Today will mark the beginning of an official 8-day period of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II. During this time, the 94-year-old monarch will not conduct state affairs or give new bills to the Royal Assent and she will halt all her royal duties. Following a week, the Queen will resume her duties privately for 30 days, while the royal family will grieve for the same length of time.
According to custom, the country now enters into a 10-day period of mourning as well. To show respect for the Duke of Edinburgh, flags will be flown at half mast across the U.K. (except for Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, where they never lower), while royal guardsmen and other representatives will sport black armbands on their tunics.
In accordance with his wishes for something "simpler," there will most likely be a royal ceremonial funeral for Prince Philip instead of a full state funeral. And rather than a burial at Westminster Abbey, it is thought he may be laid to rest at St. James's Palace.
Prince Philip would have turned 100 on June 10. The man who Queen Elizabeth once referred to as her "strength and guide" loved writing, painting and flying, and he and the Queen enjoyed 73 years of marriage. The couple spent the past year quarantining together at Windsor Castle.
