Gordonstoun pupils lay wreath in tribute to Prince Philip

Young sailors at the Duke of Edinburgh’s former school in Moray have paid tribute to the former pupil on the day of his funeral.

Pupils aboard Gordonstoun’s 80ft sail training boat lay a wreath off the coast of Hopeman Harbour, where Philip first learned to sail.

On the shore, a lone student piper played while displaying the Duke of Edinburgh’s Coat of Arms on a banner.

It was presented to the exclusive boarding school’s pipe band by Her Majesty in 2019.

Prince Philip learned to sail while studying at Gordonstoun. Gordonstoun

Lis Kaerr, principal, said: “Throughout the whole of the last week we have had the opportunity to reflect on how proud we are in shaping what was important to the duke.

“We can’t have large-scale gatherings at the moment, but to be able to have a smaller tribute to him which is still an appropriate scale is great.

“For us to put together this tribute felt like the right thing to do in these circumstances – it represents his love of the Moray Firth, Hopeman Harbour and Gordonstoun.”

Opportunities to hold official commemoration events across Scotland have been limited due to coronavirus restrictions.

Meanwhile, the 105th Regiment Royal Artillery will conduct ceremonial gunfire at Edinburgh Castle to begin and end the National Minute Silence immediately before the funeral service.

The guns will fire at 3pm and then 3.01pm.

The Scottish Government urged the public not to go to Edinburgh or any other Royal location to pay their respects, due to the risk of spreading coronavirus.

This is despite travel restrictions across the country being lifted on Friday.

There will be no opportunities for the public to lay flowers at any official location in Scotland.