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Reports of Prince Philip’s death are wildly premature, Palace assures The New Daily

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh pictured here in early March.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh pictured here in early March. Photo: Getty

A Buckingham Palace spokesman has told The New Daily there is “absolutely no cause for alarm”, reacting to social media reports of the death of Prince Philip.

The internet was rife with speculation on Thursday that a rare meeting of all royal staff was linked to either the health of the Queen or that of her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Social media went into a frenzy after one French media outlet reported late on Thursday morning (AEST) that Prince Philip had passed away.

However, the Buckingham Palace press office confirmed to The New Daily by phone that reports of a death were false.

“There is absolutely no cause for alarm,” the spokesman said.

The speculation began soon after The Daily Mail reported that the Queen’s royal staff were called from across the UK to an emergency meeting at Buckingham Palace.

Household staff from Windsor Castle, Sandringham and Balmoral have reportedly been among those called to the meeting.

The fact that even the most trusted of staff were left in the dark as to what the meeting was about led to wild speculation, with Twitter users claiming the Prince was dead, that a statement was imminent and even that flags at Buckingham Palace were at half-mast.

“Although meetings involving the entire royal household are occasionally called, the way this has been done at the eleventh hour is highly unusual and suggests that there is something major to be disseminated,” The Daily Mail quoted a source as saying.

The Palace spokesman confirmed to The New Daily that a meeting of all staff was to be conducted on Thursday afternoon (UK time) by the Lord Chamberlain “who typically briefs staff once a year”.

“It (an all-staff meeting) is rare but far from unprecedented,” he said.

As the UK woke on Thursday (late Thursday afternoon AEST), an increasing number of UK media outlets confirmed they had been told that the meeting was not connected to any death in the royal family.

Prince Philip, a life member of the MCC, had been out and about earlier on Wednesday (UK time) opening the new Warner Stand at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

The Queen also met British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday (UK time).

The Queen, 91, has been gradually handing over some of her royal duties and Prince Philip, 95, has also pulled back on his commitments.

There have been concerns about their health over recent months, with both developing bad colds during the Christmas period.

The Queen last year missed her usual Christmas Day service at Sandringham for the first time in decades, and also skipped a New Year’s Day church service due to illness.

– with AAP

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