Image source, sky

Young sailors on board Ocean Spirit of Moray, the training boat of Gordonstoun school, where the Duke of Edinburgh studied, have laid a wreath off the coast of Hopeman harbour, where the young Prince Philip learned to sail.

On the shore, a lone student piper played whilst displaying the Duke of Edinburgh's coat of arms on a banner presented to the Gordonstoun pipe band by the Queen in 2019.

Helena Wilkinson
BBC News correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Prince Charles has arrived at Windsor Castle ahead of his father's funeral.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who will give the blessing at the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral, has also been driven into the castle grounds within the past hour.

Image source, PA Media

A number of coaches, carrying military personnel, have arrived too.

At the top of Windsor High Street, opposite the statue of Queen Victoria, the pavement is lined with dozens of journalists from around the world.

Cameras, lights, cables and presenters fill the pavement adjacent to the castle.

There is a large police presence. Armed officers are positioned all over the town. There are dozens of uniformed police too.

People have been asked to stay away today - there won’t be anything for them to see. So far most have heeded the advice, but some have still come.

They are now starting to line the streets in single file outside the castle, where barriers have been put up. Outside the castle’s Henry VIII gate there is a small crowd of people who have a limited view, from afar, of the outside of St George’s Chapel.

“It’s wonderful to come out today to feel part of the celebration of his life fundamentally and for the Queen to have her close friends and family around here”, one woman said.

Another man said he was “overwhelmed” by the duke’s death and he felt he had to be here today.

Image source, Getty Images

Prince Philip was the fifth of five children and had four older sisters.

Prince Donatus, the Landgrave of Hesse, is representing the families of the youngest of the four sisters, Cecilie and Sophie - who both married into the Hesse family.

Cecilie was killed in a plane crash in 1937, along with members of her family. Her one surviving daughter died shortly afterwards of meningitis.

Princess Sophie spent time with the Queen and Prince Philip at Balmoral after their marriage, despite not being invited to the wedding because her husband was a German officer.

Prince Donatus has often been a guest of the Queen and Prince Philip at the Windsor horse show.

Image source, Reuters

Signs in Windsor say “avoid all non-essential travel and do not gather at royal residences”, but a few people visited briefly to pay their respects.

They expressed their regret that coronavirus restrictions meant the original plans for larger funeral could not go ahead, but praised the Royal Family for "setting an example".

Jack Carson, 34, who left bunch of flowers, said: “Philip was a fantastic public servant and will be missed by the people in this town.”

Another Windsor resident, 56-year-old Ian Mawhinney, said that it was important to mark the duke's passing.

“It’s been a very sombre time for the town. Living in Windsor you realise how much they do for the community and the country.

“You sense the loss more here," he said.

He said he was "quite torn" about the Covid-19 measures that meant a more public commemoration could not take place, saying "the country is missing out on something" but that "the Royal Family are setting an example".

One of the lesser known facts about the Duke of Edinburgh was that he was born on a dining table in Corfu. But why? And where is that table now?

Image source, Reuters

Hundreds of people watched on as the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery made their way along the Long Walk up to Windsor Castle at midday.

Dozens of riders, wearing black, gold and red uniforms and carrying three guns, rode up to Cambridge Gate.

Members of the regiment will fire minute guns from the east lawn of Windsor Castle as Prince Philip's coffin is taken from the castle to the chapel.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Tessa Wong
BBC News, Singapore

Image source, Reuters

As Britons mourn the death of Prince Philip, they are joined by a tribal community on a Pacific island half a world away.

For decades, two villages on the Vanuatuan island of Tanna have revered the Duke of Edinburgh as a god-like spiritual figure.

A formal period of mourning is now under way.

On Monday, scores of tribespeople gathered in a ceremony to remember Prince Philip.

"The connection between the people on the island of Tanna and the English people is very strong... We are sending condolence messages to the Royal Family and the people of England," said tribal leader Chief Yapa, according to Reuters news agency.

For the next few weeks, villagers will periodically meet to conduct rites for the duke, who is seen as a "recycled descendant of a very powerful spirit or god that lives on one of their mountains", says anthropologist Kirk Huffman who has studied the tribes since the 1970s.

Read more here.

Harry Farley
Religion reporter, in Windsor

Power cuts are hitting Windsor today as this historic town prepares to host the Duke of Edinburgh’s journey to his final resting place.

Riyadh Terha runs the Chippy of Windsor on the main high street in Windsor and, as the lunchtime rush before the funeral approaches, he says he's experienced two power cuts already.

"It has never happened before and then today something big is happening here and I’ve had two cuts. We’re expecting a really busy day. We’ve prepared a lot of things," he says.

Over the road, Esquires Coffee has dozens of lycra-clad cyclists sat on its outdoor benches. Inside, waitress Hannah Bevan says they also experienced several power cuts, with the coffee machine, grinder and hot water not working.

"We would probably have to close shop if it continues," she says.

Another shop manager said he had reported the cuts and had been told more than 670 premises around Windsor Castle had been affected.

The cause isn't clear cuts but dozens of international and nationals news crews have descended on Windsor for Prince Philip’s funeral.

And with the public told to stay away, there are probably more journalists – complete with lights, cameras and satellite stations – than members of the public here.

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage's first royal poem since his appointment in 2019 is his tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, entitled The Patriarachs - An Elegy.

He portrays Prince Philip as the representative of a "whole generation" of "husbands to duty", a wartime generation "whose survival / was always the stuff of minor miracle".

"What their secrets were / was everyone’s guess and nobody’s business," the poet writes.

Image source, PA Media

The Duke of Edinburgh personally selected the regalia that has now been placed on the altar at St George's Chapel in Windsor ahead of his funeral.

The insignia - the medals and decorations conferred on him by the UK and Commonwealth countries - has been positioned on nine cushions. He has included insignia from Denmark and Greece in a nod to his birth heritage as a prince of Greece and Denmark.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Crown Copyright

We told you a little earlier about how the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral will reflect his love of life at sea.

Here is some more information about his lifelong links with the Royal Navy.

He was mentioned in despatches for his service during World War Two. He was a midshipman aboard HMS Valiant off the southern coast of Greece when he earned his honourable citation.

A young naval officer, he was praised for his actions in the decisive Battle of Cape Matapan against the Italian fleet in March 1941. Philip had been in control of the searchlights as the ship battled an Italian cruiser when he spotted an unexpected second enemy vessel nearby.

When he was 21, Philip was one of the youngest officers in the Royal Navy to be made First Lieutenant and second-in-command of a ship, the destroyer escort HMS Wallace of the Rosyth Escort Force. In July 1943, HMS Wallace was dispatched to the Mediterranean and provided cover for the Canadian beachhead of the Allied landings in Sicily.

Philip also served as First Lieutenant on the destroyer HMS Whelp in the Pacific, where he helped to rescue two airmen in 1945.

Some believe he would have become First Sea Lord, professional head of the Royal Navy, had he not married the then Princess Elizabeth.

Prince Philip was an accomplished sportsman and continued to compete in his late life.

He was one of the leading polo players in Britain and when he gave it up aged 50 he discovered carriage driving.

Throughout his life he played cricket, squash, polo; he swam, sailed, rowed, rode horses and learnt to fly.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

You can see more pictures of Prince Philip here and read about his life here.

Prince Philip's great niece, Princess Xenia of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, has been paying tribute to his role in bringing the family together.

Princess Xenia's brother will attend the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral service at Windsor Castle, which she described as "a huge honour".

Members of the public have visited Windsor early this morning to pay tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh ahead of his funeral.

Artist Kaya Mar, 65, from south east London, took an oil painting of Philip, which he painted last week.

He told the PA news agency: "I liked him, he was a lovely family man who will be missed.

"He was hard-working and dedicated to this country and I think people will finally realise his value. He was a good public servant and will be missed."

Others came to place flowers at the gates of Windsor Castle.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin, covered with a wreath, his sword, naval cap and his personal standard, has been moved from Windsor Castle's private chapel to the inner hall ahead of his funeral.

It was moved by a bearer party, from the Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. Philip had a close association with the regiment, serving as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards for 42 years.

Helena Wilkinson
BBC News correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Today, the day when the duke will make his final journey to his resting place, the skies are blue and the sun is shining in Windsor.

The Royal Standard flag, on the Round Tower, is gently fluttering in the morning breeze.

Behind the castle walls the Queen is preparing to say goodbye to her beloved husband of 73 years.

Outside the Henry VIII gate, five castle wardens in their blue and red uniform stand guard, their gold buttons shimmering in the sunshine.

Behind them, through the gates, dozens of flowers from members of the public can be seen, as can St George’s chapel where the funeral will be held.

Vehicles have been going in and out of the castle all morning as final preparations are made.

Broadcasters from around the world are positioned outside and beyond. Royal commentators can be overheard reflecting on the Duke’s remarkable life and the funeral that’s to follow.

So far the streets in Windsor are quiet, filled mainly with weekend cyclists and Saturday morning shoppers.

There is a large visible police presence with armed officers on foot patrol. The town is also flooded with hundreds of purple jacketed stewards working for the council.

On a bench outside the castle blue balloons have been left by someone with the words “forever in our hearts”.

Windsor, a town which has seen big royal occasions over the years, will today say goodbye to the duke, who many regarded with great affection. They saw him as a local, as one of their neighbours.

The Duke of Edinburgh's love of life at sea and his lifelong association with the Royal Navy are being honoured in this afternoon's service at St George's Chapel.

Philip served with distinction in the Navy during World War Two and once described the sea as "an extraordinary master or mistress" which has "extraordinary moods". He also made two round-the-world voyages in the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Music chosen by the duke includes the hymn Eternal Father, Strong To Save - traditionally associated with seafarers and the naval services, and including the lines: "O hear us when we cry to thee / For those in peril on the sea".

The First Lesson (Ecclesiasticus 43. 11-26), read by the Dean of Windsor, speaks of both the dangers and "strange and wonderful creatures" seen by those who sail the sea.

Among the prayers, the dean will ask for the duke to be granted the "ancient promise" that God will be with those who "go down to the sea in ships and occupy their business in great waters". The phrase also features in the original Psalm 107.

Philip also asked for "My soul give praise unto the Lord of heaven" - Psalm 104 - to be included in the ceremony. He requested it be set to music by William Lovelady, an arrangement first sung in honour of his 75th birthday.

It tells of "Lord of heaven, in majesty and honour clothed... seas he made to be its robe" and waters rising above the highest mountain.

Action Stations, sounded on naval warships to signal all hands must go to battle stations, will also be played at Philip's specific request. The wartime alert is sometimes associated with naval funerals. The Last Post will also be played to signify "a soldier has gone to his final rest".

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan has described his friend Prince Philip as a "remarkable human being".

"We were frequently guests at Sandringham and Balmoral, and in that context established a personal relationship," the Jordanian prince told BBC Radio 4's Today.

"I remember saying to him, 'How do I refer to you? He said, 'Philip is a perfectly good name'.

"I think I was very close to knowing the man, the human being, and in that sense I feel the privilege in having known not only an encyclopaedia of knowledge, but also an icon of human dignity," he added.

He also doubted the duke would have minded a scaled-down funeral due to coronavirus restrictions.

"On the contrary, I think he had every right to make it as personal and as poignant," he said.

The ceremonial royal funeral will be held at St George's Chapel, in the grounds of Windsor Castle, this afternoon.

Here are the details of what will be happening and when.

By 14:15 (BST), the Quadrangle in Windsor Castle will be lined by the Household Cavalry and the Foot Guards, along with military detachments from units that had special connections with Prince Philip on the grass.

From 14:20, those members of the Royal Family and the Duke of Edinburgh's family not taking part in the procession leave Windsor Castle by car for St George's Chapel.

At 14:40, the bands in the Quadrangle stop playing and the coffin will be carried out and placed onto the Land Rover.

Members of the Royal Family walking in the procession will leave the State Entrance after the coffin and take up their positions.

At 14:45, the funeral procession begins, led by the band of the Grenadier Guards. The Royal Family members and staff will follow behind the Land Rover. The Queen will travel at the rear of the procession in the State Bentley.

At 14:53, the Land Rover will arrive at the West Steps of St George's Chapel, and be met by a guard of honour and band from the Rifles Regiment, who will play the national anthem.

The coffin, draped with the duke's standard, with a wreath and the duke's naval cap and sword on top, will be met by the dean of Windsor, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury, for the service.

At 15:00, a minute's silence will be held nationwide, in memory of the duke, as the funeral service begins.

Read more here.

Military rehearsals for the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral have been taking place at the Army Training Centre Pirbright in Woking, Surrey.

The armed forces were important to the duke, who served in the Royal Navy, and they will play a part in his funeral, with military top brass present.