Mourners have flocked to Buckingham Palace to pay tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, hailing him as a “fantastic ambassador for Britain”.
Hundreds of people continued to arrive outside the palace gates on Friday night to add tributes, despite an official message not to do so.
Bottles of Cognac, cards, bouquets and garlands were among the items left at the gates.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that gun salutes marking Prince Philip’s death will take place across the UK, in Gibraltar and at sea later today (April 10).
Saluting batteries will fire 41 rounds at one round every minute from midday in cities including London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, as well as Gibraltar and from Royal Navy warships.
Gun salutes have been fired to mark significant national events since as early as at least the 18th century.
They were used to mark the deaths of Queen Victoria in 1901 and Winston Churchill in 1965.
The public is being encouraged to observe the gun salutes, which will be broadcast online and on television, from home.
On Friday night, security guards funnelled members of the public along a narrow roped off area by the railings of Buckingham Palace, encouraging them to lay their flowers, take photos and then move on.
A Royal Parks 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.
“I just wanted to let the Royal Family know that as a British person I’m very sad for their loss,” she said.
“I think he was a fantastic person, incredibly strong personality. He was very much of his generation, very stoical, not complaining, had huge amount of grit.”
Ms Hettrick said Philip was “a fantastic husband to the Queen”, a “great head of the family” and “a fantastic ambassador for Britain”.
“He led by example,” she said, adding that he had a “great sense of humour”.
“He’s been with me my entire life and I’ve seen him on several occasions and I just think he was a real force for good and somebody who commanded respect rather than demanded it,” she said.
Earlier in the day, after several visitors queued to view a notice announcing Philip’s death, royal staff removed it so that it would not encourage a large crowd at the gate in breach of coronavirus safety regulations.
Members of the public were told to wear a mask and line up behind a barrier to view the sign in the hour before it was removed.
The Government later urged people not to gather at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle in breach of coronavirus regulations.
Also laying flowers at the palace, where the Union flag flew at half mast, were couple Lawrence Hunt, 55, and Sarah Lee, 56, from west London, who hailed Philip as “inspirational”.
Mr Hunt said: “The Royal Family have had a very turbulent time lately and he’s probably been a real rock for the Queen, so I think sadness is probably the overwhelming emotion.”
Ms Lee added: “I think he’s been an inspiration for generations. I work in schools and I think what he’s done with outward bounds and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, I think that is a lasting legacy.”
She said the duke was “a great man” who was “very modest, very self-effacing, but a huge character”.
Mr Hunt said the pair wanted to show support for the Queen who he felt has “had a really tough time with various things going on with her children and Covid”.
Referring to the duke and the Queen, he added: “Those two have been just solid through decades and decades of British history and I think we’re losing a great man.”
The gun salutes marking the death of the Duke will take place from midday.
In London, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will ride out from their base at Napier Lines, Woolwich Barracks, onto the Parade Ground.
There will be 71 horses, 36 of them pulling six 13-pounder field guns dating from the First World War.
The same guns were also fired for Philip’s wedding to the Queen in 1947 and at her Coronation six years later in 1953.
First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the most senior officer in the Royal Navy, added to the tributes to Philip.
In a statement released on Saturday morning, he said: “His genuine empathy, affection and engagement with the Royal Navy resonated with us all.
“His generous spirit, his delight in all aspects of the Naval Service, and his deep understanding of our values, standards and ethos made him such a close friend to the Service for over eight decades.”
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh was a constant supporter and ambassador of the armed forces.
“We celebrate his life of service and offer our condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and the royal family.”
The Honourable Artillery Company will fire a salute at the Tower of London, the 104th Regiment Royal Artillery will fire from Cardiff Castle, and the 105th Regiment Royal Artillery will fire at Hillsborough Castle, Belfast and Edinburgh Castle.
Ships taking part include the HMS Diamond, HMS Montrose and HMNB Portsmouth, while the Royal Gibraltar Regiment will join the salute from the British overseas territory.
Philip joined the Royal Navy after leaving school, beginning at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in May 1939, and was singled out as best cadet.
During the Second World War, he served on several ships – firstly on HMS Ramillies – and saw active service against German, Italian and Japanese forces.
In March 1941, he was a searchlight control officer on the battleship HMS Valiant and was mentioned in despatches for his part in the battle of Matapan against the Italian fleet.
Shortly afterwards, he was awarded the Greek War Cross of Valour.
He rose rapidly through the ranks, earning promotion after promotion, with some believing he could have become First Sea Lord – the professional head of the Royal Navy.
But the Duke stepped down from his active role in the forces to fulfil his duty as the Queen’s consort.
In recognition of his long-standing connection with the Royal Navy, the Queen conferred the title of Lord High Admiral on the Duke to mark his 90th birthday in June 2011.
