

The standard, which is distinct from the Royal Standards, is a personal collection of arms granted to members of the Royal Family who are not the Queen.

Prince Philip was given his own banner of arms based on the Royal Standard used by Her Majesty and his own personal arms from before their marriage as the prince consort – the spouse of a Queen regnant.

His personal standard honors his homeland as a Prince of Greece and Denmark, as well as his surname and Edinburgh title.

The first three quarters depict his ancestors, with blue lions and red hearts on a yellow backdrop depicting Denmark, a white cross on blue representing Greece, and two black “pales” or stripes on white representing his anglicized surname Mountbatten.

The arms of the City of Edinburgh, depicting a black and red fortress, are shown in the fourth quarter. The city of Edinburgh's arms also include the tower.

Each member of the Royal Family will have their own banners with a unique design.

The three-point mark on Prince William's Royal Standard, for example, denotes a direct successor to the Throne, with the second point charged with a red escallop taken from his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Duke of Edinburgh was born in Corfu in 1921, but when he married the Queen in 1947, he gave up his Greek and Danish titles.

During World War I, his ancestor, Prince Louis, anglicized the family title from Battenberg to Mountbatten.

A national one-minute silence began with a round shot by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery as Prince Philip's coffin arrived at St George's Chapel, and ended with another booming volley.

The coffin was brought up the stairs by the Royal Marines, who were greeted by the Dean of Windsor David Conner, who performed the service.

Following the burial service, the Duke was laid to rest in the Royal Vault of St George's Chapel. He will, though, be transferred from the Royal Vault to the King George VI memorial chapel, where he will be buried with the Queen when she dies.

Owing to coronavirus limitations, only 30 people were allowed to attend the funeral.