Various scenes - HMS Wakeful steaming out to sea - Archbishop of Centerbury conducts service - coffin into sea - Lord Mountbatten throws wreath, followed by Duke of Edinburgh, followed by daughter, followed by Duke of Edinburgh's mother - shot of wreaths floating on sea.




Initials BA/V/AHS/BA


EDITORS: see prod. numbers 1322/60 Funeral scenes at Portsmouth, and 1227/60, Scenes from Countess Mountbatten's life.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In accordance with her own wishes, the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma was buried at sea, Feb. 25, ten miles off the Isle of Wight.

The short service, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, was held aboard the frigate "Wakeful". Escorting the "Wakeful" from Portsmouth was the Indian frigate "Trishul" - recalling Lady Mountbatten's close association with India when her husband was last Viceroy before independence.

After Lady Mountbatten's body had been committed to the sea, Earl Mountbatten lifted a wreath to his lips and cast it on to the water. He was followed by the Duke of Edinburgh, with a wreath from the Queen and himself, and the same tribute was taken paid by other members of the family. Among them was Princess Alice, the Duke of Edinburgh's mother, who was wearing the habit of the nursing order of which she is head.

As the ceremony ended, the small circle of wreaths floated slowly away under grey, misty skies.

Countess Mountbatten, who was 58, died, Feb. 21, in North Borneo during a 10 week tour of the Far East.