PRINCE Philip’s funeral is expected to take place next Saturday – but the public has been urged to stay away over coronavirus fears.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s body will lie at rest at Windsor Castle ahead of the funeral in St George’s Chapel.
Read our live blog for the very latest news on Prince Philip’s death…
Under coronavirus guidelines, a maximum of 30 people can attend a funeral.
Eight senior royals within the “firm of eight” are reported to be certain to be there on the day – but the rules will prevent many in the family from attending.
William and Kate, Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex, the Prince of Wales and Camilla, The Queen herself and Princess Anne are all set to attend the service.
Meanwhile, the Queen has entered an eight-day period of mourning following Philip’s death as plans for his funeral proceed.
Royal fans have been urged to stick to coronavirus rules and avoid gatherings at the funeral.
The decision to not have a State Funeral is in “line with custom and with High Royal Highness’ wishes”, an official College of Arms statement said today.
It also said the arrangements have been revised due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic – and urged people to “not attempt to attend or participate in any of the events”.
The funeral details were revealed just hours after the Duke of Edinburgh, who has been the Queen’s “rock” for 73 years, died aged 99 this morning.
Her Majesty, 94, expressed her “deep sorrow” after her “beloved” husband the Duke of Edinburgh passed away “peacefully” at Windsor Castle.
It comes as:
- Queen shares poignant photo of Philip as she talks of ‘deep sorrow’
- Prince Philip funeral arrangements are revealed
- Harry wants ‘nothing more’ than to be with the Queen – but will he and Meghan fly back?
- Boris Johnson pays tribute to ‘extraordinary’ Prince Philip
- Prince Philip’s life in pictures
- Queen to enter ‘8 days of mourning’ for Prince Philip
- How Prince Philip’s early years saw him flee Corfu on a warship
- This Morning taken off air as Queen announces Philip’s death
The College of Arms statement revealed: “The funeral will not be a State Funeral and will not be preceded by a Lying-in-State.
“His Royal Highness’s body will lie at rest in Windsor Castle ahead of the funeral in St George’s Chapel.
“This is in line with custom and with His Royal Highness’s wishes.
“The funeral arrangements have been revised in view of the prevailing circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and it is regretfully requested that members of the public do not attempt to attend or participate in any of the events that make up the funeral.”
Thames Valley Police said it will put in place a “wide range of security measures” for the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral including “some you can see and some you will not be able to see”.
HALF-MAST
Flags will fly at half-mast on UK Government buildings in tribute to the Duke from now until the morning after his funeral.
Guidance was issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the flying of official flags.
All such flags, which include Union Flags and any national flag, are to be “half-masted on all UK government buildings as soon as possible today until 8am on the day following the funeral”, the department said.
It advises that any non-official flags, which include for example the rainbow flag or Armed Forces flag, should be taken down and replaced with a Union Flag flying at half-mast.
The department said devolved administrations would issue instructions “for the flying of the Union flag and other official flags on buildings in their estate and others as necessary”.
Just after midday, the Union Flag was lowered to half-mast outside Buckingham Palace and on public buildings across the UK as the world mourns his death.
Tributes have poured in from around the world for the hardest-working member of the Royal Family after seven decades of Royal service.
Buckingham Palace said it will now “join with people around the world in mourning his loss”.
A statement from the Palace said: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
“His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.
“Further announcements will made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”
The royal passed away two months and one day short of what would have been his 100th birthday.
BBC radio stations immediately interrupted broadcasts with the news of his death and played the national anthem shortly after in a sign of respect.
Announcing the news, the official Royal Family website was replaced with a single page and heartfelt tribute to the Duke.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute and said “he helped to steer the Royal Family and the monarchy so that it remains an institution indisputably vital to the balance and happiness of our national life.”
Speaking from a podium in Downing Street, Mr Johnson said: “He was an environmentalist, and a champion of the natural world long before it was fashionable.
“With his Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme he shaped and inspired the lives of countless young people and at literally tens of thousands of events he fostered their hopes and encouraged their ambitions.
“We remember the duke for all of this and above all for his steadfast support for Her Majesty the Queen.
“Not just as her consort, by her side every day of her reign, but as her husband, her ‘strength and stay’, of more than 70 years.
“And it is to Her Majesty, and her family, that our nation’s thoughts must turn today.
“Because they have lost not just a much-loved and highly respected public figure, but a devoted husband and a proud and loving father, grandfather and, in recent years, great-grandfather.”
