Prince Philip funeral : Union flags raised over royal palaces as Queen continues to grieve for husband

My colleague Chiara Giordano has the following report from Windsor, in which she notes that the crowds gathered in the town slowly dispersed while “sharing in the collective knowledge that they will likely never witness a royal funeral of this kind ever again”.

The Telegraph reports that the Treasury is looking at minting a special £5 “crown” coin to fund a permanent memorial to Prince Philip.

While the government has not commented on the report, the cash raised could supposedly be used to pay for a statue of the late duke, or go towards a new Royal Yacht Britannia in his memory.

With much of the focus today on the Queen’s decision to sit alone at the funeral, our associate editor Sean O’Grady writes for Independent Voices that the monarch’s solitude “was almost a gesture of solidarity”.

He writes: “She did not bend the rules just because she is the sovereign. Again, a small example to those in public life who sometimes forget that we are all supposed to be in this pandemic together.”

Although the period of national mourning since his death on 9 April has now ended, the royal family will undoubtedly continue to grieve.

During the week of mourning, union flags were flown at half-mast on royal residences, government buildings, armed forces establishments and at UK posts overseas.

Here’s a look back at yesterday’s funeral service, from my colleague Vincent Wood:

Here’s the image of Boris Johnson observing yesterday’s silence for Prince Philip, as published on his official Twitter account.

Only 30 royal family members, and staff, were permitted to attend the service in light of coronavirus restrictions.

The royal family will continue to grieve this week following the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral yesterday, although the period of national mourning has now ended.

After almost 70 years as head of state, the Queen will reign without her husband by her side, as she sat on her own during the funeral service that bore Philip's touch and celebrated his life and legacy.

Family plans for Sunday have not been made public and it is not known how long Harry intends to stay in the UK before heading back to his pregnant wife in the US.

The Queen is said to have likely sort comfort in walking her beloved dogs Muick and Fergus at Frogmore, where Harry has been staying, after the funeral - which she has been doing most days since the duke’s death on 9 April, according to The Sun.

Union flags across the UK have been raised from half mast to mark the end of the period of national mourning for Prince Philip.

Video footage aired by BBC News shows the flags outside Buckingham Palace and Downing Street being raised, while other official buildings across the country have also followed suit this morning.

While the period of national mourning has ended, the Queen continues to grieve her husband of 73 years, as will the rest of the royal family.

Union flags flying over the royal palaces have been raised following the funeral of Prince Philip.

It means the Queen is officially back to work as she continues to grieve her husband of 73 years.

My colleague Ellie Abraham has more details: