Watch: Gun salutes honour Prince Philip as UK enters eight-day mourning

Gun salutes in all capitals of the United Kingdom in addition to aboard some Royal Navy ships on Saturday honoured Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, who handed away aged 99 at Windsor Castle on Friday.
The 41 rounds fired in London, Cardiff, Belfast and Edinburgh at a price of 1 shot per minute from noon native time on Saturday mark the beginning of an eight-day nationwide mourning interval. “The tradition of Gun Salutes being fired throughout the country to mark significant national events dates back to at least the 18th century, and there are historical records of salutes taking place as early as the 14th century when guns and ammunition began to be adopted more widely, a statement on the royal website read. “Similar gun salutes were fired to mark the death of Queen Victoria in 1901,” it notes.

They additionally honour the Duke’s sturdy navy hyperlinks, having served with the Royal Navy in World War II. “His Royal Highness has been an important good friend, inspiration and position mannequin for the armed forces and he will likely be sorely missed, mentioned General Sir Nick Carter, the UK’s Chief of the Defence Staff. The Duke of Edinburgh served amongst us through the Second World War, and he remained dedicated to the Royal Navy and the armed forces as an entire.
Members of the Honourable Artillery Company fireplace a 41-round gun salute from the wharf on the Tower of London, to mark the dying of Prince Philip, in London, Saturday, April 10, 2021. (Dominic Lipinski/PA through AP)
A life properly lived, His Royal Highness leaves us with a legacy of indomitable spirit, steadfastness and an unshakeable sense of obligation. From all of us who serve immediately and who’ve served, thanks,” he mentioned. People are being requested to observe the gun salutes from a distance as they’re broadcast each on-line and on TV.

In line with the coronavirus pandemic issues, Buckingham Palace has requested the general public to not collect in giant numbers on the royal residences and contemplate making a donation to a charity as an alternative of leaving flowers in reminiscence of the Duke.
An on-line Book of Condolence has additionally been launched on the official palace web site. Announcing the Duke’s dying on Friday, Buckingham Palace mentioned: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty the Queen announces the death of her beloved husband. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.” The Duke’s eldest son, Prince Charles the Prince of Wales, described his father’s life as an “astonishing achievement”. I believe he’ll in all probability wish to be remembered as a person in his personal proper, mentioned Charles, who’s to inherit his father’s title of Duke of Edinburgh. He didn’t endure fools gladly so if you happen to mentioned something that was in any approach ambiguous, he’d go make up your thoughts’, so maybe it made you select your phrases fastidiously. He was superb at displaying you learn how to do issues and instructing you learn how to do issues, he mentioned. It is reported that Charles, the inheritor to the British throne, travelled to Windsor Castle to go to his mom, the Queen, on Friday afternoon. His sister, Princess Anne, mentioned of her late father that he “treated everyone as an individual, and gave them the respect he felt they were due as individuals”.
Members of the a hundred and fifth Regiment Royal Artillery fireplace a 41-round gun salute at Edinburgh Castle, to mark the dying of Prince Philip, in Edinburgh, Saturday, April 10, 2021. (Andrew Milligan/PA through AP)
During the nationwide mourning interval, Union flags will likely be flown at half mast, TV presenters will put on black and Parliament will cross no new legal guidelines. As per custom, the Queen is not going to perform any duties both in public or in personal, and any new legal guidelines requiring Royal Assent is not going to be despatched to her for approval.
Westminster Abbey in London tolled its tenor bell as soon as each 60 seconds for 99 occasions from 18:00 on Friday, to honour annually of the Duke’s life.
His funeral will happen at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, south-east England, however the preparations have been amended in mild of the coronavirus pandemic. Further particulars of the royal ceremonial funeral, versus a state funeral in step with the royal’s needs, will turn out to be clear over the approaching days.
Political events have suspended their campaigning for native elections on May 6 and Parliament is ready to honour the Duke with a particular House of Commons session on Monday.