Authorities clamp down on hospitality in Windsor before Prince Philip’s funeral

High-street cafes near Windsor Castle have been banned from putting out pavement tables as authorities seek to deter people from visiting the market town during Saturday’s funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh, who died on Friday, aged 99.

Tone Mendez, of Clairmont’s cafe, said letters from the council stated outside tables were banned from Friday night until 6pm on Saturday. “It’s a big shame. It will be lovely to put all the tables out and people just sit there on a sunny day. But they probably think the town is going to be very busy and, for safety reasons, we’re not allowed to put tables outside,” said the 39-year-old.

It came as Buckingham Palace released a previously unseen photograph of Prince Philip alongside the Queen with some of their great-grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Savannah and Isla Phillips, and Lena and Mia Tindall. The photograph was taken at Balmoral Castle in 2018. Among other family photos made public, Prince Charles released one of him and his father playing polo in 1966.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh with several of their great-grandchildren. Photograph: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/PA

Military rehearsals were under way for the ceremonial royal funeral, being held behind Windsor Castle’s walls away from public view because of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite a much scaled-back procession lasting just eight minutes, hundreds of military personnel were taking part in rehearsals at the Army Training Centre Pirbright near Woking, Surrey. They rehearsed music including the national anthem, Jerusalem and I Vow To Thee, My Country.

Sgt Bugler Jamie Ritche, 31, from the I/C Corp of Drums, Royal Marines, who is leading the last post in St George’s Chapel at the service, said it was an “honour and privilege”.

“We’ve rehearsed, we’ve fine-tuned, and we’ve made sure that the last post itself will be ready and will make an incredibly poignant moment in the service,” said Ritche, who will wear the medal he received personally from Prince Philip after serving in Afghanistan.

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Philip would have wanted the royal family to “get on with it”, his grandsons William and Harry said in separate tributes earlier this week. Princess Anne did just that, honouring a planned engagement at the Royal Yacht Squadron on the Isle of Wight – the prestigious club her father was once admiral of – and telling those present her father “enjoyed coming down here”. Although observing two weeks’ royal mourning, she consulted the Queen on whether she should attend, with both agreeing it was what Philip would have wanted.

The Queen, meanwhile, sent a message of support to the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines after a series of eruptions of La Soufrière volcano in the Caribbean nation.

In the past the Queen would have referred to herself and the duke in any message of condolence or sympathy, but following her bereavement the words of support poignantly began with “I”.

Military personnel rehearse for the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA

In a tribute posted on social media, Princess Eugenie paid tribute to her “dearest Grandpa”, pledging to look after “Granny”, the Queen, for him.

Eugenie, one of the duke’s eight grandchildren, recalled fond memories being taught to cook, paint and what to read by him.

The 31-year-old, who gave birth to her first child recently, talked of incinerating sausages at family barbecues, with the duke “swooping in to save the day”. She added: “I remember your hands and your laugh and your favourite beer.”