The death of the Duke set in motion Operation Forth Bridge, a plan detailing procedures including the dissemination of information, national mourning, and his funeral.

A thanksgiving service attended by politicians and foreign royalty was held at Westminster Abbey on 29 March 2022, which included elements that could not be implemented in the funeral ceremony due to COVID-19 restrictions.

[6] Three weeks after his return from hospital, his death was announced by the royal family at noon BST on 9 April 2021, with the release of a statement saying he had "died peacefully" that morning at Windsor Castle.

[25][21][26] The Quadrangle, the point from which the coffin departed, was lined by the Household Cavalry, the Foot Guards, as well as military detachments from units with special links to the Duke.

[28] The coffin was draped with his personal standard, carried his naval cap and his sword, and had a wreath of white roses and lilies placed on it with a note written by the Queen.

[30] The Duke's favourite driving carriage, accompanied by some of his grooms and pulled by his two black Fell ponies, Balmoral Nevis and Notlaw Storm, stood in the Quadrangle as the procession passed by.

[21] The Duke's insignia was displayed on cushions on the altar in St George's Chapel, including honours and decorations bestowed by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, as well as other member-states of the Commonwealth; his field marshal's baton and Royal Air Force wings; and insignia of the Danish Order of the Elephant and Greek Order of the Redeemer.

The music included the hymn "Eternal Father, Strong to Save", which is traditionally associated with seafarers, Benjamin Britten's Jubilate in C (also commissioned by the Duke), and the Russian Kontakion of the Departed to an arrangement by Sir Walter Parratt.

[49] Prince Harry, who was then living in the United States, had planned to return to the UK for the Duke's 100th birthday in June and the unveiling of a statue of his mother in July.

[60][61][62] Prince Charles also made a televised short statement from Highgrove House, describing his father as a "much loved and appreciated figure" who had "given the most remarkable, devoted service to the Queen, to my family and to the country, but also to the whole of the Commonwealth".

[69][70] The following day, Prince Edward also remarked that messages from the public were "uplifting" and said that the Duke's "spirit and ethos lives on through his Award, through each and every life touched.

"[71][72] On 21 April 2021, on the occasion of her 95th birthday, the Queen expressed gratitude for the warm wishes she received, and also added that the royal family, while in mourning, had been comforted to see and to hear "the tributes paid to [Prince Philip], from people within the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world".

The governments of The Bahamas, Canada, and the Solomon Islands issued notices to fly the national flag at half-mast from the announcement of the death to after the funeral and burial.

[150] The following month, HM Treasury unveiled a new special limited-edition £5 coin bearing Philip's portrait on Armed Forces Day, with the design approved by the Duke back in 2008.

[153] Due to restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the public were advised not to leave flowers, and a notice marking the Duke's death outside Buckingham Palace was removed to avoid crowds forming around it.

[159] The lieutenant governor of the Isle of Man, Sir Richard Gozney, sent condolences to the Queen, and tribute was made by the island's chief minister, Howard Quayle.

[177] While the gates of the monarch's and viceroy's official residence in Ottawa, Rideau Hall, remained open, the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General of Canada, in light of COVID-19-related restrictions, encouraged mourners to visit a commemorative website set up by the Ministry of Canadian Heritage.

[181] Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no guests were allowed to attend the service, with tributes provided virtually, including ones from David Johnston, a former governor general of Canada,[b] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,[180] and Algonquin Spiritual Advisor Albert Dumont.

[183] Shane AD Parker, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, and Elizabeth J Bretzlaff, Dean of Ottawa and Rector of Christ Church Cathedral, officiated in the ceremony, which began with Andrew McAnerney (tenor) and Stephanie Manias (soprano), accompanied by organist James Calkiin, performing, in the cathedral, the "Kontakion of the Faithful Departed", adapted by Canadian composer Stephanie Martin into a choral setting.

[182] A 41-gun salute was fired outside the grounds of Rideau Hall, by The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own),[184] and a recital by the Dominion Carillonneur on the Peace Tower carillon followed the national ceremony.

[125][188] Another memorial service led by Archbishop Geoffrey Smith was held at St. Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide on 18 April, and was attended by South Australian dignitaries.

[203] As Philip was Greek by birth, the President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, shared a photograph of him as a young boy dressed in the uniform of an Evzone guard.

[232][233] King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan gave orders for special prayers to be held in monasteries across the nation in memory of the Duke, for about a week following his death.

[234][235] In Thimphu, Prince Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, accompanied by the Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji, British residents in Bhutan, and Bhutanese who studied in the United Kingdom, also offered prayers and lit 1000 butterlamps at the Simtokha Dzong.

[313] The Irish National flag was previously flown at half-mast on all State buildings in 1997, on the day of Diana's funeral, and in 2002, to mark the death of the Queen Mother.

[316] Meanwhile, on ITV, a live interview on This Morning was interrupted, with host Eamonn Holmes quietly informed of the death by crew members in order to announce the news.

[338] Music before the service included "Andante cantabile" from Symphony No 3 by Charles-Marie Widor, "Bist du bei mir BWV 508" by Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel (arranged by Johann Sebastian Bach), "Salix" from Plymouth Suite by Percy Whitlock, Prelude "49th Parallel" by Ralph Vaughan Williams, "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral" by Richard Wagner, "Canterbury Chorale" by Jan Van der Roost, "Lux Aurumque" by Eric Whitacre, "Men of Honour Part 2" by Mark Isham, "Pacific", "Shepherd's Song" from Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No.

[339][336] Dame Sarah Mullally read the second lesson, Philippians 4:4–9, after which the choir and attendees sang "All Creatures of Our God and King" by William Henry Draper to an arrangement by James O'Donnell.

[336] The Dean of Windsor delivered an address, mentioning that the Duke would have hated the idea of being remembered as a "plaster saint" as he had no tolerance for "pomposity or flattery" during his lifetime.

[336] Music after the service included "Allegro molto e ritmico" from Sonata Britannica, and "The Seafarers" played by the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth.