Covid restrictions prevent Duke of Edinburgh pubs from marking Prince Philip’s death

Covid rules mean bars and pubs can only open outdoor areas from 12 April

Landlords and landladies of Duke of Edinburgh pubs have expressed their sadness at being unable to do more to mark the death of Prince Philip.

Annie Andrews said her establishment in Winkfield near Windsor had been planning a "big do" for the Duke's 100th birthday in June.

Like other bars and pubs across England, it is closed this weekend and can only open outdoor areas from 12 April.

"We will be doing toasts to him in the garden and things like that but we have to try and keep the space between people," said Ms Andrews.

"We had a big celebration for Harry and Meghan's wedding and when William and Kate got married, and when the Queen had her jubilee.

"So it's going to be a small event this time, but we will definitely be doing something to mark the Queen's birthday and it is 10 years since William and Kate got married."

Ms Andrews said that while her pub was named after one of Queen Victoria's sons, she and her family always thought of it as a tribute to Philip.

"I'm a Windsor girl, born and bred, and the royal family has always been very important to me and we always do things to mark the events in the monarchy's history," she said.

Duke of Edinburgh pubs in Hull, Oldham and Brixton, south London are also preparing to open on Monday.

Mark Miller, landlord of the Duke of Edinburgh in Hull, said the pub would have put its flags out and offered reduced price drinks to mark Philip's death.

"If it had been normal circumstances we would have done something but when we're only allowed customers outside, we don't know who we're expecting or how many," Mr Miller said.

"The Duke of Edinburgh doesn't have much outdoor space."

Meanwhile the Duke of Edinburgh in Swindon cannot mark Philip's death because it does not have a beer garden and will not be able to open until 17 May at the earliest.

Landlady Alison Thompson said: "Sadly there's not much we can do at the moment apart from putting some posters in the window, but we are going to have a talk about what we can do this afternoon."

She added: "Sadly we can't open until late May, otherwise we would have certainly done something."

The Duke of Edinburgh Hotel and Bar in Barrow-in-Furness will also have to wait until 17 May.

Additional reporting by Press Association