Buckingham Palace announced the death of Prince Philip on 9 April. He was 99.

A statement issued by the press secretary at Buckingham Palace said: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

”His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.

“Further announcements will be made in due course.

“The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”

So many people gathered to view the notice, it has now been removed due to concern for coronavirus restrictions.

Union jacks and national flags will fly at half-mast on all government buildings. Royal buildings where the Queen is not in residence will also fly the Union Jack at half-mast.

Dorset Council raised its flag and dropped it to half-mast at County Hall, Dorchester in honour of His Royal Highness. As elsewhere in the country, it will remain at half-mast until the day of the funeral, which will take place on Saturday, 17 April.

The Royal Family has asked people not to leave flowers and tributes at royal residences.

In Dorset, people are invited to leave flowers in remembrance of the Duke at the front steps of County Hall.

Chairman of Dorset Council, Councillor Val Pothecary said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family as we mourn the loss of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, and on behalf of Dorset Council I would like to offer them our heartfelt condolences. We give thanks for His Royal Highness’s wonderful life and years of devotion to serving the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. He has been an inspiration to us all.”

Angus Campbell, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Dorset, said: “It is with deep sadness that we heard of the passing of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. 
 
“The country, and the county, are now in deep mourning in remembrance of an extraordinary man. He has dedicated 70 years of his long life to support Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Second, our longest ever reigning Monarch.

“The Duke has been a remarkable pillar of strength to Her Majesty, who herself has been an extraordinarily strong and constant foundation of love, strength and hope for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations.

“I know that all our hearts go out to Her Majesty and the other members of the Royal Family at this most difficult time. We have lost a man who has been a symbol of extraordinary support and strength for the Crown. A man who will be most terribly missed by us all, and who has given us, and our country, so very much service over so many years.”

Prince Philip was the longest-serving consort of a reigning British monarch and the oldest-ever male member of the British Royal family.

He retired from his royal duties on 2 August 2017, aged 96, having completed 22,219 solo engagements since 1952.

Chairman of BCP Council, Cllr David Flagg, said: “The people of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and all of us at BCP Council, are saddened by the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Our thoughts are with Her Majesty The Queen, and the wider Royal family at this difficult time.

“The Duke of Edinburgh has visited our towns on a number of occasions over the past 70 years. In 1966, he accompanied The Queen when they visited Bournemouth Gardens, Christchurch town centre and the Christchurch Priory. Another notable visit from The Duke was to Poole in 1969, when The Queen opened Poole Hospital. Their 2004 visit began in Bournemouth with a visit to King’s Park and Bournemouth seafront. The Royal couple then continued on to The Lighthouse in Poole, followed by a tour of the new RNLI Training College. Thousands of residents lined Poole Quay as the Royals left the town on a lifeboat.

“Many local people who are still resident in our area will have attended these historic events and will treasure their own recollections of those days.”
Dorset Police paid tribute to Prince Philip.

Deputy Chief Constable Scott Chilton said: “Dorset Police is very saddened to learn of the death of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

“I would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Prince Philip.

“We will be flying our flag at half-mast as a mark of respect at Dorset Police HQ in Winfrith and our police stations in Weymouth and Bridport.

“Memorial plans will be announced by local councils and we ask the public to follow local authority websites for further information.”

The Freemasons extended their sincere condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family.

In a statement the group said: “His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh started his life in Freemasonry in 1952, at the age of 31. He was initiated into Navy Lodge, No 2612, on 5 December.”

According to the statement he remained a member throughout his life.

The Duke of Edinburgh was born in Corfu on 10 June 1921, the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenberg.

He joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1939, and rapidly rose through the ranks being promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1950. The Duke was also a qualified pilot.

A patron, president or member of nearly 800 organisations, The Duke of Edinburgh had special interests in scientific and technological research and development, the encouragement of sport, the welfare of young people, and conservation and the environment. He founded the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and International Award to introduce young people to new experiences.

He will also be remembered for his many public gaffes, which were an enduring feature of his life as a working royal.

Messages of condolence can be sent to members of the Royal Family via an online book of condolence available from Buckingham Palace at www.royal.uk/condolence

Dorset Council residents without access to the Internet, but wishing to leave a message in the book, can call the council’s customer service team on 01305 221000 who will record it for them.

From Monday Dorset Council’s libraries will reopen where people without computer access may use the council’s computers to send their own message of condolence. To comply with current Covid rules, please phone ahead and book a computer session.

The funeral of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh will take place on Saturday, 17 April, at St George’s Chapel in Windsor at 3pm. It will begin with a national minute’s silence as the coffin enters St George’s Chapel.

Due to coronavirus restriction, there will be no public procession or access and just 30 mourners will be present.

The Duke, who hated “fuss” left instructions that he should have a relatively low-key funeral, swapping a formal lying-in-state for commemorations remembering his military ties and charity patronages.

Prince Harry is due to make the journey from his home in California to attend the funeral. Meghan Markle, who is pregnant, has been advised by her doctor not to travel to the UK.

Members of the public are advised not to go to Windsor, but to watch the funeral on television.