Hundreds of wellwishers travel to Windsor to pay their last respects

Hundreds of people travelled to Windsor Castle to pay their respects to the Duke of Edinburgh, describing him as "a man of principle who never veered from duty".

Well-wishers young and old lined the street outside Windsor Castle near the town centre as crowds of mourners were chaperoned by police to lay flowers and share messages of support to the royal family.

As the sun broke through the clouds during the warm afternoon, Patsy and John Parnell, who live locally in Windsor, took a moment to read messages of condolences laid at the castle gates.

The couple said they would wave at the 99-year-old duke at various events they had attended.

Mr Parnell said: "We've walked up and down this road for a long, long time and just feel like the man has reached the ripe old age of 99 and he's done great things.

"From my point of view this is the first real big dent in the royal family.

"I know they've had their ups and downs but this one is so serious, I mean now she (the Queen) is on her own.

"He's not an easy man to understand, he kept himself to himself, but nevertheless you have to admire that he was a man of principle.

Sian Keen, 25, an event manager from Windsor, carried a bundle of tulips as she made her way to Windsor Castle with her friends to pay tribute to the duke.

She said: "I think for people our age, this is the first royal who has died, I think it has affected us in a way I didn't think it would at first. We wanted to come by, we live close by and thought it was a nice gesture."

When asked why she made the journey from Wokingham to pay her respects, Mary Marrison, 40, said: "I think it's what makes us British, having a monarchy.”