London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 05, 2025

Duke of Edinburgh: Palace asks public not to lay flowers for Prince Philip

Duke of Edinburgh: Palace asks public not to lay flowers for Prince Philip

Buckingham Palace has asked the public to refrain from leaving floral tributes to the Duke of Edinburgh at royal residences.

Dozens of bouquets were laid outside Buckingham Palace after Prince Philip's death was announced at midday.

Royal household staff placed a framed notice announcing the duke's death on the front gates of the Palace.

But it was removed after an hour to avoid gatherings amid ongoing Covid pandemic restrictions.

The Royal Family asked members of the public to consider making a donation to charity instead of leaving floral tributes in memory of Prince Philip.

The government has urged people not to gather at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle in breach of coronavirus regulations.

The Palace launched an online book of condolence on its official website where it encouraged people to leave messages, a selection of which will be passed to members of the Royal Family.

More than 100 floral tributes - ranging from bunches of daffodils to fuller bouquets, many with notes attached - and two union jacks were placed at the gates by mourners.

Stewards attempted to form an orderly queuing system but encouraged people not to form a large crowd.

Mounted police reminded those gathered to adhere to social-distancing guidelines and remain two-metres apart from other groups.

Many of those gathered outside the Palace on Friday afternoon brought flowers

Rhea Varma, from nearby Pimlico, pulled up on her bike to lay flowers and a note saying "Rest in Peace Duke".

She told BBC News the duke was "the kind of stability that's so old-fashioned it's difficult to comprehend. He was a rock who brought integrity".

Adam Wharton-Ward, 36, left a bunch of lilies by the Palace gates. Visiting London from his home in France, he said he was so moved by the news he wanted to "rally round" for the Queen's sake.

"It's so sad. He's been with her for 73 years. If it wasn't for him who knows if she would have got through it," he said.

The official notice of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh was placed outside Buckingham Palace for an hour
Members of the public gathered to read the Palace's official notice and pay tribute to Prince Philip
The official notice read: "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband."

It confirmed Prince Philip "passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle".

"Further announcements will be made in due course," it added. "The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."

A similar announcement was also displayed outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II in Scotland, in Edinburgh.

The Palace's flag was flown at half-mast.

Traditionally, Royal Family announcements are made by displaying a framed notice at Buckingham Palace.

In recent years, birth announcements have been made in this way, with these notices mounted on a golden easel.

But the coronavirus pandemic has prompted changes to many of the traditions across the Royal households.

The Changing of the Guard ceremonies at Buckingham Palace, St James' Palace and Windsor Castle - seen by millions each year before the pandemic - were postponed in March 2020 to avoid mass gatherings.

One card attached to flowers at the Palace carried tributes from colleagues at a nearby Marks & Spencer store

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×