Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, husband to Queen Elizabeth II for over 70 years and patriarch of the British Royal Family, was laid to rest Saturday in an intimate, somber ceremony.

The Queen, sitting alone due to COVID-19 restrictions, bid farewell to her husband of 73 years, who stood steadfast by her side as she ascended the throne and remained there until his death.

Philip, who passed away on April 9 just months shy of his 100th birthday, was remembered as a person of “courage, fortitude and faith” for his decades of service to the Crown at a ceremony at Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Chapel.

Philip was interred in the castle’s Royal Vault, though it will not be his permanent resting place – his body is expected to be moved to the Royal Burial Ground on the Frogmore Estate close to Windsor Castle following after his wife, the Queen, passes away. 

The 200-year-old Royal Vault has seen the like of princes, princesses and kings laid to rest within it — including King George III, who ruled the nation during the American Revolution, for whom the vault was built.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions in the U.K., there were only 30 congregants inside the castle, rather than the 800 mourners requested in the original funeral plans, including his widow, the queen, along with their children and grandchildren.

His grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry, walked behind the coffin. Prince Harry returned to the U.K. for the funeral after his high-profile exit from royal duties last year.

The moment stirred memories of the image of William and Harry at 15 and 12, walking behind their mother Princess Diana’s coffin in 1997, accompanied by their grandfather Philip.

William and Harry were spotted talking after the funeral, walking away from the service together with William's wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

The children of Philip and the queen — Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — also walked behind the hearse, while the 94-year-old queen will travel to the chapel in a Bentley.

A longtime lover of Land Rovers, which he drove for decades, Philip’s body will be ferried to the chapel in a modified Land Rover Defender which he designed himself.

The funeral was aired live on television, out of the public view — the palace asked people not to gather so as to abide by COVID-19 restrictions put in place by the U.K. government.

“With the safety and wellbeing of the public in mind, and in accordance with government guidelines, members of the public are asked not to gather in crowds,” the palace said in a statement. “During this time the royal family ask that members of the public consider making a donation to a charity instead of leaving floral tributes in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh.”

The palace last week removed a royal notice posed to the gate of Buckingham Palace announcing Philip’s death so as to avoid crowds gathering.

“Although this is an extraordinarily difficult time for many, we are asking the public not to gather at Royal Residences, and continue to follow public health advice particularly on avoiding meeting in large groups and on [minimizing] travel,” the U.K.’s Cabinet Office said in a statement.

Some locals stopped outside the castle to leave flowers on Saturday, but people largely heeded requests authorities and the palace not to gather because of the coronavirus pandemic.

People across Britain observed one minute of silence in honor of Philip just before his royal ceremonial funeral got under way.

The service began with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby entering the chapel ahead of the coffin, followed by Philip’s children and three of his eight grandchildren, as a four-member choir sang “I am the resurrection and the life.”

The funeral reflected Philip’s military ties, both as a ceremonial commander of many units and as a veteran of war. More than 700 military personnel took part, including army bands, Royal Marine buglers and an honor guard drawn from across the armed forces.

Inside the Gothic chapel, the setting for centuries of royal weddings and funerals, the service was simple and somber. There was no sermon, at Philip’s request, and no family eulogies or readings, in keeping with royal tradition. But Dean of Windsor David Conner said the country has been enriched by Philip’s “unwavering loyalty to our queen, by his service to the nation and the Commonwealth, by his courage, fortitude and faith.”

"Our lives have been enriched through the challenges that he has set us, the encouragement that he has given us, his kindness, humour and humanity," Conner continued. "We therefore pray that God will give us grace to follow his example, and that, with our brother Philip, at the last, we shall know the joys of life eternal."

Welby, in a prayer for Prince Philip, thanked the Duke for "his resolute faith and loyalty, for his high sense of duty and integrity, for his life of service to the Nation and Commonwealth, and for the courage and inspiration of his leadership."

"To him, with all the faithful departed, grant thy peace," he added. "Let light perpetual shine upon them, and in thy loving wisdom and almighty power work in them the good purpose of thy perfect will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Philip spent almost 14 years in the Royal Navy and saw action in the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific during World War II. Several elements of his funeral had a maritime theme, including the hymn “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” which is associated with seafarers and asks God: “O hear us when we cry to thee/For those in peril on the sea.”

As Philip’s coffin is lowered into the Royal Vault, Royal Marine buglers sounded “Action Stations,” an alarm that alerts sailors to prepare for battle — a personal request from Philip.

Before the coffin was lowered, the dean prayed: "Go forth upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul, in the name of God the Father Almighty who created thee. In the name of Jesus Christ who suffered for thee. In the name of the Holy Spirit who strengtheneth thee. May thy portion this day be in peace, and thy dwelling in the heavenly Jerusalem. Amen."

The service was true to Philip, as religion was very near to his heart.

Former Bishop of London Richard Chartres, who knew Philip well, said the prince was a man of faith, but liked things kept succinct.

“He was at home with broad church, high church and low church, but what he really liked was short church,” Chartres told the BBC. “I always remember preaching on occasions which he was principal actor that the instruction would always come down: ‘No more than four minutes.’”

Along with Philip’s children and grandchildren, the 30 funeral guests include other senior royals and several of his German relatives. Philip was born a prince of Greece and Denmark and, like the queen, is related to a thicket of European royal families.

Mourners wore masks and observed social distancing inside the chapel and did not join in when a four-person choir sang hymns.

Thomas Woodcock, Garter Principal King of Arms, read Philip's full styles and titles: 

"Thus it hath pleased Almighty God to take out of this transitory life unto his divine mercy the late most Illustrious and most Exalted Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Member of the Order of Merit, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order upon whom had been conferred the Royal Victorian Chain, Grand Master and Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom, One of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council, Admiral of the Fleet, Field Marshal in the Army and Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Husband of Her Most Excellent Majesty Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, whom may God preserve and bless with long life, health and honour and all worldly happiness"

The Dean of Windsor then led the Queen out of the chapel, with other members of the royal family following behind.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.