Army engineers began preparing Prince Philip's Land Rover hearse after hospital stay

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Army engineers worked around the clock to make sure the Duke of Edinburgh’s specially-designed Land Rover hearse was ready in time for his funeral. A team from the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) was deployed to prepare the hearse after the Duke was admitted to hospital in February. His month-long stay at the age of 99 was the longest period Prince Philip had spent in a hospital.

Two vehicles were commissioned from Land Rover and converted for “belt and braces” purposes but only one will be used at the funeral on Saturday. Sources have suggested one vehicle is green and the other black and it is unclear which will be deployed. The Corps of engineers, formed in 1942, is responsible “for maintaining and repairing the Army’s equipment”.

According to a source, REME had worked with the Duke and alongside Land Rover to modify two Land Rover Defenders some time ago. The Duke’s unusual request for a Land Rover to carry his coffin was made public by Buckingham Palace when it unveiled details of the funeral procession, restricted by the pandemic to the confines of Windsor Castle.

A senior palace official said: “They are specially commissioned Land Rover vehicles. They are modified to carry a coffin. The Duke of Edinburgh had a hand, many, many years ago, in the design of these vehicles.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/army-engineers-began-preparing-prince-161920348.html