‘What a life!’

Gun salutes were fired across Britain yesterday to mark the death of Prince Philip as tributes flooded in for a man who was a pillar of strength for Queen Elizabeth during her record-breaking reign. 

Messages of condolence have poured in from world leaders to the Duke of Edinburgh, as Philip was officially known.  Members of the public laid flowers outside royal residences, paying their respects to the 99-year-old prince.

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II's husband, Prince Philip, will take place next week, Buckingham Palace said yesterday, announcing a stripped-back ceremony due to coronavirus restrictions, and a return for exiled royal Prince Harry but not his wife, Meghan.

The Duke of Edinburgh - the 94-year-old queen's husband of 73 years -- died peacefully on Friday just two months short of his 100th birthday, triggering eight days of national mourning.

Royal officials said his funeral, which will be televised, will take place at 1400 GMT on Saturday, April 17 in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, west of London.

It will be preceded by a national minute's silence.

The armed forces marked Philip's passing at noon (1100 GMT) with a Death Gun Salute. Artillery units in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast and Gibraltar, and some navy warships, fired their guns. Flagsat government buildings across Britain were lowered to half-mast and billboard operators replaced adverts with a photo and tribute to the prince.

"We're all weeping with you, Ma'am," read the front page of the Sun tabloid, while its rival the Daily Mail ran a 144-page tribute to Philip.

Despite a request from the royal family for the public to obey pandemic social distancing rules and avoid visits to its residences, people laid cards and bouquets outside Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace through the night.

"What a life! Thank you for serving our country," read one tribute outside Buckingham Palace.