The Archbishop of Canterbury led a service of remembrance for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at Canterbury Cathedral this morning.

Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II's husband, died on Friday at Windsor Castle aged 99.

The Archbishop, Justin Welby, is also expected to lead Prince Philip's funeral next Saturday.

In his sermon at today’s Eucharist, the Archbishop said: "For the Royal Family, as for every other, no words can reach into the depth of sorrow that goes with bereavement. It is not simply a factor of age, or familiarity. It is not obliterated by the reality of a very long life remarkably led. Nor is the predictability of death’s arrival a softening of the blow.

"Loss is loss. For each person it is felt individually and reaches into the heart variously. We cannot ever know how others feel, nor do two people feel the same.

"It is simply loss. Some bear it apparently easily, for others it is crushing. We cannot judge anything from that, either about the depth of affection that existed or the reality of grief that is experienced. We cannot judge, we must not say we know, we can only pray and affirm."

He went on to praise the Duke of Edinburgh's willingness to "take the hand he was dealt in life and straightforwardly to follow its call".

"When death comes there is another sort of change: there is deep loss and profound sorrow, but there is neither eternal separation nor darkness forever," he concluded

"There is instead surprise and joy as in John, and all needs met as foreseen in the Acts, and rest and new creation as foreshadowed in Christ himself. Our lives are not completed before death, but their eternity is prepared.

"So we can indeed pray that The Duke of Edinburgh may rest in peace and rise in glory.

"We may pray for comfort. We may pray and offer love for all those who find that a great life leaves a very great gap – for the Royal Family and the millions who have themselves suffered loss.

"We can know that the presence of Christ will bring peace, and the light of Christ will shine strongly, and it is in that light that we can strengthen one another with eternal hope."

Today's service was streamed online via the Cathedral's YouTube channel.

Philip had been married to the Queen for 73 years and they spent most of the last 12 months isolating together in Windsor.

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