Please don’t bring flowers, palace urges well-wishers

The royal family has urged well-wishers to send messages through an online book of condolence in memory of Prince Philip instead of leaving flowers due to the ongoing coronavirus restrictions.

Floral tributes were laid by members of the public outside Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace within minutes of Friday’s announcement that the Duke of Edinburgh had died, aged 99.

However, the palace has asked for charity donations instead.

“During the current public health situation, books of condolence will not be available for the public to sign,” the palace said on Twitter.

“The royal family ask that members of the public consider making a donation to a charity instead of leaving floral tributes in memory of the duke.”

A special webpage set up to receive tributes says a selection will be passed on to members of the royal family and could even be held in royal archives.

In addition to Windsor, mourners also paid their respects to the Duke of Edinburgh outside Buckingham Palace.

A steady stream of hundreds of people continued to arrive outside the palace gates on Friday night to add their tributes to a growing pile of flowers and messages – despite an official message not to do so.

Some left bouquets and garlands, others placed cards, while some mourners left photos of Philip and even bottles of Cognac.

Security guards funnelled members of the public along a narrow roped off area by the palace’s railings, encouraging them to lay their flowers, take photos and then move on.

A sign placed nearby said “you are kindly requested not to leave tributes, artefacts or candles at this location”, with a warning that these would be regularly removed.

Lindsay Hettrick, 55, from north London, who arrived clutching a bunch of flowers, said Philip’s death was “very upsetting”, adding that she had a “great deal of respect” for the duke and the Queen.

She added: “I just wanted to let the Royal Family know that as a British person I’m very sad for their loss.