Death and funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Death and funeral of Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh

The Union Flag flying at half-mast at the Palace of Westminster on 9 April 2021
Date	9 April 2021 (date of death) 17 April 2021, 2:40–3:50 pm (BST) (date of ceremonial funeral)
Location	Windsor Castle, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Participants	See list

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, and the longest-serving royal consort in British history, died in Windsor Castle at the age of 99 on the morning of 9 April 2021, two months before his 100th birthday. The cause of death has not been disclosed by the royal family, though an official statement said he "died peacefully". His funeral took place on 17 April.

The death of the Duke initiated Operation Forth Bridge, a plan detailing procedures including the dissemination of information, national mourning, and his funeral. The Duke had indicated wishes for a smaller funeral, though amendments were still made to the plan to bring his service in line with COVID-19 regulations, including quarantine for members of the Duke's family travelling from abroad.

Representatives of nations and groups around the world sent condolences to the Queen, the British people, and citizens of the Commonwealth. Flowers and messages of condolence were left by the public at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, with members of the royal family publicly paying tribute to the Duke in the days after his death.

Health issues and death

Windsor Castle photographed in 2019; it was here that the Duke died, and that his funeral and burial took place.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh had several hospital stays in the years leading up to his death. In 2012, he was admitted to hospital with a bladder infection. He had exploratory surgery on his abdomen in June 2013, and he underwent hip replacement surgery in April 2018. On 16 February 2021, the Duke was admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital as a precautionary measure after feeling unwell. On 1 March, the Duke was transferred to St Bartholomew's Hospital and on 3 March, he underwent a successful procedure for his existing heart condition. On 5 March, he was transferred back to King Edward's, and on 16 March, he was discharged and returned to Windsor Castle.

Three weeks after his return from hospital, his death was announced by the royal family at noon BST on 9 April 2021, with the release of a statement saying he had "died peacefully" that morning at Windsor Castle. The Duke's daughter-in-law, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, described his death as "...so gentle. It was just like somebody took him by the hand and off he went." The Queen was reportedly at her husband's bedside when he died.

Operation Forth Bridge

Forth Bridge, the plan's namesake

The national plan for publicly handling the Duke's death was called Operation Forth Bridge, named after the Forth Bridge near Edinburgh, the city of his dukedom. According to the College of Arms, the original Forth Bridge plan was amended in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Initiated upon his death, the plan included a press release issued by Buckingham Palace simultaneously to the BBC and Press Association; protocol assumes the Lord Chamberlain consulted with the Queen prior to the press release. At the time of the release, flags were lowered to half-mast, where they remained for a period of national mourning lasting until 8 am on the day following the Duke's funeral.

All Union Flags and national flags were lowered, and government guidance suggested that other flags on governmental buildings – for example, flags of the Armed Forces or Pride flags – be replaced with a Union Flag at half-mast for the mourning period. However, the Royal Standard (at the time, the flag above Windsor Castle) continued to be flown at full-mast, as it represents the presence of the living monarch. Members of Parliament (MPs) wore black ties when in the House of Commons, and also wore black armbands on their left arm. No laws were passed during the eight-day mourning period.

The Royal Standard flying at full-mast at Windsor Castle on 11 April

The press release was issued at midday. The BBC suspended all non-children's programming until at least 6 pm on 9 April, and replaced it with respectful programming following the announcement. On the radio, the broadcasts were changed first to the national anthem, and then to sombre music. The BBC's television channels adopted special reports on the Duke's life. On BBC News, presenter Martine Croxall interrupted the rolling reports to announce the Duke's death. She removed her necklace before the channel briefly cut to images of the Duke to allow her to change into black; all BBC channels then assumed the BBC News feed for the report.

To announce the news on BBC One, the broadcast went dark, with a simple title card then appearing and announcing a news report would follow. Croxall announced the death of the Duke again before reading the press release. After the announcement, an image of the Duke was shown, with the national anthem played. Croxall was replaced by BBC News' lead anchor Huw Edwards for the BBC News at One. On ITV, a live interview on This Morning was interrupted, with host Eamonn Holmes quietly informed of the death by crew members in order to announce the news. He brought the programme to an end and the network changed its feed to ITN for Lucrezia Millarini to announce the news. The other major British broadcasters, Channel 4 and Channel 5, had similar responses, and all networks suspended regular programming until various times in the afternoon and evening of 9 April; programming on BBC Four was suspended for the entire day. BBC television presenters have black clothing on hand in the case of sudden high-profile deaths, and a BBC guideline saw all presenters and guests, during suspended programming, wearing black. On BBC channels, presenters were still dressed in black over the weekend following the Duke's death and on 12 April, while ITV presenters on Good Morning Britain on that date were not. Channel 4 was later criticised for continuing with much of its planned schedule on the evening of 9 April, while both the BBC and ITV received a significant number of viewer complaints for postponing or cancelling their regular programmes to allow continuous coverage. Viewer ratings fell across the television networks except Channel 4, which gained viewers.

At 6 pm on 9 April, the tenor bell of Westminster Abbey began ringing, and was tolled once every minute for 99 minutes, to reflect the Duke's lifespan.

The British and New Zealand embassies in Stockholm with flags at half-mast on 9 April

The plan included duties to disseminate the news across the Commonwealth of Nations. In Australia, one of the Commonwealth realms of which Elizabeth is queen, the responsibility to inform the government and public was that of Governor-General David Hurley.

The majority of military rehearsals for the funeral procession took place at Pirbright Camp and a full dress rehearsal took place at Windsor Castle on 15 April.

Funeral

The Duke's funeral took place on 17 April 2021 in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Procession and service

The Duke was given a royal ceremonial funeral, not a state funeral, which is usually reserved for monarchs. He had indicated a wish for minimal "fuss"; as such, he did not lie in state, though the Duke did "lie at rest" in the private chapel at Windsor Castle prior to his service. Prior to the service, the coffin was moved from this chapel to the Inner Hall of the castle, where prayers were said. The Duke's wishes were said to be for a military funeral conducted at St George's Chapel and burial at Frogmore Gardens, while burial at St George's Chapel is more traditional. This royal ceremonial funeral is the same level of honour as formerly given to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Diana, Princess of Wales. The event was televised. The BBC covered the funeral on BBC One and BBC News, and on Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live. The lead presenters for its television coverage were Huw Edwards, Sophie Raworth, and JJ Chalmers (a former Royal Marine); Martha Kearney hosted the radio coverage alongside Jonny Dymond and Tracy Borman. The funeral was also broadcast on ITV, hosted by Tom Bradby, as well as on Sky News and Sky One, hosted by Dermot Murnaghan. ABC, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and NBC broadcast the funeral in the United States. The funeral is expected to be one of the most-watched live television broadcasts in history. An estimated 13.6 million people watched the event in the UK.

Before the service, bands from the armed services were marched onto the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle. They performed music including "Jerusalem", "I Vow to Thee, My Country", "Supreme Sacrifice", "Isle of Beauty" and "Nimrod".

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin was draped with his personal standard (1st quarter representing Denmark, 2nd quarter Greece, 3rd quarter the Mountbatten family, 4th quarter Edinburgh).

Plans for the funeral, which occurred on 17 April, a Saturday, included the Duke's coffin being carried by the Grenadier Guards to the State Entrance of Windsor Castle before being taken to the West Steps of St George's Chapel at 2:45 pm on a custom-built Land Rover Defender hearse in military green that the Duke helped design. The Quadrangle, the point from which the coffin departed, was lined by the Household Cavalry, the Foot Guards, as well as military detachments from units with special links to the Duke. Defence advisors from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Trinidad and Tobago were also present, representing the Duke's links to units in their respective countries. The coffin was draped with his personal standard, carried his naval cap and his sword, and had a wreath of white roses and lilies placed on it with a note written by the Queen. The band of the Grenadier Guards led the procession from the Quadrangle to Horseshoe Cloister, followed by military commanders and chiefs of staff.

The Duke's four children, three of his grandchildren (Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex; and Peter Phillips), his nephew David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon, and his son-in-law Sir Timothy Laurence, as well as the Duke's household staff, walked behind the coffin. They were followed by the Queen, who was travelling in the Bentley State Limousine, accompanied by Lady Susan Hussey, her lady-in-waiting. Personnel from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Air Force lined the procession route. The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery fired minute guns throughout the procession.

At the West Steps of the chapel, which were lined by the Household Cavalry, eight pallbearers from the Royal Marines carried the coffin. A guard of honour and band from the Rifles Regiment played the national anthem and the Royal Navy pipers piped the side at 2:53 pm, followed by a national minute's silence at 3 pm. Around 730 members of the Armed Forces were present at Windsor Castle, including four military bands.

David Conner, Dean of Windsor, and Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, officiated at the funeral service. The Duke's insignia was displayed on cushions on the altar in St George's Chapel, including awards and decorations bestowed by the UK and Commonwealth countries, his field marshal's baton, Royal Air Force wings, and insignia from Denmark and Greece (Order of the Elephant and Order of the Redeemer, respectively). During the service, there was a reduced choir of four singers conducted by chapel director of music James Vivian; the organist was Luke Bond. The four singers were soprano Miriam Allan and three lay clerks (Tom Liliburn, Nick Madden and Simon Whiteley).

No sermons or eulogies were delivered at the service at the Duke's wish. The ceremony highlighted his links to the Royal Navy and his passion for the sea. The funeral started with the choir singing the Funeral Sentences, composed by William Croft.

The first lesson from Ecclesiasticus, chapter 43, verses 11–26, was read by the Dean of Windsor. The second lesson from the Gospel of John, chapter 11, verses 21–27, was read by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Psalm was Psalm 104, sung to a setting by William Lovelady that the Duke had commissioned. The music included the hymn "Eternal Father, Strong to Save", which is traditionally associated with seafarers, Benjamin Britten's Jubilate in C (also commissioned by the Duke), and Russian Kontakion of the Departed to an arrangement by Sir Walter Parratt. The Dean of Windsor paid tribute to the Duke's "unwavering loyalty" to the Queen and "his service to the nation and the Commonwealth" in the bidding. The Dean gave the commendation as the coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault, while the pipe major of the 4th battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland played the lament "The Flooers o the Forest" while walking from the North Quire Aisle to the Dean's Cloister. The service finished with the proclamation of the Duke's styles and titles by the Garter Principal King of Arms, Thomas Woodcock, and the bugle calls, "Last Post", "Reveille" and "Action Stations". The Archbishop of Canterbury pronouncing the blessing, which was followed by "God Save the Queen".

The Duke was buried in the Royal Vault at St George's Chapel. Upon the Queen's death, his remains will be moved to the King George VI Memorial Chapel inside St George's, where they will be buried next to each other.

Attendees

Regulations against mass gatherings brought in because of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that the number of guests attending the funeral was limited to thirty. This limit did not include anyone working at the funeral, such as pallbearers and clergy. As a result, only members of the Royal Family and a limited number of relatives attended the ceremony inside the chapel. The Queen sat alone at the service. Per COVID-19 regulations, households were separated by two metres. All attendees were required to wear masks and not sing.

The funeral departed from royal protocol with all family members attending in formal day dress rather than military uniforms, something which also occurred at the funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, though protocol was followed for the funeral of the Queen Mother.

Flowers left by the public outside Windsor Castle on the day of the funeral despite being requested not to gather due to COVID-19

Prince Harry, who resides in California in the United States, had planned to return to the UK for the Duke's 100th birthday in June and the unveiling of a statue of his mother in July. He instead returned six days prior to the funeral. He would have been joined by his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, but she did not receive medical clearance from her doctor for making the trip as she is pregnant. To comply with COVID-19 regulations for travel into the UK, Prince Harry had to quarantine for at least five days upon his arrival in the UK; there is an existing exemption in law which allows for mourners from abroad to temporarily leave quarantine to attend a funeral.

Other attendees included Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (grandson of the Duke's sister Princess Margarita), Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden (grandson of the Duke's sister Princess Theodora), and Landgrave Donatus of Hesse (great-nephew of the Duke's sister Princess Sophie). The Duke had requested that members of his German family, who were prevented from attending his wedding, be allowed to attend his funeral; the group travelled to the UK on the weekend following his death and quarantined in Ascot, Berkshire.

The prime minister, Boris Johnson, said he would not attend the funeral so as to allow as many members of the Duke's family as possible to attend.

Security

The gun carriage in the Long Walk at Windsor

Thames Valley Police started deploying officers on 13 April to search Windsor ahead of the funeral service. Security measures in the area were heightened, as police presence in the area also increased, with police forces checking vehicles around the town using the ANPR system.

Reactions

Royal family

An official notice announcing the death of the Duke of Edinburgh posted outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh

In private, the Queen said her husband's death had "left a huge void in her life."

The Duke's children, Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, paid tribute to him in interviews recorded for broadcast after his death. Princess Anne stated, "Without him, life will be completely different". Prince Charles also made a televised short statement from Highgrove House, describing his father as a "much loved and appreciated figure" who had "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 Duke's grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Prince Harry and Meghan, publicly said he would be "greatly missed".

Upon announcement of the Duke's death, the website of the Royal Family temporarily removed all its content and replaced it with a black background, displaying a statement from the palace, before an online book of condolence was made available on the website for the public to post their personal tributes, given that COVID-19 restrictions prevent a physical book of condolences to be signed by the public. In accordance with the Queen's wishes, the royal family and the royal households will observe two weeks of mourning starting on 9 April. With the Queen's birthday falling in the mourning period, traditional 41-gun and 21-gun salutes in Hyde Park and the Tower of London will not take place.

Buckingham Palace on 9 April; the Union Flag is flown at half-mast as crowds gather.

The children of the Duke and the Queen, and several of their spouses and children, travelled to Windsor to support the Queen in the days following the Duke's death, and several members of the family attended a memorial service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints on 11 April. Following the service, Prince Andrew said that the UK had lost the "grandfather of the nation". Later that day, Princess Anne published a written statement on the Royal Family's website and paid tribute to her father, whom she described as her "teacher, supporter and critic".

The 74th British Academy Film Awards ceremonies were held over the weekend of 10–11 April. Prince William, the president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), was to appear on both nights but pulled out from public engagements due to his grandfather's death. The Duke of Edinburgh had been the first president of BAFTA, and both ceremonies began with tributes to him.

In a statement released on 12 April, Prince William described the Duke as an "extraordinary man", adding that he felt "lucky to have not just had his example to guide me, but his enduring presence well into my own adult life". A portrait taken by his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, of their son, Prince George, with the Duke was also published. In a separate statement, Prince Harry said that the Duke was "a man of service, honour and great humour" and added that he, Meghan, and their children will always hold a "special place" for him in their hearts. A portrait of the Queen and the Duke with seven of their great-grandchildren, also taken by Catherine, was released in a series of social media posts by members of the royal family to pay their tributes.

On 14 April, Princess Eugenie released a statement on Instagram saying the Duke would be "touched" by recent tributes and thanked him "for his dedication and love for us all and especially Granny, who we will look after for you." The following day, Prince Edward also remarked that messages from the public were "uplifting" and said that the Duke's "spirit and ethos lives on through his Award, through each and every life touched." On 16 April, Mike Tindall, Princess Anne's son-in-law, also posted on Instagram, sharing a photograph taken by Catherine depicting his eldest daughter, Mia, alongside the Duke, calling him a "devoted family man who we will forever miss but always love". A photograph of the Queen and the Duke, taken by Sophie in 2003, was also shared on social media on the eve of the funeral; it was said to be one of the Queen's favourite pictures.

Meghan, who couldn't attend the funeral, sent a personalised note and a wreath of flowers to be laid at the Duke's funeral. The arrangement was made up of sea hollies (representing the Royal Marines), bear's breeches (the national flower of Greece), bellflowers (representing gratitude and everlasting love), rosemary (signifying remembrance), lavenders (representing devotion) and roses (representing June, the Duke's birth month).

United Kingdom

Members of the House of Lords observing a minute's silence before tributes to the Duke on 12 April

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, speaking outside 10 Downing Street, expressed his condolences and stated that the Duke "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." The day before the Duke's funeral, he visited the garden in Dartmouth where the Duke was first introduced to the Queen in 1939, sending thoughts to her. The Leader of the Opposition, the three First Ministers of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom, and all living former British Prime Ministers expressed similar sentiments, as did the nation's religious leaders. The House of Commons was recalled a day early after its Easter break, on 12 April, to allow MPs to pay tribute. The House of Lords was already due to sit on that day.

The Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly members also paid their tributes at meetings on the same day. Local election campaigns were also suspended following the Duke's death. They resumed after the House of Commons members paid their tributes before pausing again on the day of his funeral.

At noon on 10 April, 41-gun salutes were fired in cities across the UK, in the Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, and on warships, including HMS Diamond and HMS Montrose, at sea. The various salutes were televised across the UK. Sporting events in the UK held on 9 April, and over the weekend following that date (including the 2021 Grand National and Premier League fixtures), observed a two-minute silence as a mark of respect, and sporting bodies rearranged sporting fixtures that were scheduled to occur on the weekend of the Duke's funeral. On 11 April, a special service of remembrance was held at Canterbury Cathedral, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Similar services were held across the UK.

On 17 April, a series of events were held in Scotland and Northern Ireland to pay tribute to the Duke on the day of his funeral, and gun salutes at Edinburgh Castle and Hillsborough Castle marked the beginning and end of the national minute's silence at 3 pm.

Alderman Bill Keery, a DUP councillor, was suspended from the party after making reference to "grooming" when speaking about the first meeting between the Duke and the Queen when she was 13.

Public

Due to restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the public were advised not to leave flowers in tribute to the Duke, and a notice marking the Duke's death outside Buckingham Palace was removed to avoid crowds forming around it as members of the public gathered to read it. Despite this, over a hundred floral and card tributes were placed at the Palace gates by mourners, and thousands gathered to pay their respects. An elegy was published by Simon Armitage to mark the Duke's death.

The Royal Family suggested that instead of leaving floral tributes at royal residences, the public could support charity. Flowers left at Windsor Castle were collected and displayed privately in castle grounds, and a portion of the flowers and cards from Buckingham Palace and the Royal Parks were taken to the gardens of Marlborough House in Westminster, where Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, visited on 15 April to view the tributes. Floral tributes at Windsor Castle were also visited the following day by Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, alongside their daughter, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor. On the day of the funeral, crowds lined the streets leading to Windsor Castle to pay their respects.

A memorial and prayer for the Duke at St James the Less, Litchfield, Hampshire

The heavy coverage of the death, particularly by the BBC, received some public criticism. On 15 April, it was announced that the BBC received 109,741 complaints about their handling of the Duke's death, the majority of which was reported to be criticism that the coverage was excessive. As a result, the BBC's coverage of the Duke's death has been the most widely complained-about piece of programming in its history.

Crown Dependencies

The lieutenant governor of the Isle of Man, Sir Richard Gozney, sent condolences to the Queen, and tribute was made by the island's Chief Minister, Howard Quayle. Flags on all public buildings on the island were being flown at half-mast. Members of Tynwald paid their tributes on 15 April.

In Jersey flags were flown at half-mast. The Chief Minister of Jersey, the Bailiff of Jersey, and the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey all paid tribute.

Representatives of Guernsey also remembered the Duke warmly, and on 10 April a 41-gun salute was sounded from Castle Cornet. Representatives of Alderney paid their tributes on 14 April.

Greece and Denmark

As the Duke was Greek by birth, the Greek President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, shared a photograph of him as a young boy. The photograph had been presented to the nation by Prince Charles on a visit to Athens in March 2021, weeks before the Duke's death; in it, the young Philip is dressed in the uniform of an Evzone guard. Sakellaropoulou's message acknowledged the Duke's service to the UK as "his country". Constantine II, the Duke's cousin and the last King of the Hellenes, described the Duke as "a remarkable man who dedicated his entire life to duty and service for his country and the Commonwealth," and added: "My sorrow is even deeper because of our close family ties. He will be deeply missed by all of us."

In Corfu, on the day of the funeral, the Duke was honoured with a memorial prayer. The ceremony lasted for 40 minutes and took place in the sanctuary of Agios Spyridon. The ceremony took place at the same time as the funeral at Windsor. The service inside the church of Agios Spyridon was officiated by the Metropolitan of Corfu, Paxos and Diapontia, Nektarios. The Corfu Authorities were represented by the Mayor of Central Corfu M. Hydraiou, the President of the Municipal Council of the Central Municipality D. Metallinos and the Member of Parliament of ND St. Gikas. A laurel wreath was also sent by King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes.

From Denmark, a nation of which the Duke was born a prince, the Duke's cousin Queen Margrethe II sent condolences to Queen Elizabeth II. The Danish Royal House shared a portrait of the Duke on social media, in which he was wearing the Danish Order of the Elephant. The flags over the Queen's official residence at Amalienborg in Copenhagen were flown at half-mast, by her orders, for the Duke's funeral on 17 April.

Commonwealth

As a senior member of the British royal family, the Duke was also a prominent figure in the Commonwealth of Nations and, particularly, the Commonwealth realms. Representatives of the governments and official oppositions of multiple Commonwealth realms and nations, from throughout the Duke's tenure as consort, shared messages of condolences to their monarch, and in mourning the Duke for their people as well as the British. Many noted the Duke's support and patronage of organisations throughout the Commonwealth, particularly his support for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme. Commonwealth Secretary-General The Baroness Scotland of Asthal also paid tribute, and offered condolences on her behalf.

The Canadian flag flying at half-mast outside the Joseph Shepard Building, Toronto, on 11 April

Flags were flown at half-mast across the Commonwealth. Per protocol, the Australian flag was flown at half-mast on 10 April and 17 April, to mark mourning and respect for the Duke. In Canada, a notice to fly the national flag at half-mast on federal buildings and establishments and abroad at foreign missions was issued on 9 April, a measure that lasted until sunset on 17 April. In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern directed that flags on government and naval buildings be flown at half-mast on 10 April, 13 April, 17 April, and on the day of the memorial service in New Zealand. On 17 April, several businesses in Sliema and Marsa, Malta also put up posters in memory of the Duke and flew their flags at half-mast as a sign of respect. The 41-gun salutes were also fired across the Commonwealth in the Duke's honour.

Australia

Following the death of the Duke, the Australian Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet established an online book of condolences for the public to register their condolences. A 41-gun salute was observed outside Parliament House in Australia on the afternoon of 10 April.

A small church service was held in St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, on 11 April, for Australian officials to pay respect to the Duke. An Australian memorial service was held at St. Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide on 18 April.

Canada

On the morning of 9 April, local time, the bell at Peace Tower in Canada was rung 99 times, one for each year the Duke lived. On 12 April, a parliamentary motion was passed in the House of Commons of Canada to express its condolences. The Department of Canadian Heritage also created an online book of condolences for the public, as a physical book of condolences could not be placed at Rideau Hall or Parliament Hill due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Canada, a national day of mourning was proclaimed on 17 April; with a televised national ceremony taking place that day at Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa, after the Duke's funeral concluded in the UK. A gun salute and recital by the Dominion Carillonneur on the Peace Tower carillon followed the national ceremony. Several provincial and local memorial services were also planned to take place in Canada on 17 April, although the number of guests allowed to attend the services, including the national ceremony in Ottawa, was limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. As a result, the largest in-person Canadian memorial service for the Duke occurred in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with 100 guests permitted to attend the provincial service. On the day of the ceremony, prime minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Canadian government would donate C$200,000 to The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Canada as a tribute to the Duke.

Cyprus

In Cyprus, where the Duke was an officer in the Royal Navy's Mediterranean fleet and spent a decade in local waters; churches had been encouraged to hold a commemorative service before the funeral. In the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, every parish church was asked to hold a special service in the period of "remembrance and mourning" to commemorate the Duke's life. In Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, as well as in the capital cities of Gulf countries and Iraq, the commemorative services were planned after consultation with the British Embassy. In each church a book or a record of condolence was made available to allow members of the public to record their prayers and condolences.

A Sung Eucharist was conducted on 14 April at St Paul's Anglican Cathedral, Nicosia, in thanksgiving for the Duke's life. It was attended by Archbishop Michael Lewis and British High Commissioner to Cyprus Stephen Lillie. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, some people were allowed inside the Cathedral, while some remained seated outside.

Malta

On 17 April, a gun salute was organised to commemorate the death of the Duke at noon at the Upper Barrakka Saluting Battery overlooking the Grand Harbour in Valletta. The nine-gun salute ‐ one for each decade of the Duke of Edinburgh's life ‐ was organised by the Wirt Artna Foundation and the Malta Tourism Authority. Spectators gathered at Upper Barrakka Gardens to witness the gun salute.

Members of the public also paid tributes to the Duke on 17 April, by laying flowers at Villa Guardamangia in Pietà; a villa where the Duke lived while serving in the navy in the late 1940s. The villa was also used as the residence of the Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) and the Duke from 1949 to 1951, when he was stationed in Malta as the captain of HMS Magpie. The tribute, organised by the Malta George Cross Movement, saw members of the movement, the Royal Naval Association Malta branch, the Malta Command WW2 Living History Group, and members of the public lay wreaths at the steps of the villa.

New Zealand

A 41-gun salute was observed in New Zealand from Point Jerningham at noon on 11 April. On 13 April, MPs in New Zealand convened to pay tribute to him, including performing a waiata, before adjourning for the day. A memorial service in New Zealand is planned at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul on 21 April.

Tanna, Vanuatu

Yaohnanen men holding photographs from their meeting with the Duke in 2007

The Kastom people around the villages of Yaohnanen and Yakel on the southern island of Tanna in Vanuatu, who worship Prince Philip as a god-like spiritual figure, also mourned his death. Village Chief Albi said that he was "terribly, terribly sorry" that he died and tribal leader Chief Yapa sent his condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the UK. The Union Flag is flying at half mast on the grounds of the nakamal. A formal weeks-long mourning period was declared and many tribespeople gathered on 12 April in a ceremony to remember the Duke, where men took turns to speak and pay tribute to him.

During their mourning period, villagers will periodically meet to conduct rites for him, who they see as a "recycled descendant of a very powerful spirit or god that lives on one of their mountains". They will conduct ritualistic dance, hold a procession, and display memorabilia of the Duke, while the men will drink kava, a ceremonial drink made from the roots of the kava plant. The period of mourning will culminate with a "significant gathering" where a great deal of yams and kava plants will be on display. It was expected that numerous pigs would be killed for the ceremony.

Referring to the Queen, Chief Jack Malia said though the Duke is dead, they still have a connection with the "mother" of the royal family, and that they were "linked before and are still linked with them". Many of the tribesmen believe that while his body lies at rest, the Duke's soul will return to "its spiritual home, the island of Tanna".

Kirk Huffman, an anthropologist familiar with the group, said that after their period of mourning the group would probably transfer their veneration to Prince Charles, who had visited Vanuatu in 2018 and met with some of the tribal leaders.

Royalty

Various heads of existing and former European monarchies, most of whom were related to the Duke (predominantly through Queen Victoria and Christian IX of Denmark), shared their grief, including Philippe and Mathilde, the King and Queen of the Belgians; Margrethe II, the Queen of Denmark; Constantine II, the last King of the Hellenes; Henri, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg; Albert II, the Prince of Monaco; Willem-Alexander and Máxima, the King and Queen of the Netherlands, and Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands; Harald V, the King of Norway; Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania; Maria Vladimirovna, Grand Duchess of Russia; Felipe VI and Letizia, the King and Queen of Spain; Carl XVI Gustaf and Silvia, the King and Queen of Sweden; and Alexander and Katherine, the former Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Yugoslavia.

Other monarchs and heads of royal houses from different parts of the world, including native monarchies of Commonwealth nations, also sent their condolences.

Bhutan

In Tibetan Buddhism, lighting butterlamps for the deceased symbolises the hope that he is free of suffering and his soul will reach enlightenment.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan gave orders for special prayers to be held in monasteries across the nation in memory of the Duke, for about a week following his death. On 10 April, the King and Queen offered prayers before a portrait of the Duke at the Mongar Dzong, a Buddhist fortress-monastery in Mongar, and lit 1000 butterlamps, which in Tibetan Buddhism symbolises the hope that the person is free of suffering and that his soul will reach enlightenment. They were accompanied by Queen Mother Tshering Yangdon, Prince Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, and Ashi Yeatso Lhamo.

In Thimphu, Prince Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, accompanied by the Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji, British residents in Bhutan, and Bhutanese who studied in the United Kingdom, also offered prayers and lit 1000 butterlamps at the Simtokha Dzong.

Luxembourg

The flags of the Grand Ducal Palace and Berg Castle were flown at half mast on the day of the funeral.

Norway

The Norwegian Royal House announced that a flag would be flown at half-mast from the balcony of the Royal Palace, Oslo, on 9 April and on the day of the funeral.

Sweden

Sweden honoured the Duke, who was a Knight of the Order of the Seraphim, the foremost order of Sweden, on the day of his funeral. The Duke was awarded the order by King Gustaf VI Adolf on June 23, 1954. The Duke was the 683rd Knight of the Order since its inception in 1748.

The Royal Standard of Sweden was flown at half mast from Stockholm Palace on the day of the funeral.

The Duke's coat of arms as a Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim was then taken from the palace to Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm, where the great bell rang a traditional Seraphim Toll (Serafimerringningen) for one hour, from noon to 1 pm. The Vice-Chancellor delivered the eulogy for the deceased Knight of the Order. The Duke's coat of arms will then be hung in the church. The Duke’s sash and Order of the Seraphim was on display in St George’s Chapel on the day of the funeral. The Swedish Royal Family sent wreaths to the British Royal Family.

International

Tributes left to the Duke outside the British Consulate-General, Hong Kong, on 10 April

Past and present representatives of the governments of many nations gave tribute to the life of the Duke and his impact around the world. Also sharing sympathy were the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, a spokesperson for Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres, Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, President of the World Bank David Malpass, Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg, Pope Francis, and the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.

Ireland

On the day of the funeral, the Irish National flag at all State buildings in Ireland was flown at half-mast as a "mark of respect" for the Duke. Under Ireland’s National Flag Guidelines, the flag is flown at half-mast on "all prominent government buildings" with a permanent flag pole on the death of a national or international figure.

The Irish National flag was previously flown at half-mast on all State buildings in 1997, on the day of Diana's funeral, and in 2002, to mark the death of the Queen Mother.

Images for kids

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  Floral tributes to Prince Philip outside the gates of Sandringham House, Norfolk

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  The Saint Spyridon Church in Corfu where a memorial prayer took place for the Duke on the day of his funeral

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  Dame Patsy Reddy, the governor general of New Zealand, speaking at the state memorial service, 21 April 2021

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  The High Commission of Cyprus in London flew the flags of Cyprus and the European Union at half-mast on the day of the funeral

See also

In Spanish: Muerte y funeral de Felipe de Edimburgo para niños