Friday evening UK news briefing: Why Prince Philip's funeral will be most moving of all - plus full timings
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Even in a pared down ceremony more than 700 military personnel will take part in the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh tomorrow.
Yet despite the relatively toned down simplicity compared to other royal funerals – ever a hallmark of the Duke's approach even with the Covid regulations – the day will be choreographed to perfection.
Commentator Hugo Vickers has attended many royal funerals - stretching back to Princess Marina in 1968 - but describes why Prince Philip's will be the most intensely moving of them all.
Here are all the timings for tomorrow.
The ceremony will take place at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Take a look inside.
Viewers will also pay close attention for any interaction between Prince William and Prince Harry but read why their cousin Peter Phillips, who will walk between them in the procession, is the ideal peacemaker.
Celia Walden reflects on how Prince Harry's 'Long Walk' back to Windsor will be a bigger test for him than his wedding day.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex viewed tributes left by the public and national leaders in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh today.
Many have shared affectionate stories of the Duke but few have been as surprising as the tale uncovered by archivists at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California.
Read how the Duke wrote to "humbly apologise" for a faux pas at a White House dinner with President Nixon in 1969, which was enough for him to lose sleep.
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New Covid variants appear to be escaping vaccines, with the latest data showing a doubling in cases of the South African mutation in the UK in the last month. Figures from Public Health England reveal that there are now 600 cases of the South African variant in the UK – up from around 300 a month ago. Officials have embarked on the largest "surge testing" programme to date amid concern that a number of the infections in London involve people who had already been vaccinated. Meanwhile, more than 70 cases of a variant first detected in India have been discovered in the UK. Our coronavirus liveblog has the latest details.
Helen McCrory dead at 52 after 'heroic' cancer battle
Actress Helen McCrory has died after an "heroic battle" with cancer, her husband has announced. McCrory, known for her roles in the Harry Potter series and Peaky Blinders, passed away at home at the age of 52. Fellow performer Damian Lewis, who married McCrory in 2007, shared the news of her death and paid tribute to the actress. Read more.
At a glance: Coronavirus evening briefing
Analysis | Germany fears lasting economic hit with Covid taking hold
Face coverings | Masks to be jettisoned at pilot events for crowds
Travel latest | Summer holiday hopes as Portugal ends UK flight ban
Recovery | FTSE 100 breaks 7,000 for first time since pandemic hit
Normality | Face masks to vanish from Israel's streets from Sunday
Also in the news: Today's other headlines
'Cronyism' claims | The Health Secretary Matt Hancock did not declare his connection to a company owned by close family members, despite it being awarded a place on a framework to provide services to the NHS in England. The revelations about a company owned by his sister and mother come as Britain's spending watchdog launches an investigation into Greensill Capital's access to the UK's Covid-19 support schemes.
Frexit | Michel Barnier warns that French may end up leaving EU
Scottish election | 'Priority' to join EU Single Market, says Salmond
Ghislaine Maxwell | Request for sex trafficking trial be delayed
Indianapolis attack | At least eight killed in shooting at FedEx facility
Human-monkey embryo | Ethics row over scientific breakthrough
Around the world: Police shoot boy with hands up
A 13-year-old latino boy was shot dead by police after raising his hands, newly released footage shows, as racial tensions simmer in the US over a string of killings at the hands of authorities. The nine-minute video issued by Chicago police on Thursday shows officer Eric Stillman shouting "drop it" and "stop" before he catches up with Adam Toledo in an alleyway. In the second before he fell to the ground after being shot in the chest, Mr Toledo does not seem to be holding a weapon and appears to be surrendering. Watch the moments leading up to the shooting.
Friday big-read
Today's new Puritans will not hold the floor for ever
British intellectual life has seen a process of taboo-busting across the arts. Joan Bakewell sets out why the censoriousness of the 21st century isn't the last word
Comment and analysis
Ross Clark | Mass Covid testing is proving to be no ticket to freedom
Eleanor Aldridge | My 'testing on arrival' nightmare bodes terribly
Alan Cochrane | SNP have turned manifesto failures into an art form
Iain Duncan Smith | UK universities must choose: Britain or Beijing
Jamie Carragher | Ferguson was wrong - Man City are now dominant
Editor's choice: Features and arts
Rarely seen moments | The pictures that capture the real Prince Philip
No satisfaction | The juicy details from the £1m Mick Jagger memoir the world may never see
Promising Young Woman, review | Feminist revenge film is controversial gem
Business and money briefing
Crisis of confidence | Only a fraction of the 120,000 people who work in Canary Wharf, the east London financial district which Margaret Thatcher helped creating, are back at their desks. Some may never go back. Read why Canary Wharf faces a battle to stay relevant after Covid.
Migration | Fewer workers fled UK after pandemic struck than feared
Bidding wars and price rises | How long can property boom go on?
On top of markets | Live stocks and shares updates 24 hours a day
Sport briefing
The forgotten man | The quality and tenacity with which Dean Richards returned to rugby post-Bloodgate is a mark of his credentials. Read why he is the man England need - but would never appoint.
Austin Healey | England's Lions contingent may hit historic low
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix | Bottas does Imola practice double
Champions League | How Chelsea and Arsenal can thwart Liverpool
Three things for tonight
And finally... for this evening's downtime
Snooker's 'old married couple' | Steve Davis and Barry Hearn forged a trailblazing player-manager partnership that dominated not just snooker but became part of Britain's fabric in the 1980s. In an exclusive interview they recall how they changed the game forever.
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