Queen leads mourners at funeral of Countess Mountbatten

The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales have led mourners at the funeral of Countess Mountbatten, who has died aged 93.

The Prince gave an address to around 500 members of the late Countess' friends and family, paying tribute to his "very special godmother".

The Queen and Prince Philip, along with all of the Queen's cousins, attended the service at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, where the life of the Countess was celebrated in an hour-long service.

Prince Charles, who was clutching notes, was seen to greet his parents on the steps of the church, kissing the Queen and raising her hand to his cheek.

He then kissed the Duke once on each cheek, patting him comfortingly on the back as the senior royals entered the church.

In heavy rain, the Countess' wicker casket, decorated with simple white flowers, was carried by a bearer part made up of 12 members of Canadian regiment 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry ( PPCLI). The Countess had been their Colonel-in-Chief.

All six of the Countess' surviving children were present at the service, with a party of eight mourners waiting on the church steps and entering in pairs as the church bell tolled.

The Duke of York was also in attendance, accompanying his father Prince Philip from the car door to the church, along with the Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Sir Timothy Laurence.

The Duchess of Gloucester, Duke of Kent, Prince Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra paid their respects.

Lady Pamela Hicks, the Countess' sister, led the family.

Several dozen members of the public watched the arrivals from across the road, including a group of curious painter decorators. 

The service took place at St Paul's, Kensington, conducted by the Reverend Alan Gyle.

Founded in 1843, the parish church is described as "a lively 21st century church of Anglo-Catholic tradition".

The Earl Mountbatten is said to have once lived diagonally opposite, with members of the family still in the area.

After the service, the Countess will be buried in Mersham.

The Countess died peacefully at her home in Mersham, Kent, on June 13, surrounded by her children.

Born Patricia Mountbatten, the Countess was the Duke of Edinburgh's first cousin and was the daughter of Charles's beloved great-uncle Earl Mountbatten.

The then Princess Elizabeth, her third cousin, was one of her bridesmaids at her wedding in 1946.

The Prince of Wales said in a statement at the time her death: "I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of my very special godmother, Lady Mountbatten, whom I have known and loved ever since I can first remember.

"She played an extremely important part in my life and I shall miss her presence most dreadfully."

The Countess's father Lord Mountbatten, her 14-year-old son Nicholas Knatchbull and her mother-in-law the Dowager Lady Brabourne were all murdered by the IRA in 1979 when their boat was blown up off the coast of Sligo.

The Countess, then known as Lady Brabourne, suffered serious injuries, but survived the blast, as did her husband Lord Brabourne and Nicholas's twin brother Timothy.

Lady Mountbatten had been a widow since Lord Brabourne’s death in 2005. She is survived by their four sons and two daughters. The eldest son, the 8th Lord Brabourne, born in 1947, succeeds to the titles.