U.K. TELLS MOURNERS NOT TO GATHER
Public told to not attend Prince Philip’s funeral and follow coronavirus rules
UNITED Kingdom officials urged people not to gather or lay flowers following the death of Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, a sign of how traditions will have to be put aside due to the pandemic.
Well-wishers congregated outside Buckingham Palace and laid floral tributes on Friday, following the news of the Duke of Edinburgh’s passing at Windsor Castle, west of London, at the age of 99.
“The Royal Family have the safety and wellbeing of the public in mind during these challenging times,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. “In accordance with public health advice, members of the public are asked to continue to follow the current government coronavirus guidelines, particularly on avoiding meeting in large groups and on minimising travel.”
The public has also been urged not to attempt to attend the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, which will take place following a period of national mourning.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government is relaxing pandemic restrictions in England from
tomorrow, with the reopening of non-essential shops, while pubs and restaurants will be able to serve customers outdoors.
But social-distancing rules will remain in place, including limiting gatherings to up to six people or two households. That could potentially put authorities in a difficult position if large crowds gather ahead of Prince Philip’s funeral.
That ceremony will also have to take into account pandemic rules, which limit the number of mourners able to attend to 30.
Britain’s famously partisan press were unusually united yesterday, as they led tributes to Prince Philip. Most focused on the importance of their sevendecade union to the monarch, with The Times and the Guardian calling him the queen’s “steadfast support”, while the Daily
Star called him “her rock” and the “man who made Lilibet (his pet name for the queen) laugh”.
Scotland’s Press and Journal bid “Farewell to the ‘royal rock’” too, alongside an old photo of a younger royal couple with their children wearing kilts, and The Times’ Scottish edition carried an old quote from the queen, “my strength and stay”.
The Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail, saw a rare convergence of front pages, both running full page pictures of the queen and Philip with the headlines “Farewell, my beloved”, and “Goodbye, my beloved” respectively.
The Mirror reported that the Duke of Edinburgh’s death had “united (the royal family) in grief”, with Prince Harry putting aside recent tensions “as he scrambles to return home” for the funeral.