Prince Philip: Special service held at Canterbury Cathedral

A remembrance service for the Duke of Edinburgh is being held in Canterbury Cathedral as the UK observes a period of official mourning.

It is being led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who is also expected to officiate at Prince Philip’s funeral next Saturday.

Former Prime Minister Sir John Major, a friend of the duke, said he hoped the Queen would be given space to grieve.

The duke “will still be there in her memory”, he told the BBC.

Sir John said in an interview with Andrew Marr that being the head of state was a “lonely position in many ways” for the Queen, and the duke was “the person to whom she could unburden herself”.

“Prince Philip may physically have gone, but he will be in the Queen’s mind as clearly as if she were sitting opposite him,” he said.

“I do hope she is given a little space, and a little time and a little freedom to grieve in the way anybody else would wish to do so after having lost their spouse.”

The 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.

New government guidance says it is up to individual businesses whether or not they close during this time, while organisers of sporting events have been told they can choose whether or not fixtures go ahead.

The EFL said it would move next Saturday’s 15:00 games “as a mark of respect”.

Other events scheduled for Saturday include the FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Manchester City and two women’s Six Nations rugby matches.

Agencies