UK mourns as Prince Philip dies in sleep at 99

Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has died at the age of 99, Buckingham Palace said on Friday.

“It is with deep sadness that Her Majesty the Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” the palace said in a statement.

“His Royal Highness passed away peacefully at Windsor Castle this morning. Further announcements will be made in due course. The royal family joins people around the world over his loss. ”

Flags at Buckingham Palace and government buildings across the UK were dropped immediately after half-mast.

Members of the public also began laying flowers outside the palace, which sits in central London, and at Windsor Castle, the royal palace west of the capital where Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II lived during COVID-19 locks.

The College of Arms, the heraldic authority of Britain, said there would be no state funeral or a lie in the country, reflecting both tradition and the prince’s ‘wishes’, as well as the current COVID-19 restrictions in England .

‘The body of His Royal Highness will rest in Windsor Castle before the funeral in St George’s Chapel. This is in accordance with the custom and wishes of His Royal Highness, ‘reads a statement without setting a date on which he will be laid to rest.

“It is regrettably requested that members of the public not attempt to attend or attend any event of which the funeral is held.”

The Duke of Edinburgh, as he was officially known, spent four weeks in a British hospital earlier this year receiving treatment for an infection and a heart procedure, but returned to Windsor in early March.

He was only months away from his 100th birthday in June and was on the Queen’s side during her 69-year reign, the longest in British history.