TEN pigeons will be released from the grounds of St Asaph Cathedral today (April 17) to mark the funeral of HRH the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

It forms part of plans announced by the Royal Pigeon Racing Association (RPRA) to release birds from every Cathedral city and town across the UK.

Cllr Brian Jones from Rhyl will release his ten pigeons, one for each decade of the Duke’s life, at 12 noon from St Asaph simultaneously with others across the UK.

The Royal Family has had a long association with pigeon racing. Her Majesty, the Queen is the current patron of the RPRA and keeps a pigeon loft on the Sandringham Estate.

Current Covid and Avian Flu restrictions forbid the gathering together of people and pigeons for a mass release.

Instead, the liberation of pigeons from one loft is permitted under current avian flu restrictions.

Elsewhere across the diocese, church bells will toll to remember the life of His Royal Highness.

In Mold, the tenor bell at St Mary’s Church will be tolled on Saturday afternoon before the funeral.

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visited the church in 2003 with her Majesty the Queen.

The church hosted several representatives of local organisations and voluntary groups who also met the Royal couple.

Remembering the occasion, the then church warden, John R Williams said: “We acted as hosts for the meeting in Church and welcomed Her Majesty and His Royal Highness taking them on a tour of the Church before they met the gathered representatives.

"From the Church they went on ‘walk about’ in [Mold] High Street stopping to meet and talk to many townspeople, before leaving to continue their tour of Flintshire.”

The funeral of HRH the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh takes place at 3pm at St George’s Church in Windsor today.

Since the announcement by Buckingham Palace of the death of the Duke on Friday (April 9), St Asaph Cathedral has been flying the Union flag at half-mast.

This will continue until after his funeral.