Singer Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, who had flown in from the US especially for the funeral, played an acoustic version of his 1970 hit Wild World.
Family friend Otis Irwin addressed the guests before the second hymn Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.
Renowned photographer Don McCullin, a close friend of Mr Shand’s, read a tribute while Ben Elliot read an extract from Mr Shand’s book Travels on My Elephant.
A choir sang Somewhere from Westside Story before Ayesha Shand made her own tribute.
The final hymn was The Lord of the Dance and the guests exited the church to The Elephant Song from Disney film The Jungle Book.
Read it all from the Telegraph.
An eclectic selection of secular songs. Wild World, about a broken relationship between lovers, is out of place for a church setting.
I had assumed that a prayerbook funeral service had been used. Looking back, I see no evidence of that. Oh my.
I suspect that the Telegraph article homed in on the weird and wonderful aspects. Notice the Clarence House spokesman said “The service was a traditional one with a few elements thrown in that were very specific to Mark Shand.” But admittedly, the ‘few elements’ don’t seem to have left much room for the usual funeral liturgy.