Prince Charles has paid tribute to his "dear Papa," the Duke of Edinburgh, saying he will miss him "enormously."
In a statement released this evening, Prince Charles described his father as "a very special person" who "has given the most remarkable, devoted service to The Queen, to my family and to the country, but also to the whole of the Commonwealth."
The Prince of Wales added that he was appreciative of the outpouring of support from the public.
"We are, my family, deeply grateful for all that. It will sustain us in this particular loss and at this particularly sad time. Thank you."
The Duke of Edinburgh's funeral will take place at St George’s Chapel at 3pm on Saturday, at which time there will be a national minute's silence.
The guestlist will be confirmed on Thursday, but the Duchess of Sussex will definitely not be attending on the advice of her doctor. Prince Harry is expected to be there, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered his seat to a member of the Royal family, given that there is a limit of 30 people allowed to attend.
The funeral will be fully televised on the BBC.
Follow the latest updates below.
07:41 PM
That's it for tonight
We are bringing the live blog to a close now, but you can enjoy plenty more coverage on our website and in the Sunday Telegraph tomorrow.
The Duke of Edinburgh's close association with the military will be on show at his ceremonial royal funeral next weekend.
Elements of the Royal Navy, Air Force and the Army will be present during an eight-minute procession in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
On the day of the funeral, the Duke's coffin - accompanied by the Dean of Windsor and the Lord Chamberlain - will be moved to the state entrance of Windsor Castle by a Bearer Party of The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
The Duke of Edinburgh's final official royal engagement before retirement was a parade at Buckingham Palace - Eddie Mulholland
The Band of the Grenadier Guards, of which Philip was Colonel for 42 years, will lead the procession to St George's Chapel.
They will be followed by the Major General's Party, and then the Service Chiefs, which will include the Chief of the Air Staff, Naval Staff and Defence Staff.
The Duke had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy, and while he gave up active service in 1951 he remained closely connected to it and other military elements throughout his public life.
Boris Johnson will not attend the funeral of Prince Philip, Christopher Hope, our Chief Political Correspondent reports.
On Friday minor political parties had been told that Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, would be the only politician attending the funeral.
However, Number 10 has said this evening that Mr Johnson had offered to stand aside to let an additional member of the royal family attend the funeral under the current guidelines.
A source said: “The PM offered to stand aside to allow more family members to attend.”
Boris Johnson met the Queen in July 2019, where she officially recognised him as the new Prime Minister - Victoria Jones/Pool via REUTERS
Armed police will patrol the streets of Windsor next Saturday as part of a massive security operation to safeguard the funeral and deter crowds.
Thames Valley Police also issued a statement to local people and businesses urging them to be “vigilant” and warning how they would see an “increased police presence".
06:21 PM
The Sporting Prince
Take a look back at the Prince's sporting highlights, which include cricket, where one report says he was nicknamed 'The Corfu Compton' after his place of birth and the famous England player.
At Gordonstoun he captained the 1st XI, batting high up the order and bowling offspin.
He was also an accomplished Polo player, becoming one of the best in Britain.
06:08 PM
Telegraph readers share stories
There have been some wonderful stories about encounters with the Duke of Edinburgh sent in by Telegraph readers.
There's one about a man in tartan trousers who was told they would terrify the corgis, a woman who was teased for being hungover and jokes with children about taking the day off school.
There will be more stories coming over the next few hours, as The Sunday Telegraph goes to print.
05:50 PM
Prince had 'a righteous impatience'
The Archbishop added some light to his service, talking about the Duke's sense of humour and his driving will to make positive changes.
"He had a righteous impatience. He would not accept the status quo. If things were not right, he would say so and say so quickly, and clearly, and often bluntly."
He exemplified "not a life that crushes our individuality, a life that brings a fruitfulness, a purpose, a calling, a sense of fun, a sense of humour", the Archbishop said.
Archbishop Justin Welby with The Queen, alongside the former Archbiship of York, John Sentamu and Prince Philip - Peter Nicholls- WPA Pool Getty Images
In a reflection the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said the Duke "had the gift of moral imagination" and used his talents at "full throttle, right through his life".
"He did not see the world just as it was, but he saw what could be, and what should be," the Archbishop said.
"He was about innovation, possibility, potential. He was very well known in the world of design, of engineering, and he used his convening power with enormous confidence.
"To get people together to begin to resolve problems, or to set up organisations that would themselves resolve problems."
His work would carry on, the Archbishop said, because "he didn’t concentrate it on himself. It wasn’t ‘me, me, me’. It was about the world, about those he served, and in doing that his own role was more and more significant."
Prince Charles was speaking outside Highgrove House, the family residence of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, situated southwest of Tetbury in Gloucestershire.
Dressed smartly in a navy suit and black tie, he spoke without notes for more than a minute and called his father "a very special person."
He said he missed the Prince of Edinburgh "enormously," adding that he "would have been amazed by the reaction and the touching things that have been said about him."
Watch the whole tribute below.
05:00 PM
Prince Charles statement
"I particularly wanted to say that my father, for I suppose the last 70 years, has given the most remarkable, devoted service to The Queen, to my family and to the country, but also to the whole of the Commonwealth.
"As you can imagine, my family and I miss my father enormously. He was a much loved and appreciated figure and apart from anything else, I can imagine, he would be so deeply touched by the number of other people here and elsewhere around the world and the Commonwealth, who also I think, share our loss and our sorrow.
"My dear Papa was a very special person who I think above all else would have been amazed by the reaction and the touching things that have been said about him and from that point of view we are, my family, deeply grateful for all that. It will sustain us in this particular loss and at this particularly sad time. Thank you."
Prince Philip, with his son, Prince Charles in 2016, when they were unveiling a statue of the Queen Mother - Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images
04:46 PM
Funeral details
All the details on the funeral of Prince Philip, in one place.
The Duke of Edinburgh had left strict instructions in his final wishes that he should have a relatively low-key funeral.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the funeral - which will take place on Saturday, April 17 - is to adhere to current guidelines around life events that allow just 30 mourners to be present.
Members of the public have been asked not to attempt to attend or participate in any of the events that make up the funeral.
The service will open with the maritime hymn Eternal Father, Strong to Save, which has a strong association with the Royal Navy and is often sung at the funerals of seafarers.
Omid Scobie, one of the authors of 'Finding Freedom' - the book on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has been speaking to a source, who said that Meghan made “every effort” to travel but didn’t receive medical clearance from her physician.
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Prince Harry will attend his grandfather’s funeral on Saturday (following all US and UK Covid-19 protocols in the process). A source adds that Meghan, who is heavily pregnant, made “every effort” to travel but didn’t receive medical clearance from her physician.
The coffin, borne on the Land Rover, will be flanked by pallbearers drawn from the duke's special relationships - the Royal Marines, regiments, corps and air stations.
The procession from the state entrance to the west steps of St George's Chapel will take eight minutes.
The Prince of Wales and members of the royal family will take part in the procession on foot, immediately behind the duke's coffin, together with staff from Philip's household.
The route of the procession will be lined by representatives drawn from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Highlanders, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Air Force.
Minute guns will be fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the east lawn of Windsor Castle for the duration of the procession, and the Curfew Tower Bell will toll.
04:11 PM
Doctor told Meghan not to travel
The pregnant Duchess of Sussex will not be attending the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral after medical advice.
The Duke of Sussex will make the journey from the couple's home in California and will be following Covid-19 protocols for the trip, as well as during his visit.
It is understood that Meghan, who is pregnant with her second child, had made every effort to join her husband but was not given clearance to travel by her doctor.
Harry has not returned to the UK since stepping down as a senior royal just over a year ago.
It also be the first time he has seen his family in person since his and Meghan's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey - in which they accused the royal family of racism and the institution failing to support a suicidal Meghan.
The two-hour interview was aired while the Duke was in hospital after surgery on his heart.
04:08 PM
The finer details of the funeral
On the day of the funeral, the duke's coffin, accompanied by the Dean of Windsor and the Lord Chamberlain, will be moved to the State Entrance of Windsor Castle by a Bearer Party of The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
On the grass in the Castle's Quadrangle will be representative detachments drawn from Philip's military special relationships.
The Quadrangle will also be lined by the Household Cavalry and The Foot Guards.
The Band of the Grenadier Guards, of which Philip was Colonel for 42 years, will lead the procession to St George's Chapel.
They will be followed by the Major General's Party, and then the Service Chiefs, reflecting His Royal Highness's close relationship with the military.
04:07 PM
Meghan not coming, Harry is
The pregnant Duchess of Sussex has been advised by her doctor not to travel to the UK for the funeral, but the Duke of Sussex will attend, a Palace spokesman said.
04:07 PM
Service will be held entirely within Windsor Castle
A Palace spokesman said: "This event will be much reduced in scale with no public access.
"In line with Government guidelines and public health measures, there will be no public processions and the duke's funeral will take place entirely within the grounds of Windsor Castle.
"The plans have been given final approval by the Queen and reflect appropriately Government advice.
"Despite these necessary changes, they still very much reflect the personal wishes of the duke.
"Although the ceremonial arrangements are reduced, the occasion will still celebrate and recognise the duke's life and his more than 70 years of service to the Queen, the UK and the Commonwealth."
04:06 PM
Please pay your respects at home, urge Royal family
The royal family has appealed to people who wish to pay their respects in person to stay at home instead.
The Palace spokesman said: "While there is sadness that the public will not be able to physically be part of events to commemorate the life of the duke, the royal family asks that anyone wishing to express their condolences do so in the safest way possible and not by visiting Windsor or any other royal palaces to pay their respects.
"The family's wish is very much that people continue to follow the guidelines to keep themselves and others safe.
"His Royal Highness's funeral will be broadcast to enable as many people as possible to be part of the occasion, to mourn with us and celebrate a truly extraordinary life."
04:06 PM
The Duke designed his own Land Rover hearse
The duke's coffin will be transported from the castle to the chapel for the funeral in a specially-modified Land Rover he helped to design, and will be followed by the Prince of Wales and senior royals on foot, a senior Palace official said.
The Queen has approved the Prime Minister's recommendation of national mourning which began on Friday April 9 and runs until and including the day of the funeral.
Only 30 people will attend as guests and, under current guidelines, the Queen and the royal family will have to wear face masks and socially distance.
The Queen has decided the royal family will enter two weeks of royal mourning, and engagements will continue appropriate to the circumstances, a senior royal official said.
04:04 PM
'Significant adaptations to the original arrangements'
A Palace spokesman said the Royal family hoped the coming days would be seen as a chance to celebrate the duke's "remarkable life".
"While this is naturally a time of sadness and mourning for the royal family and the many others who knew or admired the Duke of Edinburgh, it is hoped that the coming days will also be seen as an opportunity to celebrate a remarkable life - remarkable both in terms of his vast contribution and lasting legacy," the spokesman said.
Paying tribute to the duke's military record, his passion for science, engineering, design, art, the armed forces and charities, the spokesman added: "You can see why his influence is so much greater than many may imagine the role of the consort to be."
"The Covid-19 pandemic has of course required us to make significant adaptations to the original arrangements for His Royal Highness's funeral," the spokesman added.
"However, we are certain that the occasion will be no less fitting a farewell to His Royal Highness, marking his significant duty and service to the nation and the Commonwealth."
04:03 PM
The timings of the procession
2.40pm - Coffin leaves State Entrance of Windsor Castle 2.45pm the Procession steps off
2.53pm - The Land Rover reaches the West Steps of the Chapel
3.00pm - National Minute Silence, Coffin enters St. George's Chapel, service commences
04:02 PM
Duke's coffin laying at rest at Windsor Castle
The duke's coffin currently lies at rest in the private chapel of Windsor Castle.
On the morning of the funeral, it will be moved in a small ceremonial procession from the state entrance of the castle to St George's Chapel.
There will be no lying in state for Philip in keeping with his wishes.
Philip's coffin will be draped with his personal standard, and decorated with a wreath of flowers and his Naval cap and sword.
04:01 PM
Duke of Edinburgh's funeral details revealed
The Duke of Edinburgh's funeral will take place at St George’s Chapel at 3pm on Saturday, at which time there will be a national minute's silence.
Owing to Covid restrictions, the entirety of the service will be held within the grounds of Windsor Castle where there will be a short procession.
Prince Philip's coffin will be draped in his coat of arms with his Naval cap and sword on top, and carried in a Land Rover hearse which the Duke designed himself.
The guestlist will be confirmed on Thursday, but the Duchess of Sussex will definitely not be attending on the advice of her doctor.
In line with Government guidelines, the maximum of 30 guests in attendance are likely to have to wear face masks, and it is not clear whether the Queen is in a support bubble and therefore may have to socially distance.
The Royal Family have confirmed they are in a two-week period of mourning. The funeral will be fully televised on the BBC.
04:00 PM
'The Queen has been amazing', says Countess of Wessex
"The Queen has been amazing", Sophie, the Countess of Wessex said as she and Prince Edward left Windsor Castle where they mourned the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex visited the Queen a day after Prince Charles has dropped in on his mother after Prince Philip died at the age of 99.
As she left Windsor Castle, the Countess of Wessex said "the Queen has been amazing".
Gun salutes marking the death of the Duke of Edinburgh took place across the UK, in Gibraltar and at sea.
Saluting batteries will fire 41 rounds at one round every minute from midday in cities including London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, as well as Gibraltar and from Royal Navy warships, the Ministry of Defence said.
Britain has entered eight days of national mourning for the Duke during which flags will be flown at half mast, TV presenters will wear black and Parliament will pass no new laws.
03:40 PM
How The Telegraph covered Duke of Edinburgh's key moments with the Queen
Here is how the front pages of the paper have looked from the couple's first meeting in 1939 to his death on Apr 9, 2021.
Members of the public lay flowers ourside Buckingham Palace in memory of The Duke of Edinburgh - David Rose for The Telegraph A well-wisher waits in line to lay a floral tribute to Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh outside Buckingham Palace - Tolga Akmen/AFP Masie Cairns, aged 18 months, looks at a card left at the gates of Hillsborough Castle - the Queen's official residence in Northern Ireland - Charles McQuillan/Getty
02:45 PM
An alternative history of Prince Philip: What if he had never met the Queen?
What might have been, writes Harry de Quetteville.
No one knew fate’s twists better than the Duke of Edinburgh, whose great-grandfather was catapulted from army officer on meagre pay to sire of Europe’s second most prolific royal family when, out of the blue, he was named heir to a throne he never expected to occupy by his godfather, the Danish king.
Read the full story on an alternative history of Prince Philip, looking at what had happened if he never met the Queen.
02:25 PM
Westminster Abbey dressed to remember the Duke
Rosa Wlodarczyk adjusts a photograph of the Duke of Edinburgh displayed alongside the nave at Westminster Abbey, London, which has been dressed in black to mark his death - Dominic Lipinski/PA
02:12 PM
'Fire!': Gun salutes for Prince Philip held around the UK and the world
01:55 PM
How Prince Philip spent his retirement – painting, driving, and finally relaxing
The Duke's final years were spent in quiet seclusion on Wood Farm, where family members would visit away from the glare of publicity, writes Hugo Vickers.
Floral tributes are seen outside Buckingham Palace - Dan Kitwood/Getty
The nation mourns with the Royal family for a man who lived a remarkable life of service. The news had hardly begun to sink in when the floral tributes appeared at the gates of Buckingham Palace, and the world of social media started to fill with uplifting stories of how the Duke of Edinburgh had touched the lives of people, made them smile, and inspired them in their youth.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is asking for the help of the 6.7 million people across the UK who have done their DofE in creating the first-ever nationwide collection of "DofE memories" in tribute to HRH Prince Philip and to inspire even more young people to take part.
The charity is asking anyone who’s been involved in the DofE across the decades – from current participants and older alumni to the tens of thousands of people who help deliver the DofE across the UK every year - to go to DofE.org and share their experiences in celebration of The Duke’s legacy.
The stories will be used to inspire more young people to start creating their own memories with DofE. And the charity will present a physical copy to the Royal Collection, so the stories can be remembered forever.
The collection already includes memories from well-known alumni such as actress Nina Wadia, Paralympian Hannah Cockcroft and adventurer Levison Wood.
Notes have been attached to some of the tributes to the Duke of Edinburgh left outside Buckingham Palace.
One hand-written letter attached to a bouquet reads: "Dear Queen, I can't imagine how you're feeling right now and and I won't pretend to know the loss that you are experiencing."
A sad face was drawn at the end of the message.
12:36 PM
Baftas confirm William withdrawal
Following the news that the Duke of Cambridge has withdrawn from this weekend's Bafta awards ceremony, the organisation said in a statement: "In light of the Duke of Edinburgh's passing, the Duke of Cambridge will no longer be part of Bafta programming this weekend.
"Our thoughts are with the royal family, to whom we offer our deepest sympathy at this time."
12:31 PM
Long queue weaving outside Buckingham Palace
A long queue of wellwishers wanting to leave flowers at Buckingham Palace has formed.
The line snakes along the front of the palace gates towards Green Park, before turning to follow the edge of the Victoria Memorial.
The public are being allowed to approach the palace gates one by one to lay their tributes, in an effort to reduce the size of the crowd amid coronavirus restrictions.
Our reporter Helen Chandler-Wilde is with the mourners.
Afua Mintah, 35, came to pay her respects to her “favourite character on The Crown”, Prince Philip.
“He was a legend”, she said. “I like his personality — he was funny.” Mintah said she saw his off-colour jokes as “just banter”.
She met the Queen as a teenager, when she paid a visit to her school Greycoat Hospital, in Westminster. “She said a few words to me but I was too nervous to remember what they were”, she said.
The Royals are hugely important to Mintah’s family who live in Ghana. “They are all big fans of the royals, especially the older generation”, she says.
12:19 PM
Watch: Prince Philip's children remember their father
12:10 PM
Have you ever met the Duke?
We are comparing a wonderful library of the day that our readers met Prince Philip.
To have your story considered for publication, please email luke.mintz@telegraph.co.uk.
12:02 PM
Prince William pulls out of Baftas
The Duke of Cambridge has withdrawn from this weekend's Bafta awards ceremony, Kensington Palace has confirmed.
His grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh - Bafta's first president - died on Friday and William, who is the current president, was due to feature on Saturday in a pre-recorded conversation with costume designer Jenny Beavan and make-up and hair designer Sharon Martin, talking about filming in lockdown and the craft of film-making.
On Sunday, William was due to deliver a speech, via video, celebrating the resilience of the film industry over the past year.
11:59 AM
Final gunshots fired at Tower of London
The final of 41 gunshots has been fired at the Tower of London in tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh.
Members of the Honourable Artillery Company have dissembled three large guns which they used to salute the duke, as hundreds of people watched from Tower Bridge.
Following the salute, 18 of the uniformed servicemen boarded three military vehicles towing the guns from beside the Thames, as members of the public applauded.
11:50 AM
Gun salutes end
The gun salutes across the UK and in Gibraltar ended at 12.41pm, with one round fired per minute since noon.
11:37 AM
Prince Andrew visits Queen
The Duke of York has left Windsor Castle after visiting the Queen.
Prince Andrew , Duke Of York arrives at Windsor Castle - Kelvin Bruce/Jim Bennett
Andrew waved to the public as he drove his green Range Rover down a street packed with crowds.
11:25 AM
First Minister at Cardiff Castle for salutes
Reservists from 104 Regiment Royal Artillery are firing a 41-gun salute from the grounds of Cardiff Castle to mark the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
First Minister Mark Drakeford is among dignitaries present.
11:18 AM
'The Queen has been amazing', says Countess of Wessex
As she left Windsor Castle, the Countess of Wessex said "the Queen has been amazing".
Britain's Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, leave Windsor Castle in their car following the death of Britain's Prince Philip in Windsor - Frank Augstein/AP
Sophie spoke to reporters from a Land Rover driven by her husband, the Earl of Wessex.
The couple spent around an hour at the castle on Saturday morning
11:12 AM
Prince Edward leaves Windsor Castle
The Earl of Wessex has left Windsor Castle with his wife Sophie after visiting his mother the Queen.
Police cleared the road as their vehicle left the area as the countess waved to members of the public.
11:12 AM
Gun salutes underway
The Death Gun Salute is fired by The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery to mark the passing of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the Parade Ground, Woolwich Barracks - Daniel Leal-OIivas/AFP
10:52 AM
Preparations for gun salutes
Members of the Honourable Artillery Company wearing black face coverings have assembled three guns facing the River Thames in preparation for the gun salute to mark the Duke of Edinburgh's death.
The uniformed personnel arrived in four military vehicles, with three towing guns, outside the Tower of London.
In an event closed to the public due to coronavirus restrictions, the servicemen will fire 41 rounds of gunfire every sixty seconds at midday in tribute to Philip.
The guns in London will fire in unison with army units from all corners of the UK including Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh, and British Overseas Territory Gibraltar.
At sea, guns will be fired from Royal Navy ships across the globe in solemn remembrance.
Members of the public have been encouraged to watch via news channels from their homes.
10:38 AM
Watch: London landmarks pay tribute to the Duke
10:23 AM
Earl and Countess of Wessex arrive at Windsor Castle
The Earl of Wessex arrived at Windsor Castle following the death of his father, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Edward, 57, arrived by car at around 11am on Saturday.
Edward was seen arriving at the castle, where the Queen has been staying during the pandemic, in a blue Land Rover Discovery alongside his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
10:14 AM
'Duke of Edinburgh's Awards shaped my life'
Serena Gupta, 20, has three badges proudly pinned to her lapel: her bronze, silver and bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Awards, writes Helen Chandler-Wilde.
Completing the award has shaped her life and interests, she says. “When I did the Duke of Edinburgh award I took part in a year of volunteering in conservation — it made me really love it. I still volunteer now for English Heritage.”
Gupta, an undergraduate at the University of Warwick, came to Buckingham Palace to collect her gold award and had hoped to meet the Duke. Unfortunately, by that point he was retired, so instead she collected it from his son, Prince Edward.
“I’ve been reading that Prince Philip was the only one who could act normally around the Queen — that makes me really sad that he’s gone.”
10:11 AM
China's President sends condolences to Queen
China's President Xi Jinping expressed his condolences to the Queen over the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
"In a letter to the Buckingham Palace, the Chinese Embassy conveyed the condolences and sympathy from President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan to Her Majesty The Queen and members of the Royal Family," Beijing's embassy in the UK said.
09:58 AM
Our reporter outside Buckingham Palace
Shirley Singleton, 81, said she had been “crying a lot” since hearing the news of the Duke’s passing, which reminded her of living through the Second World War as a child, writes Helen Chandler-Wilde.
“I was a few years old when I was going into the air raid shelters”, she said. “The Duke of Edinburgh was a brave man who fought in the War.
“We didn’t have much then but we shared it together with our rations — it reminds me of living through the pandemic.
“For the Queen, I’m glad she had time with him during the pandemic when the visits were cut down.
“I’m just very grateful he was part of my era and my life.”
09:57 AM
BBC sets up dedicated page for 'too much coverage' complaints
The BBC has set up a dedicated page allowing people to complain about "too much TV coverage" of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
The broadcaster suspended its Friday schedule across both BBC One and BBC Two to run a series of mirrored special programmes about the duke, who died at Windsor Castle aged 99.
BBC Four was suspended and showed a message urging viewers to switch over for a "major news report", while BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live also aired special programming reflecting his life.
The rolling news coverage meant the final of MasterChef, which was due to air at 8.30pm on BBC One, was not shown.
09:49 AM
Prince Edward arrives at Windsor
The Queen's youngest child - Prince Edward - has reportedly arrived at Windsor.
09:48 AM
Moving statement from Queen
The Royal Family has shared a moving quote from the Queen about the Duke of Edinburgh from a speech she made celebrating their golden wedding anniversary in 1997.
“He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.”
She said: "He (Philip) has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know."
The Queen was speaking in November 1997 during a lunch at Banqueting House in London, in which she looked back on "a remarkable fifty years".
09:25 AM
Church bells to ring out 99 times at midday
The The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers have announced there is to be a mass chiming of bells in churches around the country at midday.
In a statement, the charity said: "We are saddened by the news that Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, died on 9th April aged 99.
"He had been dedicated to Her Majesty the Queen and the many interests for which he was Patron.
"His legacy of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme has benefited bell ringing through service and activities for young people."
It also cited "guidance for ringing for the Duke of Edinburgh", which read: "Following conversations with the Church of England today, half-muffled tolling or chiming of a single bell on Saturday, April 10, 2021, at 12 noon, 99 times or up to five minutes is recommended following the announcement of the death the Duke of Edinburgh.
"The Cabinet Office has declared 8 days of official mourning, during which time any other ringing should be half-muffled and in accordance with current Covid-19 restrictions.
"Half-muffled tolling or chiming of a single bell is recommended on the day of the funeral. There is no special dispensation of current ringing guidance on Sunday."
08:56 AM
Watch: The dry wit of the Duke of Edinburgh on video
08:40 AM
Windsor flowers to be taken to castle grounds for display
In Windsor, members of the public laid floral tributes outside Cambridge Gate, at the top of the Long Walk leading to Windsor Castle where Philip died on Friday.
A spokesman for Windsor Great Park said tributes would be removed "respectfully" throughout the day and taken to a private location within the castle grounds and displayed.
The sound of bagpipes could be heard as people gathered, socially distanced, to pay their respects to the Duke of Edinburgh.
08:28 AM
Duke 'once suggested Caribbean ship raid would hike drugs costs in London'
The Duke of Edinburgh once suggested raids on smuggling ships in the Caribbean would only achieve a rise in the price of drugs in London, according to a former naval chief.
Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, who was first sea lord from 2009 to 2013, remembered Philip as an "extremely talented sailor" who could have risen to the top of the Navy.
Sir Mark said the duke was "never shy" in telling first sea lords where he thought they were failing.
"I remember one particular conversation I had where I raised the success at the time of Royal Navy warships interdicting drugs smugglers in the Caribbean where the drugs captured were ultimately destined for the streets of London," Sir Mark told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"His instant response to me then was really quite challenging. He countered the then policy of such interdiction, saying it simply raised the price of drugs on the streets of London and had no long-lasting effect. He had a point indeed.
"He remained pretty unconvinced, I think, from my arguments and with his usual wry smile said we better move on to better things. I was delighted to seek calmer seas. To this day I'm not sure whether he was winding me up or not."
07:59 AM
Brands black out for Duke
A number of companies rebranded their websites to pay tribute to the Duke.
Vanuatu tribe who worshipped Prince Philip as a god will now deify Charles
A tribe in the South Pacific that worshipped the Duke of Edinburgh as a living god will likely transfer their allegiance to Prince Charles, a leading anthropologist has said.
Men from the village of Yaohnanen hold portraits of the Duke, which he gave the village in 2012 - Roman Kalyakin/Corbis
The Duke has for decades been worshipped as a spirit or god by a group of villages on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu, formerly an Anglo-French colony known as the New Hebrides.
They would be deeply saddened by his passing and are set to respond to his death with ritual wailing, ceremonial dancing and the drinking of a mildly narcotic drink called kava, said Kirk Huffman, an authority on what is known as the Prince Philip Movement.
Watch: How the hands-on Duke influenced his children and grandchildren
07:21 AM
Buckingham Palace floral tributes removed
The floral tributes left at Buckingham Palace yesterday to honour Prince Philip have now been removed, writes Dominic Penna.
However some of the handwritten messages in memory of the Prince that were tied to palace gates have remained.
A small number of mourners continued to lay some flowers through the night at the palace, BBC Breakfast reported.
Written tributes included: "To our unsung hero Prince Philip - thank you and rest in peace."
Buckingham Palace has urged the public not to leave any flowers to commemorate the death of the Duke amid fears over crowds gatherings during the ongoing pandemic.
07:08 AM
Former First Sea Lord pays tribute to Duke's 'very influential' role
The former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy has paid tribute to Prince Philip’s “very influential” role in the service during his decade as Lord High Admiral, writes Dominic Penna.
Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, who was First Sea Lord when the Prince was given the title in 2011, said the Prince was always forthcoming in expressing his views and would challenge others where he felt it necessary.
“He maintained extremely close interests in all things Royal Navy throughout his life, and it must be said he was very influential in getting his point across to all First Sealords, ” Admiral Sir Mark told the Today programme.
“He was never shy in mentioning to us where he thought we might be failing. He was after a debate and discussion and woe betide you if you didn’t have your ammunition well-stacked.
He said there was little doubt that if the Prince had he remained in the Navy, he would have been a strong contender to become a First Sea Lord himself.
“When we briefed our new Lord High Admiral in Whitehall, he was so knowledgeable about what each one of our units was doing and why we were there. I remember thinking: ‘Why are we briefing this man? He already knows it all.’”
06:46 AM
Gun salutes marking death of the Duke
Gun salutes marking the death of the Duke of Edinburgh are to take place across the UK, in Gibraltar and at sea.
Saluting batteries will fire 41 rounds at one round every minute from midday in cities including London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, as well as Gibraltar and from Royal Navy warships, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
Gun salutes have been fired to mark significant national events since as early as at least the 18th century.
They were used to mark the deaths of Queen Victoria in 1901 and Winston Churchill in 1965.
The public is being encouraged to observe the gun salutes, which will be broadcast online and on television, from home.
05:41 AM
10 things you might not know about Prince Philip
The life of the Duke of Edinburgh was marked by his sense of duty.
The longest-serving British consort, Prince Philip completed over 22,000 royal engagements before his retirement in 2017.
At one event, he jokingly described himself as “the world’s most experienced plaque-unveiler”.
The Duke was affiliated with over 750 organisations and he made more than 5,000 speeches in his six decades of service.
Alongside his work for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which he founded in 1956, Prince Philip maintained a keen interest in wildlife conservation, scientific research and the Armed Forces.
Also known for speaking his mind and for having a blunt sense of humour, the Duke has been described as one of the funniest royals.
Team Windsor: how the Royal family will rally round the Queen
The Duke of Edinburgh’s children and grandchildren are to rally round the Queen to help her in the wake of his death, in a transition the Royal family has been preparing for years.
Plans for the next generation of royals to "step up" have been in place since before the Duke's retirement, in what was once described by aides as "Team Windsor".
Significantly derailed by a series of disasters for the institution, those plans will now see the rest of the family pick up the slack to fill the shoes of the man famous for his dedication to duty.
While the Queen is expected to resume her duties as monarch after a period of mourning, she will be able to lean on two younger generations of working senior Royals for a smooth transition long in the planning.
The title of the Duke of Edinburgh will eventually be inherited by Prince Philip’s youngest son, Prince Edward.
Under plans first announced in 1999, Edward will succeed his father in the Dukedom with the blessing of Prince Philip and the Queen.
Prince Edward and his father during a visit to Canada in 1976 - Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
When Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones married in 1999, they were given the titles the Earl and Countess of Wessex, but Buckingham Palace also announced that Edward would eventually one day succeed his father as the Duke of Edinburgh.
Britain has entered eight days of mourning for the Duke of Edinburgh during which flags will be flown at half mast, TV presenters will wear black and Parliament will pass no new laws.
Between now and Prince Philip's funeral, the Queen will not carry out any duties either in public or in private, and any new laws requiring Royal Assent will not be sent to her for approval.
Churches and public buildings have been told not to open books of condolence for the Duke because of Covid restrictions. Official Government guidance says an online book of condolence, opened on the Royal family's official website on Friday night, should be the sole portal for the public to express their personal tributes.
National mourning will last until 8am on the day after the Duke's funeral, with all official flags, including the Union flag, to be flown at half mast on Government buildings.
In the summer of 2000, in the run-up to the celebrations marking the 100th birthday of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, I asked the Duke of Edinburgh, then 79, if he fancied the idea of living to be as old as his mother-in-law, Gyles Brandreth writes.
“God Almighty,” he harrumphed, “I can’t imagine anything more ghastly. I’ll be dead long before then, I hope.”
“And when you are dead,” I said, “how do you think you will be remembered?”
He looked gloomily about him and sighed (we were at Buckingham Palace, sitting in what is known as The Duke of Edinburgh’s Sunshine Room).
“If the media have anything to do with it, ‘cantankerous old sod’, I suppose.” He leant forward and looked me straight in the eye. “Isn’t that what I am? A cantankerous old sod. Isn’t that it?”
On that particular day, it was. The Duke had his moods. He could be irritable, contrary, pig-headed and ungiving.
But on the whole and as a rule – and I knew him for almost 50 years – he was the best of company: funny and surprisingly tolerant.
Leaders in Africa have paid their respects to Prince Philip and joined the wave of support for the Royal Family from Commonwealth countries.
Samia Suluhu Hassan, the president of Tanzania, tweeted her condolences: “On behalf of the government and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania, I convey my heartfelt condolences to you Your Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, and through you to the people of the United Kingdom following the sudden demise of HRH Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
“We stand with you during this difficult time of loss and mourning. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Cameroon's President Paul Biya wrote a letter to Queen Elizabeth, saying: “I salute the memory of Prince Philip, who was always at your side to embody the monarchy and contribute to the success of your reign.
“My wife and I wish to express our deepest sympathy to you, the royal family, the government and the British nation at this time of sorrow.”
Cameroon's president, Paul Biya - GETTY IMAGES
01:20 AM
How Philip shaped his grandchildren's lives
Of Prince Philip’s eight grandchildren, one will now receive particular attention. Prince Harry will be desperate to come back to Britain for his beloved grandfather’s funeral, Harry Mount writes.
In all the bombshell revelations of the Sussexes’ interview with Oprah Winfrey last month, his devotion to his grandparents was clear.
“I’ve never blindsided my grandmother. I have too much respect for her,” Harry insisted. The Duchess added that, when she heard about the Duke of Edinburgh’s illness, “I just picked up the phone and I called the Queen just to check in.”
Amid the subsequent furore over the couple’s claim that the colour of their son’s skin tone had been discussed by members of the family, Harry also acted in his grandparent’s defence. “He wanted to make sure I knew, and if I had an opportunity to share it, that it was not his grandmother or grandfather that were part of those conversations," Winfrey later revealed.
That interview showed, then, what a central figure Prince Philip was in his grandson’s life, even thousands of miles away in Los Angeles.
The Duke of Edinburgh with Prince William and Prince Harry at Sandhurst in 2006 - PA
12:46 AM
The funeral: When is it, and who is invited?
The Duke of Edinburgh's funeral plans will be completely revised due to coronavirus restrictions and will be announced in the coming days.
Buckingham Palace sources said they would adhere to current guidelines, which allow just 30 mourners.
Members of the public have been asked not to attempt to attend or participate in any of the events that make up the funeral.
The Duke left strict instructions that he should have a relatively low-key funeral in his final wishes, swapping a formal lying-in-state for commemorations remembering his military ties and charity patronages.
The Duke, who hated “fuss” and took a no-nonsense approach to life, had planned a royal ceremonial funeral, rather than a State funeral, giving him the same status as Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
In the end, it happened exactly as the Iron Duke would have wanted it – as ever, with his beloved wife by his side, says Camilla Tominey.
Determined to die at home rather than in hospital, Prince Philip was able to pass away "peacefully" at Windsor Castle, where he was Ranger for more than half a century, very much on his own terms.
As his frail condition worsened overnight on Thursday, with insiders warning that he was "gravely ill", any talk of whisking the 99-year-old back to hospital was quickly dismissed by the Queen.
According to one well-placed source: "He spent most of the four weeks he was in hospital trying to get home. They operated on his heart in a bid to give him a little longer, maybe with the 100th birthday in mind. But he didn't really care about that. He just wanted to be back in his own bed. There is no way he would have wanted to die in hospital."
Britain has entered eight days of mourning for the Duke of Edinburgh during which flags will be flown at half mast, TV presenters will wear black and Parliament will pass no new laws
The Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral had been meticulously planned in accordance with his wishes. But Buckingham Palace confirmed yesterday that coronavirus restrictions meant all arrangements had been completely revised
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