The BBC will air a special programme at 21:00 BST this evening across BBC Television telling the remarkable life story of the Duke of Edinburgh.

Having stood beside the Queen for more than 70 years, Prince Philip conducted hundreds of royal engagements in his own right, often championing the development of young people and environmental change.

The special programme - A Tribute to HRH Duke of Edinburgh - features interviews with those who knew the duke best.

View the programme website here.

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Paying tribute to Prince Philip, Chief of the Defence Staff Gen Sir Nick Carter described him as "a great friend, inspiration and role model for the armed forces", who would be "sorely missed".

"The Duke of Edinburgh served among us during the Second World War, and he remained devoted to the Royal Navy and the armed forces as a whole," he said in a statement.

"A life well lived, His Royal Highness leaves us with a legacy of indomitable spirit, steadfastness and an unshakeable sense of duty. From all of us who serve today and who have served, thank you."

MI6, for whom the duke is a patron, also paid tribute in a statement, saying: "The duke was a true friend of the Service and we had the privilege of hosting HRH on numerous occasions.

"Always his sharp mind, experience gained from active service and knowledge of global affairs shone through. As we all know, HRH called it as he saw it with directness and wit. Visits were never dull."

It is understood that the Duke of Edinburgh's son, the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, left his home at Highgrove in Gloucestershire and travelled to Windsor this afternoon.

A Death Gun Salute will be fired at 12:00 BST on Saturday to mark the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Saluting batteries will fire 41 rounds at a pace of one round every minute for 40 minutes at locations across the UK, in Gibraltar and on HM ships at sea.

The gun salutes will take place behind closed doors but will be broadcast online and on TV, with the public being encouraged to watch from home.

Earlier this evening, the tenor bell at Westminster Abby tolled 99 times to mark each year of the duke's life.

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Former Botswana president Ian Khama told the BBC that "very few people" could claim to have carried out their public duty as diligently as Prince Philip.

“When people talk about the royals, I don’t think they quite understand what it takes, what it means to be able to carry out that role and the duties that come with it. For me that’s what I admire so much about him and the Queen," he told the Focus on Africa radio programme.

“This is a loss not just for the Queen and the Royal Family but I think for the UK and the Commonwealth. He was one of a kind, he had a mind of his own and he spoke it. I admired him and the Queen and the way they carried out their duty."

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An active life, resilience and service were at the heart of what the Duke of Edinburgh stood for, the explorer and scouting ambassador, Bear Grylls, has said.

Grylls told BBC World News he remembered walking alongside the duke and the Queen to meet those invited to the Queen's Scout Awards at Windsor Castle, speaking to young people who had reached the "pinacle of scouting".

"That's real legacy stuff," he said of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, which runs across the world, and often involves scouting groups.

"I spoke to a scout leader earlier today who sort of summed it up - 'they don't make them like that anymore'."

Laura Kuenssberg
Political editor

Normal political business has been put on pause as election campaigns in Scotland, Wales and parts of England are suspended following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.

That is of course, first and foremost, a mark of respect.

But it’s also an acknowledgement that, while our unwritten constitution may not have given Prince Philip an official technical role, there's widespread acknowledgement right across the political spectrum of the importance of what he did and the support he offered to the Queen through all of those years.

His extraordinary life spanned the administrations of 20 prime ministers, and, during so much of that, he was part of the very fabric of this country.

It is a note and a reminder, perhaps, that the permanence of the monarchy is such a contrast to the thrash of daily political life.

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The leaders of Germany and France are among international politicians who have added their tributes to Prince Philip.

"His friendship with Germany, his straightforward nature and his sense of duty will remain unforgotten," Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

French President Emmanuel Macron called the prince's life "exemplary", saying it had been "defined by bravery, a sense of duty and commitment to the youth and the environment".

Russian President Vladimir Putin wished the Queen "courage and mental fortitude in the face of a grievous and irreparable loss".

He said the duke "rightfully enjoyed respect among the British and internationally".

• 'Dear Uncle Philip' - tributes from around the world

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou highlighted the fact that the duke - the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark - had been born in Corfu.

On Twitter, she shared a photo of him as a child dressed in an historical Greek military uniform and said he had "served his country with devotion for many decades".

Nicholas Witchell
BBC royal correspondent

Much of this has been planned in advance - it has to be.

The Palace is very sharply aware of Covid restrictions on crowds gathering. So I think we can say there will be no large-scale funeral for the Duke of Edinburgh - that’s just completely out of the question.

And that would also be what the duke would have wanted - "no fuss" will have been his instruction, I’m sure - and that is how it will be.

I would also think that the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, will come from America for that funeral, to be reunited with his family, so they can together pay tribute to Prince Philip.

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BBC World Service's OS programme has been speaking to leaders of Commonwealth countries, who have been paying tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh.

Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Gaston Browne described Prince Philip as "a towering global iconic figure in his own right who served the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth with distinction".

He recalled the duke's "warm and humours character" when he once shared a dinner table with him.

"There was no air about him... he had that common touch," he added.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Christopher Rowley told the programme the duke would be "fondly remembered as the person who drove the Duke of Edinburgh awards".

"His representation in the Commonwealth was always along those lines of development and the environment, so we do have that memory and we feel saddened by his loss," he added.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, AFP

Image source, Chris Jackson

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See more photos from today here.

People have been visiting Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace to leave floral tributes and to pay their respects to Prince Philip.

An online book of condolences has been set up on the Royal Family's website and officials have asked people not to gather or lay flowers due to the pandemic - but many had already arrived to remember the duke.

A meeting of the UK government's cabinet to discuss the news of the Duke of Edinburgh's death has just finished.

We are told ministers shared memories of meeting Prince Philip and remembered the work he did on the environment and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

The prime minister noted that this was a sad day for the country and that Prince Philip "would be remembered with great fondness and affection for generations to come," said the official readout of the meeting.

Ministers said they had already received thousands of messages of condolence from all over the world.

Alice Evans
BBC News

Image source, DAVE KIRTON

For many the Duke of Edinburgh's Award will conjure memories of hauling a badly-packed rucksack across rainy British countryside in the hope of adding some sparkle to their CV. Yet for some of the millions of young people who have taken on the self-improvement challenge, it has brought truly life-changing opportunities.

Without the award, James says he'd "probably be in jail". At the age of 15, James and his friend Nathan, then 16, had had more run-ins with the police than they care to remember. As bored mates growing up in Darlington, north-east England, they felt they had "nothing else to do" but to cause mischief.

After being caught for separate offences, in 2018 the friends were both ordered to do hours of community service, or "reparations". The stint the pair enjoyed the most was being taught how to fix bikes by youth offending officer, Dave Kirton, for a community project.

Dave, who is also a Duke of Edinburgh leader, arranged with those on the reparations panel to strike a deal with the boys: if they did their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award - which involves volunteering, a physical challenge, developing a skill and taking part in an expedition - they'd get five hours taken off their community service orders.

Read more here.

Marie Jackson
BBC News

Despite requests from officials to avoid gathering, people have visited Buckingham Palace, the central London home of Prince Philip, to pay tribute and reflect on the duke's life and the Queen's loss.

Some teenagers on hired bikes pull up next to a police officer asking for directions to Oxford Circus.

Before cycling off, one calls out: "Is there any way you can say 'hello' to the Queen for us?"

No matter young or old, there doesn't seem to be a soul outside Buckingham Palace on the day of Prince Philip's death who doesn't feel deep sympathy and sorrow for the Queen.

"I don't think you have to be a rampant royalist to just feel really sad for the Queen," says 56-year-old Louise Simester, from Bedfordshire.

Read more here.

Former US President Donald Trump has described Prince Philip as "a man who embodied the noble soul and proud spirit of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth".

"This is an irreplaceable loss for Great Britain, and for all who hold dear our civilisation," Mr Trump said in a statement.

"Prince Philip defined British dignity and grace. He personified the quiet reserve, stern fortitude, and unbending integrity of the United Kingdom."

He added: "Over the past few years, Melania and I were honoured to have the opportunity to visit the United Kingdom. We saw first hand how the monarchy epitomises and carries on the virtues of the British people - and no-one did so more than Prince Philip."

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh's “selfless devotion and remarkable generosity of spirit”.

He said the duke would be "sorely missed by the many Welsh organisations that he supported as patron or president over so many decades of service".

The main political parties in Wales said they would suspend campaigning for the Welsh Parliament election on 6 May.

The Welsh Parliament will be recalled on Monday for members of the Senedd to pay their respects.

Flags at many civic buildings across Wales are being flown at half-mast and books of condolence have been opened online.

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Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have said they will miss Prince Philip “dearly”.

In a joint statement, they praised the Duke of Edinburgh for providing an “extraordinary example” in demonstrating that “true partnership has room for both ambition and selflessness”.

They said: “At the Queen's side or trailing the customary two steps behind, Prince Philip showed the world what it meant to be a supportive husband to a powerful woman.

“Yet he also found a way to lead without demanding the spotlight - serving in combat in World War II, commanding a frigate in the Royal Navy, and tirelessly touring the world to champion British industry and excellence.”

The Obamas said they didn’t know what to expect when they first met the Queen and the duke as “two Americans unaccustomed to palaces and pomp”, but they added “we shouldn’t have worried”.

“The Queen and Prince Philip immediately put us at ease with their grace and generosity, turning a ceremonial occasion into something far more natural, even comfortable.

“Prince Philip in particular was kind and warm, with a sharp wit and unfailing good humour.

"It was our first introduction to the man behind the title, and in the years since, our admiration for him has only grown. We will miss him dearly."

Floral tributes have been left at the Royal Family's Norfolk estate following news of the Duke of Edinburgh's death.

Edna Rooke, from King's Lynn, who laid flowers at Sandringham Estate, said the duke had been a "marvellous member of the Royal Family" and "everybody loved him".

Mrs Rooke, who was with her grandchildren Hemi and Sana, aged nine and eight, said: "For the people of King's Lynn, the Royal Family are very close to their hearts, they're neighbours."

Janet Hickey, who was with her niece Maria McDonnell, said she felt "very sad".

"I think the Queen is going to be very, very lost, they've been together a lifetime," she said.

The west Norfolk residence is where the Royal Family have traditionally spent Christmas and where the duke spent much of his retirement after he stepped down from royal duties in 2017.

The public has since been asked not to gather or leave tributes at royal residences amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Prince Philip was married to the Queen for 73 years, but how did he fit into the Royal Family?

Someone who marries a royal becomes a member of the Royal Family, and they are given a title when they marry - Philip became the Duke of Edinburgh.

The duke and the Queen had four children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Their eldest child, Prince Charles, is first in line to the throne, external. His eldest son Prince William, is second in line, and William's eldest son, Prince George, is third.

Read more here.