Archives for April 2021

Events and reaction from around the world to mark the death of Prince Philip at age 99:

LONDON — The Twitter account of Britain’s royal family has featured a tribute Queen Elizabeth II gave to Prince Philip for the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary.

An excerpt from a speech the queen made in 1997 was posted Saturday, the day after Philip died at age 99.

“He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know,” Elizabeth said of her husband in the anniversary speech.

Philip also had words of gratitude for his wife and monarch at the time.

“I think the main lesson that we have learnt is that tolerance is the one essential ingredient of any happy marriage,” he said. “You can take it from me that the queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.”

A portrait of of the couple taken by photographer Anne Leibovitz and first released in 2016 on Philip’s 95th birthday accompanied Saturday’s Twitter post.

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PRINCE PHILIP DIES AT 99

The United Kingdom and members of the Commonwealth of nations that includes the former territories of the British Empire are remembering Prince Philip, the irascible and tough-minded husband of Queen Elizabeth II. Philip died Friday at age 99 after more than seven decades of supporting his wife in her public duties.

More coverage:

— Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, dies at 99

— Military salutes honor former naval officer Philip with 41 guns

— BBC invites viewers to say whether coverage was excessive.

— For AP’s full coverage of the death of Prince Philip go to https://apnews.com/hub/prince-philip

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BEIJING — The presidents of China and South Korea have joined other world leaders in offering their condolences to the widowed Queen Elizabeth II.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, have sent their “deep condolences” to the British monarch on the passing of her husband, Prince Philip, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in used Twitter to express his “heartfelt thoughts” about Philip’s death at age 99 on Friday.

Moon tweeted on Saturday that South Koreans will “forever remember” the contribution Philip made to friendly ties between their country and the U.K. when he visited with Queen Elizabeth II in 1999.

“I offer my condolences and share the grief with the bereaved family and the people of the United Kingdom,” he said.

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LONDON — Prince Andrew and Prince Edward visited Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on Saturday following the death of her husband and their father, Prince Philip.

Edward and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, spent around an hour at the castle. Sophie told reporters as the couple left Windsor in a Land Rover, “The queen has been amazing..

Andrew waved at crowds as he left. Prince Charles, the queen’s oldest child and heir to the throne, visited his mother on Friday.

In a tribute program aired by the BBC on Friday, all four of Philip’s children remembered him as someone who had encouraged and supported them.

Charles described his father’s life as an “astonishing achievement” while Edward said his father had a tough job that was carried out with the most “extraordinary flair.”

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LONDON — Gun salutes have started across the U.K., in Commonwealth countries and at sea to honor Britain’s Prince Philip, who died at age 99 on Friday.

Military leaders assigned batteries of cannons and guns to pay tribute to the former naval officer and husband of Queen Elizabeth II. In London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, teams fired 41 rounds at one-minute intervals starting at midday on Saturday.

The Australian Defense Force offered its salute at 5 p.m. local time outside Parliament House in Canberra. New Zealand planned to give an artillery tribute on Sunday.

Members of the public left flowers outside Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle on Saturday, ignoring appeals from authorities and the royal family to refrain from gathering because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has offered Queen Elizabeth II “heartfelt condolences” for the loss of her husband and praised the late Prince Philip for his devotion to marriage and “distinguished record” of public service.

In a telegram sent by the Vatican’s secretary of state and made public on Saturday, Francis said he was “saddened” to learn of Philip’s death on Friday at age 99.

“Recalling Prince Philip’s devotion to his marriage and family, his distinguished record of public service and his commitment to the education and advancement of future generations, His Holiness commends him to the merciful love of Christ our Redeemer,” read the telegram sent in the pontiff’s name.

“Upon you and upon all who grieve his loss in the sure hope of the resurrection, the Holy Father invokes the Lord’s blessings of consolation and peace,” the message concluded.

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LONDON — Gun salutes marking the death of the Duke of Edinburgh will take place across the U.K., in Gibraltar and at sea.

The U.K. defense ministry said that 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 also marked the deaths of Queen Victoria in 1901 and Winston Churchill in 1965.

Authorities are encouraging to watch the gun salutes online or on television from home amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Prince Philip died Friday at age 99.

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LONDON — The U.K.’s national broadcaster switched instantly into mourning mode when Prince Philip’s death was announced.

The BBC canceled its regular programming and aired special coverage about Philip hosted by black-clad news anchors on Friday. Popular prime-time shows such as the cooking contest “MasterChef” were pulled off the air, and the network’s music radio stations played instrumentals and somber tunes.

Some Britons saw the BBC’s actions as a fitting mark of respect. For others, it was a bit much.

The broadcaster has received so many complaints alleging its reporting was excessive that it set up a special page on its website for viewers to register objections if they felt there was “too much TV coverage of the death of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.”

The publicly funded BBC often finds itself criticized from all sides over its treatment of major national events. When the Queen Mother Elizabeth died in 2002, the broadcaster was criticized because the announcer delivering the news didn’t wear a black tie.

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LONDON — Mourners are leaving flowers again in front of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, a day after Prince Philip’s death.

Small groups of people gathered Saturday morning near the front gates of Buckingham Palace, where the Union Jack flies at half-staff.

Earlier, the flowers left there on Friday had been removed and were placed in the back of a van. Palace officials have been encouraging people not to come to Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle to leave flowers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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PORT VILA, Vanuatu — A tribe in the remote island nation of Vanuatu who saw Prince Philip as a god will greet his death with ritual wailing and ceremonial dancing, an expert said.

The group, based in villages on the island of Tanna in the former Anglo-French colony, revered the Duke of Edinburgh and believed him to be a reincarnation of an ancient warrior who left the island to fight a war.

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DHARAMSHALA, India — The Dalai Lama has expressed his condolences over the death of Prince Philip in letter to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles.

In his letter to the queen he said: “I am sorry to learn the sad news that your husband, H.R.H. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh has passed away. I will pray for him and offer my condolences to Your Royal Highness and your family at this sad time.

“As we all remember him, we can rejoice that he lived a meaningful life.”

He wrote to Prince Charles: “As someone who counts you as a dear, respected friend, I would also like to offer my condolences to Your Royal Highness and your family.”

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda expressed her country’s sorrow at the death of Prince Philip.

“Our thoughts are with Her Majesty the Queen at this profoundly sad time,” she said.

Ardern said Philip will be fondly remembered for the encouragement he gave to many young New Zealanders through The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award.

“In over 50 years of the award in New Zealand, thousands of young people have completed life-changing challenges through the program,” she said.

Ardern directed that all flags on government buildings and naval vessels be flown at half-staff. She said a national memorial service will be held in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington.

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JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed deep condolences at the death of Prince Philip.

Widodo tweeted: “My deepest condolences on the passing of HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Our thoughts and prayers are with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Family and the British people in this time of sorrow.”

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SYDNEY — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison offered his country’s “deepest sympathies and condolences” to Queen Elizabeth II on the passing of Prince Philip.

“While your strength and stay, your Majesty, may now have passed, Jenny and I pray that you will find great comfort in your faith, in your family, at this time,” he said. “But we also, your Majesty, say to you as a Commonwealth, let us also now be your strength and stay as you continue to endure, as you continue to serve so loyally and so faithfully, as you have done over so many generations.”

He added: “She has been there for us over such a long time, let us be there now for you, your Majesty, and allow us to send our love to you on this, I’m sure, one of your most sad of days.”

In Canberra, the national flag was lowered to half-mast over Parliament House.

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MANILA, Philippines — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed his deep condolences to Queen Elizabeth II for the death of Prince Philip in a public message where his government cited its strong ties with the United Kingdom.

“We pray for the eternal repose of his soul and for The Royal Family to find strength in this time of mourning,” Duterte said in message issued by his spokesman, Harry Roque.

“The Philippines and the United Kingdom have strong bilateral ties and we share the grief of the British people in this period of bereavement,” Duterte’s message said.

Duterte has repeatedly lashed at European countries in the past for raising alarm over his deadly crackdown against illegal drugs which has left thousands of mostly petty suspects dead. The UK was one of 18 countries that approved a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution in 2019 which called for an inquiry into human rights conditions in the Philippines amid Duterte’s bloody crackdown, sparking condemnations from his administration.

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the world has lost a “towering figure” with the passing of Prince Philip.

In a tribute post on his Facebook, Muhyiddin said the prince had visited Malaysia several times and was always a “friend of our country.”

The Duke of Edinburgh International award introduced in 2000 that had recognized thousands of Malaysian youths for their achievements in community, sports and adventure activities was among the prince’s many contributions, Muhyiddin said.

“The Duke of Edinburgh will be sadly missed; his passing marks the end of a life spent in selfless service to the greater good,” the premier said.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is telling California that it can’t enforce coronavirus-related restrictions that have limited home-based religious worship including Bible studies and prayer meetings.

The order from the court late Friday is the latest in a recent string of cases in which the high court has barred officials from enforcing some coronavirus-related restrictions applying to religious gatherings.

Five conservative justices agreed that California restrictions that apply to in-home religious gatherings should be lifted for now, while the court’s three liberals and Chief Justice John Roberts would not have done so.

California has already, however, announced significant changes loosening restrictions on gatherings that go into effect April 15. The changes come after infection rates have gone down in the state.

The case before the justices involved California rules that in most of the state limit indoor social gatherings to no more than three households. Attendees are required to wear masks and physically distance from one another. Different restrictions apply to places including schools, grocery stores and churches.

“California treats some comparable secular activities more favorably than at-home religious exercise,” allowing hair salons, retail stores, and movie theaters, among other places, “to bring together more than three households at a time,” the unsigned order from the court said. A lower court “did not conclude that those activities pose a lesser risk of transmission than applicants’ proposed religious exercise at home,” it said.

The court acknowledged that California’s policy on gatherings will change next week but said the restrictions remain in place until then and that “officials with a track record of ‘moving the goalposts’ retain authority to reinstate those heightened restrictions at any time.”

Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent for herself and her liberal colleagues, Justice Stephen Breyer and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, that the court’s majority was hurting state officials’ ability to address a public health emergency.

“California limits religious gatherings in homes to three households. If the State also limits all secular gatherings in homes to three households, it has complied with the First Amendment. And the State does exactly that: It has adopted a blanket restriction on at-home gatherings of all kinds, religious and secular alike. California need not … treat at-home religious gatherings the same as hardware stores and hair salons,” she wrote. She added that “the law does not require that the State equally treat apples and watermelons.”

The case before the justices involved two residents of Santa Clara County in the San Francisco Bay Area, who want to host small, in-person Bible study sessions in their homes. In an email message Saturday, one of their lawyers, Ryan J. Walsh, said he and his colleagues were “thrilled beyond words” for their clients.

California had defended its policy of restricting social gatherings as “entirely neutral.”

The court has dealt with a string of cases in which religious groups have challenged coronavirus restrictions impacting worship services. While early in the pandemic the court sided with state officials over the objection of religious groups, that changed following the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last September and her replacement by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

In November, the high court barred New York from enforcing certain limits on attendance at churches and synagogues in areas designated as hard hit by the virus. And in February, the high court told California that it can’t bar indoor church services because of the coronavirus pandemic, though it let stand for now a ban on singing and chanting indoors.

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DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal and Spain signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday to discourage illegal migration that has been increasing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Spain wants to order migratory flows through legal channels,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said after meeting with Senegal’s President Macky Sall while visiting the West African coastal nation.

More than 41,000 people from Morocco and West Africa crossed to Spain in 2020, and more than half of them did it by embarking on flimsy boats to the Canary Islands, the Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, off the northwestern African coast. Hundreds died last year after embarking on the deadly water route.

Spanish authorities are holding thousands of migrants, including potential asylum seekers, in camps set up on the islands, hoping to return as many of them to their home countries either voluntarily or through agreements with African governments. Part of that solution is to resume flights of forced returns to Senegal, a program that has been halted since 2018.

While the president did not mention a resumption of flights or the return of illegal Senegalese migrants, he did discuss the memorandum of understanding that would see seasonal migration trips to Spain.

“We can organize seasonal departures since Spain needs manpower,” Sall said. “We are working with the Spanish government so that those who have to return will be given priority.”

More than 71,000 Senegalese live and work in Spain, according to the two leaders.

“The solution for Africa is not to see children die in the ocean,” he said.

Sall said the government would create 65,000 jobs in Senegal, as well as promote enter entrepreneurship, vocational training and cooperation.

“This is how we can resolve the issue of migration. It’s not about leaving organized gangs that exploit these young people and let them die on the ocean floor,” he said.

The Spanish Prime Minister insisted on the fight against migrant smugglers.

“We discussed the importance of sending a clear message to traffickers. We need to send a clear message to fight human trafficking and illegal migration. We must give the opportunity for there to be a regular migration which could be beneficial for our countries,” Sanchez said.

The visit by Sanchez to Senegal ends his mini-tour to two African nations that are key in the European country’s new push to bolster ties with the neighboring continent and mitigate the migration flows.

He visited Angola before his stop to Senegal.

Sanchez is also scheduled to pay a visit to Spanish police working with Senegalese counterparts to crack down on human trafficking across the West African coast. The contingent comprises 57 members of Spain’s Civil Guard and National Police, two patrol boats, and a helicopter based on the port of Dakar.

Africa has proportionally reported fewer coronavirus cases and deaths than Europe. But officials in Madrid fear that the fallout of lockdowns in jobs and the shockwaves of the global economic slump could send even more Africans on the perilous journey to European shores, many of them via Spain.

Spain also hopes to increase its limited investment and trade exchanges with the neighboring continent as a way to lift African economies and dissuade potential migrants. Nearly one-fifth of Spain’s exports in 2019 went to Africa, amounting to 19 billion euro ($22 billion). Spain imports from the continent were worth 27 billion euros in the same period.

Sanchez, a Socialist leading a left-wing coalition, has said that he wants to turn 2020-2030 into “Spain’s decade in Africa.”

He will wrap his tour in Senegal on Friday by visiting a military base for Spanish and other international forces fighting extremism in the Sahel region and the center in Dakar that will host the first Cervantes Institute in sub-Saharan Africa for studies of the Spanish language and culture.

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LONDON (AP) — Prince Philip will be laid to rest with all the honors due a prince of the United Kingdom and a consort to Queen Elizabeth II.

But the coronavirus pandemic means it will be a more low-key farewell than has marked many royal deaths. The pandemic has required changes to the well-prepared plans for Philip’s passing, code-named Operation Forth Bridge.

“During the coronavirus pandemic, and in light of current government advice and social distancing guidelines, modified Funeral and ceremonial arrangements for His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh are being considered by Her Majesty The Queen,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. “Details will be confirmed in due course.”

Flags on government buildings and royal residences were lowered to half-mast and British television networks canceled scheduled programs to allow for special coverage after Philip died Friday at 99.

His death will be marked with 41-gun salutes at noon on Saturday at locations across the country, including the Tower of London and Edinburgh Castle, as well as in Gibraltar and on Royal Navy ships at sea.

But the palace and the British government urged people not to gather or lay flowers outside the royal residences to honor him. The palace instead invited well-wishers to sign a book of condolences — but only online, to avoid crowds and queues.

Britain, which has Europe’s highest toll in the pandemic at over 127,000 dead, is still under some lockdown restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19.

When the Queen Mother Elizabeth — the last royal consort to pass on — died in 2002, her coffin lay in state at Parliament’s Westminster Hall, and thousands of people filed past to pay their last respects.

Philip’s body will not lie in state, a function both of the pandemic and his own “no fuss” attitude. Nor will it be a state funeral, in keeping with his wishes.

The College of Arms, the body that oversees ceremonial protocol, said Friday that the duke’s body will lie at rest in Windsor Castle, 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of London, where he spent his final weeks with the queen. His funeral will be held in St. George’s Chapel at the castle, the site of centuries of royal burials — and royal weddings, including the 2018 union of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

“This is in line with custom and with His Royal Highness’s wishes,” the college said.

Buckingham Palace will announce later when the funeral will be held and how many people will attend. Funerals are currently restricted to 30 people or fewer under England’s coronavirus rules, so it’s likely to be immediate family only.

It’s thought that Harry will try to travel from his home in Montecito, California, to say goodbye to his grandfather but he could have to navigate Britain’s coronavirus rules.

Travelers from the U.S. must produce a negative COVID-19 test before they get on the plane and must self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival, but that quarantine can end early if a test after five days comes back negative. His wife Meghan is quite pregnant with their second child and is not expected to make the trip.

Some aspects of British life will pause until after the funeral, with run-of-the mill government visits and announcements suspended.

Britain’s political parties on Friday paused campaigning for next month’s local and Scottish elections, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson led political tributes. Lawmakers will return a day early from their Easter break so they can pay tribute to Philip in the House of Commons on Monday.

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For AP’s full coverage of the death of Prince Philip go to https://apnews.com/hub/prince-philip

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