A special memorial service is being held at Blackburn Cathedral on Sunday to mark the life of His Royal Highness Prince Philip.

Mayors from across Lancashire will be attending the ceremony, which will begin at 4pm, and will be live streamed by Blackburn Cathedral.

The Duke of Edinburgh died at Windsor Castle on April 9 and his funeral is being held in St George's Chapel in the Castle at 3pm today.

Prince Philip visited Blackburn with Darwen many times during his life, most recently in 2014 when he and the Queen attended Maundy Thursday at Blackburn Cathedral, which was a particularly momentous occasion for the whole county as the Queen presented Maundy money to Lancashire residents at the historic service.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has now created a short montage of the Duke’s visits to the town, which can be viewed on YouTube by clicking on this link.

Director of Adults and Health, Sayyed Osman, was heavily involved in the organisation of the event with partners, and you can hear his thoughts on the day in a voiceover throughout the video.

Today, a ceremony of Prince Philip’s life will be held privately at Windsor Castle and there will be a national minute’s silence at 3pm at the start of the funeral.

The Palace is asking people to observe the minute’s silence personally and privately because of Covid-19 restrictions, with the government asking the public not to gather at Royal Residences, and to continue to follow public health advice – particularly on avoiding meeting in large groups and on minimising travel.

In memory of The Duke of Edinburgh, Blackburn Old Town Hall and King George’s Hall will join buildings across the nation in lighting up purple.

Anyone wishing to pay their respects should do so privately in their own homes with their family.

For anyone wishing to leave a message of condolence, they can do so in the national book at www.royal.uk or at Blackburn Cathedral’s online book of condolence here.

You can leave a message on the Lancashire Book of Condolence until the end of April. 

Messages will then be sent to Her Majesty the Queen and also kept on Lancashire County Council’s archive.