NATION'S RESPECTS
HUGE numbers of mourners continued to gather outside Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle to pay their respects to Prince Philip today - despite tributes being removed in a bid to deter crowds.
A long queue of well-wishers wanting to leave tributes formed this afternoon at the Palace, snaking along the front of the gates towards Green Park, before turning to follow the edge of the Victoria Memorial.
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The public were 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.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who had been married to the Queen for 73 years, passed away "peacefully" at Windsor Castle on Friday morning, aged 99.
Since news broke of the Duke's passing, hundreds have felt compelled to flock to both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle to pay their respects and lay flowers in his memory in defiance of calls for them to stay away due to coronavirus concerns.
Dozens of bunches have been placed outside both sites as the UK mourns the loss of its longest-serving consort, who won over the country with his dedicated service and wit.
But those turning out despite Covid restrictions and Palace pleas are seeing bouquets, cards and other tributes removed by royal staff shortly after being placed.
Officials insist, however, that they will be saved and displayed elsewhere in the grounds.
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 this morning as people gathered, socially distanced, to pay their respects to the Duke of Edinburgh - with mourner even leaving a glass of wine outside the gates.
This afternoon, a large white marquee was at Frogmore House for all the flowers that have been left.
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Crowds were continuing to grow outside Cambridge Gate at Windsor Castle, with people taking pictures and leaving tributes including paper crowns and a union flag.
Local resident Craig Truter and his three young children were among those who left tributes at Cambridge Gate.
His sons Ranger, six, and Bale, four, laid hand-made paper crowns with the initials HRHPP (His Royal Highness Prince Philip).
Mr Truter said his children had made the crowns "as a sign of respect" for the duke and saw members of the royal family "quite frequently".
He added that his family had been "lucky enough" to have been among the members of the public invited inside the castle grounds for the wedding of Princess Eugenie.
As children and adults alike this morning laid flowers, carriagemen were pictured pausing outside Windsor Castle to pay their respects to Prince Philip.
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Flowers are also being left at Buckingham Palace again today, despite a sign being installed urging people to not leave tributes.
It reads: "You are kindly requested not to leave tributes, artefacts, or candles at this location. Please be aware that any tributes and candles left here will be regularly removed"
This morning at the Queen's central London home, guards in red could be seen marching in the courtyard as a slow but steady stream of people arrived to lay bouquets at the front gates.
Crowds of people could be seen gathered near the front gates of the central London landmark where the Union Jack flies at half mast and around the Victoria Memorial opposite.
This afternoon, a huge queue of people wanting to leave flowers at the Palace formed, with several police officers on patrol in the area.
On the edge of Green Park overlooking the Palace, the world's broadcast media set up for a second day of coverage
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Nikoletta Peto visited the Palace shortly after 9am today.
The 39-year-old, who is originally from Hungary, said: "I have lived here for 15 years and I felt like it's important to give a flower to someone who is so respected and who has done so much for this country.
"So definitely I wanted to come, even though because of Covid I was shielding for over a year."
She added: "I felt like I have to do it because I think it is how it should be."
Rebecca Connoll laid some flowers with her five-year-old son Harvey.
She said: "My husband's in the Army, he's in the Household Cavalry, so he does a lot of big events with the royal family.
"So we just thought we'd come and pay our respects."
She added: "We watched it on the news yesterday and we watch a lot of the royal things, we come down and watch the parades, he knows quite a lot about the royal family."
But with England gradually easing itself out of a national lockdown amid the Covid crisis, both the Government and royal family are keen to avoid anything that attracts crowds.
The Queen has asked has asked for charity donations to causes close to Philip’s heart instead of flowers after his death.
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The new memorial pages dedicated to the duke on the website suggested donations could be made to organisations of which the Duke was patron.
Despite this, hundreds of people travelled to the landmarks yesterday, with more pictured arriving this morning.
Royal wardens dressed in red and grey suits stood outside the castle yesterday, rearranging the dozens of bunches of flowers outside the historic buildings as co-ordinators urged the public "remain socially distanced at all times."
As more mourners continue to gather to pay their respects and lay flowers, the government has urged people to stay away from Royal Residences and follow pubic health advice to "continue to avoid meeting large groups and minimising travel".
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "We are supporting the Royal Household in asking that floral tributes should not be laid at Royal Residences at this time."
Her Majesty, 94, yesterday shared a poignant photo of Philip in a heartfelt tribute to her "strength and guide".
The tragic news is a huge blow to the Queen, with the Duke widely known to be the backbone of the Royal Family.
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Just after midday on Friday, the Union Flag was lowered to half-mast outside Buckingham Palace and on public buildings across the UK as the world mourns his death.
The Duke's death was confirmed with the age-old tradition of placing a notice on the railings of Buckingham Palace.
A brief bulletin, on paper set in a foolscap imperial-sized dark wooden frame, is used to notify the public of key royal events such as births and deaths.
But because of the coronavirus pandemic, the notice has already been taken down to prevent crowds forming.
It comes as..
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Her Majesty has begun eight days of mourning before Prince Philip is buried in Frogmore Gardens at Windsor Castle.
Due to the pandemic he will not be given a state funeral and his body will body will lie at rest at Windsor Castle ahead of the service funeral in St George's Chapel.
A vast sea of flowers was left by mourners following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997, both outside Buckingham Palace and her former home Kensington Palace.
And despite being urged to not gather due to Covid restrictions, mourners are similarly leaving flowers for the late Prince.
Standing across the road from Windsor Castle yesterday was charity worker James Elliott.
"I came today because I live locally, but also because I’ve met Prince Philip before," said the 23-year-old.
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"I was part of the 12th Windsor Scout group and he came to visit our hall. It was the personal touch which was quite nice. I was about 15 but this news has hit me quite hard.
"It’s a sad day for the whole nation but for me because I grew up doing his Duke of Edinburgh programme. My parents are at work but they will come down this evening to see the flowers and pay their respects."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to the "extraordinary" Prince Philip, and said the whole country would mourn the passing of a "much-loved and highly respected public figure".
Tributes have poured in from around the world for the hardest-working member of the Royal Family after serving his country for more than seven decades.
The Prince arrived home at Windsor on March 16 in "good spirits" after a long stint in hospital.
He had been admitted weeks earlier to undergo treatment for an infection before later having heart surgery.
The Duke was said to be in "good spirits" and looking forward to returning home to his family ahead of his 100th birthday celebrations in two months time.
The pandemic will have a major impact on the carefully laid funeral arrangements, made in consultation with the duke.
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With lockdown restrictions still in place, the public elements of the final farewell will not be able to take place in their original form.
As the consort of the Queen, Prince Philip is entitled to a state funeral.
But in keeping with the duke’s no-fuss public image, it is believed that he had asked not to be given a full state funeral.
Instead, it is thought that he requested what would fundamentally be a military funeral, with a private service held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor and burial in Frogmore Gardens.
Prince Charles received the devastating news of his father's death on his 16th wedding anniversary to Camilla.
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall were due to celebrate today but will instead be mourning the loss of Prince Philip.
Prince Harry is to fly back to Britain to attend his grandfather's funeral as he wants "nothing more" than to be with the Queen, claim royal sources.
However, while Harry is eager to return to the UK to be with his family, it is currently unclear if wife Meghan will join him even though she reportedly wants to be by his side.
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The Duke spent his final days with his wife at Windsor Castle, after a 28-night stay in hospital.
Read More on The Sun
But despite her personal pain, Her Majesty, 94, showed her dedication to the country and her family.
She joined Prince Charles for a socially-distanced walk over the Easter weekend.
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Buckingham Palace posts Prince Philip death announcement as flags fly at half mast and Royal website 'unavailable'
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