As the statement issued by Buckingham Palace announced the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh tributes continued to poor in from well-wishers around the world, the Royal Family asked people to consider making a donation to a charity instead of leaving flowers in memory of him, with an online book of condolence being launched on the official royal website for those who wish to send messages.

Announcing his death, a statement read: "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband.

The Royal Family joined with people around the world in mourning his loss." The Queen spoke of her deep sorrow following her husband’s death at Windsor Castle. In his tribute, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said that the Prince Philip inspired countless young people.

“The duke had earned the affection of generations here in the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth, and around the world," he said. The government, however, did urge the public at large not to gather or leave tributes at royal residences amid the coronavirus pandemic.
A Statement from the Leaders of Birmingham’s Faith Communities on the occasion of the death of His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip said: "Our thoughts and condolences are with Her Majesty the Queen and all the Royal Family, and with the family of the Commonwealth and the wider world, which the Duke sought to serve with such distinction.

"We join with communities in this city and across the nation in mourning and in recognition of a long life of service. Our various faith communities will wish, in due course, to pay their respects to a man who, throughout his life championed faith co-operation, but for today we mourn with the sadness of the nation.

A message on the website of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Archewell charity paid tribute to the memory of the Duke of Edinburgh, saying: "Thank you for your service... you will be greatly missed," whilst the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “He "consistently put the interests of others ahead of his own and, in so doing, provided an outstanding example of Christian service."

As the flag at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half-mast and a notice was posted on the gates to mark the duke's death, in their tribute to the duke, Westminster Abbey tolled its tenor bell once every 60 seconds for 99 times to honour each year of his life. People placed floral tributes outside the central London landmark, while hundreds visited Windsor Castle to pay their respects.

A strong-willed and independent man who found himself at the centre of British society, the longest-serving royal consort in British history – Greek-born of Danish blood (his parents were Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg - Queen Victoria's great-granddaughter) Prince Philip, who was born Philippos Andreou (Philip Andrew) of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderberg-Glücksburg, Prince of Greece and Denmark, and whose family had a seafaring tradition saw him became a cadet at the Britannia Royal Naval College, in Dartmouth. It was whilst there that he escort the two young princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, while King George VI and Queen Elizabeth toured the college.

Beginning his education in France, at the age of seven, he lived with his Mountbatten relatives in England, where he attended a prep school in Surrey. By this time, though, his mother had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was placed in an asylum. The young prince would have little contact with her.

In 1933, he was sent to Schule Schloss Salem in southern Germany, which was run by educational pioneer Kurt Hahn. But within months, Hahn, who was Jewish, was forced to flee Nazi persecution.

Passing out at the top of his class before seeing military action in the Indian Ocean, on the battleship HMS Valiant in the Mediterranean Fleet, he was mentioned for his part in the Battle of Cape Matapan in 1941. He was one of the youngest first lieutenants in the Royal Navy, serving on board the destroyer HMS Wallace.

As the officer in charge of the ship's searchlights, he played a crucial role in this decisive night action.

"I found another ship and it lit up the middle part of it,” he said, “whereupon it practically disappeared instantly under a salvo of 15in shells at point-blank range,"

Renouncing his Greek title, to become a British citizen, Philip – who was born on the island of Corfu - took his mother's anglicised name of Mountbatten before his engagement to the young Elizabeth was announced.

The day before their marriage ceremony, King George VI bestowed the title of His Royal Highness on him and on the morning of their wedding - in Westminster Abbey in 1947 - he was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich. “In the first years of the Queen's reign,” he once said, “the level of adulation - you wouldn't believe it. You really wouldn't.

Their son, Prince Charles, was born at Buckingham Palace in 1948, and a daughter, Princess Anne, arrived in 1950, before later being joined by Prince Andrew (1960) and Prince Edward (1964).

Widely praised for his commitment to preserving the world's forests and campaigning against overfishing in the oceans, Prince Philip also took a keen interest in industry, visiting factories and becoming patron of the Industrial Society, now known as the Work Foundation.

In 1956 he founded ‘The Duke of Edinburgh's Award’ - a youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom - designed to attract boys who had not been interested in joining one of the main British youth movements, such as the Scout Association. It was not necessary to 'join' any organisation, or wear a uniform to participate.

In November 1957 it was announced that girls would be invited to participate. On 19 June 1958 the Award was extended to girls, with the first girls allowed to join in 1958. The programme for girls was not the same as that for boys, and was for ages 14 to 20.

The first girls received their Gold Awards on 3 November 1959 at Buckingham Palace. From January 1965, the Gold Award for boys and girls was made more similar. The first Gold Awards were achieved in 1958, and the charity was established in 1959. A single programme for young people aged 14 to 21 was launched in 1969, and extended to those up to 25 years of age in 1980.

In 2013, the Duke presented Awards at St James's Palace which included his 500th Gold Award Presentation. His greatest achievement, it was said, was undoubtedly the constancy and strength of his support for the Queen in the long years of her reign. He believed his job was, as he told his biographer, "to ensure the Queen can reign."

All UK government buildings were told to fly official flags at half-mast in tribute to the Duke until 08:00 BST on the day after the duke's funeral.

From midday, a 41-gun salute will take place for Prince Philip in cities including London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, as well as in Gibraltar and at sea from Royal Navy warships, the Ministry of Defence said. They will be broadcast online and on television for the public to watch from home.

He was 99.