Expert says Prince Philip always wanted a mellow funeral: 'No fuss, no bother'

Prince Philip passed away on Friday aged 99, Buckingham Palace announced in a statement last week, and he is all set to be laid to rest this Saturday.

Amid the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral preparations, it has been revealed by a former palace spokeswoman that he wanted no fuss during his last rites. 

"Ironically, it is probably how he would have liked," former palace spokeswoman Ailsa Anderson told PEOPLE in light of Philip's funeral being a small gathering owing to COVID-19 restrictions. 

"No fuss, no bother. Right through his life, he never knew what all the fuss was about," Anderson added. 

Another palace spokesperson earlier revealed that Philip's funeral plans will take into account the country's COVID guidelines and are "much reduced in scale with no public access."

Although it will be held solely inside the Windsor Castle, the funeral proceedings will "still very much reflect the personal wishes of the Duke."

"The occasion will still celebrate and recognize the Duke's life and his more than 70 years of service to the Queen, the UK and the Commonwealth," the Palace had announced.