Prince Philip remembered at church services across Scotland
- Published
The Queen and Prince Philip attended Crathie Kirk when they stayed at nearby Balmoral
Prince Philip has been remembered at services in churches across Scotland, including the kirk attended by the Royal Family while at Balmoral.
Reverend Kenneth MacKenzie was joined by a restricted group of 30 worshippers at Crathie Kirk in Aberdeenshire.
Tributes were also paid from the pulpit at Canongate Kirk and St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.
The Duke of Edinburgh died on Friday aged 99. His funeral will be held at Windsor Castle on Saturday.
The Queen and Prince Philip last stayed at Balmoral last summer during lockdown.
They had not returned due to restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic.
A violinist played as Rev MacKenzie, minister of the Parish of Braemar and Crathie since 2005, began the service at 11:30.
The minister spoke of the local community's sense of loss as it mourned for Prince Philip, and its deep affection for the Queen.
The Royal Family traditionally spend their summer holiday at Balmoral
After the service, Rev MacKenzie spoke of his "many, many fond memories" of Prince Philip, whom he described as "a one-off".
He said: "We are all conscious of the fact that Her Majesty the Queen has known real loss this last little while.
"And also we know that the Duke of Edinburgh was just a wonderful man as an individual, but he also had great affinity with so many people - including those around here."
Crathie minister Rev Kenneth MacKenzie said he had many fond memories of times spent with the duke
Rev MacKenzie added: "A lot of people in our society will have a good understanding of what the duke was like.
"He was a man of integrity - you knew where you stood with the duke and he was loved because of it."
At Canongate Kirk, Rev Neil Gardner told the congregation that it had been his "duty and privilege" on a number of occasions to preach a sermon in front of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Rev Neil Gardner said preaching a sermon in front of Prince Philip was often "challenging"
"I've always said that Prince Philip was more of a challenge," he said.
"He would sit in the royal pew with his arms crossed and his eyes fixed on the pulpit, listening intently on what was being said and considering it carefully.
"I always wondered whether I might be interrogated afterwards."
Rev Gardner added: "Amongst all the many attributes that have been so eloquently acknowledged over the last couple of days, he was undoubtedly a man of faith. But it was by no means an unquestioning one."
Minute's silence
A remembrance service led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has also been held at Canterbury Cathedral.
A period of national mourning will end after 17 April, when Prince Philip's funeral will take place at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
A national minute's silence will be held to coincide with the start of the funeral at 15:00 BST.
Only 30 people - expected to be the duke's children, grandchildren and other close family - can attend the funeral because of Covid rules.
No 10 said Prime Minister Boris Johnson would not attend the funeral to allow "as many family members as possible" to go.
The public has been asked to stay away.
