Guns and silence across Britain to mark Prince Philip’s death

A giant picture of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on display in London's Piccadilly Circus on April 9, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS
A photograph of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is seen among floral tributes outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in London on April 9, 2021. PHOTO: AFP
A mourner draped in a British Union Jack flag is seen outside Windsor Castle, near London, on April 9, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS
A mourner prays outside Buckingham Palace in London after the death of Prince Philip. PHOTO: REUTERS
Messages of condolence are along with floral tributes outside Windsor Castle, near London, on April 9, 2021. PHOTO: AFP
Players observe a minute of silence for Britain's Prince Philip prior to the English Premier League match between Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers in London on April 9, 2021. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

LONDON (REUTERS, AFP) - The British military fired gun salutes across the United Kingdom from land and sea on Saturday (April 10) to mark the death of Prince Philip, the Queen's husband and pillar of strength during her 69-year reign.

The armed forces, including artillery units in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast and Gibraltar, and some warships, fired Death Gun Salutes at noon (1100 GMT) in honour of the 99-year-old prince, who died at Windsor Castle on Friday.

Philip, the longest serving royal consort in British history and a constant presence at the queen's side for decades, died on Friday aged 99, triggering a period of national mourning.

The death of the Duke of Edinburgh is a profound loss for the 94-year-old monarch, who once described him as her "strength and stay all these years".

Flags are already flying at half-mast on government buildings and will do so until the morning after his funeral, the date of which has yet to be announced.

"It's just a really sad moment," London resident Victoria Hasler told Reuters. "We'd known he'd been ill for quite a long time and it's just really sad. And we're just really sorry to the royal family for their sad news."

As news broke of Philip's death, radio and television broadcasts were interrupted with the national anthem "God Save The Queen".

"Very sad news. He's a lovely guy and very sad for the monarchy," Adam Carr, a London resident, told Reuters.

The Premier League and other sporting events are expected to pay their respects, with the Football Association recommending that black armbands be worn and a minute's silence observed before this weekend's matches.

A two-minute silence will be held ahead of Saturday's Grand National, the country's showpiece horse race.

The well-rehearsed protocol for the duke's death - codenamed "Forth Bridge" - includes the recall of parliament on Monday.

British television stations cleared their schedules for special broadcasts looking back on his life.

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Westminster Abbey, where the couple married in 1947, tolled its tenor bell 99 times on Friday, once for each year of the prince's life.

Political campaigning for May local elections stopped, and Loyalist leaders in Northern Ireland, who have been rioting for days amid heightening political tensions in the British province, urged a pause in violence on Friday.

The call - "as a mark of respect to the Queen" - was largely heeded.

The death of the Duke of Edinburgh is a profound loss for the 94-year-old monarch, who once described him as her "strength and stay all these years". PHOTOS: LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA/NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA FONDS VIA REUTERS, AFP

'Deep sorrow'

Philip - who would have celebrated his 100th birthday in June - had been ill for some time, and spent more than a month in hospital from Feb 16 being treated for a pre-existing heart condition and an infection.

Despite looking frail on his release from hospital on March 16, hopes were raised for his recovery.

But the queen announced Philip's passing "with deep sorrow" after he died peacefully on Friday morning at Windsor Castle, west of London.

"The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss," a palace statement said.

In pre-recorded comments aired in a special BBC programme on Friday, Philip's children reminisced about memories of their father, his long life and achievements.

"Well, you know he didn't suffer fools. So if you said anything that was in any way ambiguous - he'd say 'make up your mind!'" his eldest son and the queen's heir, Prince Charles, said.

His sister, Princess Anne, said "there was a huge amount of encouragement to do things and quite a lot of leeway of pushing your own boundaries, which is probably not given to many nowadays".

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Philip, the longest serving royal consort in British history and a constant presence at the queen's side for decades, died on Friday aged 99. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

'Farewell, my beloved'

Britain's newspaper front pages on Saturday expressed an outpouring of grief, with The Sun tabloid running the headline "We're all weeping with you Ma'am" over photographs of the prince and the queen.

The Daily Mail splashed a picture of the queen looking at her husband along with the headline "Farewell, my beloved" on the front page of its 144-page souvenir edition.

Philip's sharp wit and dedication to his duty earned him widespread popularity in Britain, but he was also criticised for off-the-cuff racist and sexist remarks.

Some people laid flowers beside a British flag outside Buckingham Palace and at the ancient walls of Windsor Castle, though the government urged people not to bring flowers to royal residences.

"With the safety and wellbeing of the public in mind, and in accordance with government guidelines, members of the public are asked not to gather in crowds," Buckingham Palace said.

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The queen announced Philip's passing "with deep sorrow" after he died peacefully on April 10, 2021. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Tributes came in from home and abroad, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson giving "thanks, as a nation and a kingdom, for the extraordinary life and work of Prince Philip".

Political and faith leaders in Britain, and from the United States, Europe and Commonwealth countries including Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and Pakistan also paid their respects.

In Australia, flags will be flown at half-mast, and there will be a 41-gun salute in the capital Canberra on Saturday as part of plans for remembrance.

US President Joe Biden highlighted World War II veteran Philip's long record of duty to the Queen, "the people of the UK, the Commonwealth, and to his family".

He called him a "heck of a guy" who "never slowed down" over his long life.

Tributes also came pouring in from Britain's entertainment royalty, with Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger tweeting that he was "very saddened" to hear of Philip's death, saying he would be "fondly remembered" for his "extensive charitable work".

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Harry's likely return

Philip is expected to be buried at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, according to the royal College of Arms, at a date to be determined.

His grandson, Prince Harry, is likely to make his first return to Britain since his shock move to the United States last year, British media reported.

Philip retired from public duties in 2017 at the age of 96, declaring "I've done my bit".

The couple, who celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary in November, had been living largely in isolation at Windsor, because their age put them at heightened risk from Covid-19.

Prince Harry, seen here with Prince Philip and wife Megan in 2017, is likely to make his first return to Britain since his shock move to the United States last year, British media reported. PHOTO: AFP

He was last seen at a staged appearance at a military ceremony at Windsor last July, days after attending the wedding ceremony of his granddaughter Princess Beatrice.

Much of the planning for the funeral has had to be adapted to avoid the gathering of large crowds, because of strict coronavirus restrictions and social distancing guidelines.

They include an online book of condolences on the royal family's official website rather than conventional public tributes, and no lying in state.

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