London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 26, 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
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
×