Two women in black face masks were photographed attaching the framed statement to the gates, which bears the Buckingham Palace letterhead and the same text that was released by the palace earlier today: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.” Although it’s tradition for news of royal births, deaths and marriages to be declared via a notice on the palace railings (although sometimes an ornate easel is deployed, as with the birth of Prince George in 2013), reporter Omid Scobie says that the notice will be removed later today due to concerns about crowds gathering while Britain is still under lockdown. Meanwhile, the royal family’s website has been temporarily replaced with a tribute to Philip, which features his photograph against a black background and the following text in white: “The Duke of Edinburgh, 1921-2021.” Because of COVID-19 concerns, Philip is likely to have a scaled-back funeral, the details of which are still under discussion. The Daily Mail reports that the duke will not lie in state and will not have a state funeral, although they claim there will be a military procession. It is expected that Philip’s funeral will take place in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. Next up, find out more about Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s four children.
