Day: April 16, 2021

Face coverings and social distancing will be suspended at a handful of venues during a government trial of the safe reopening of large events. The Events Research Programme (ERP) co-chaired by theatre director Sir Nicholas Hytner and co-founder of The Carphone Warehouse David Ross will test a range of safety measures in its first scheduled 10 to 15 events in the next few weeks, including the FA Cup Final on 15 May. Its aim is to establish which methods work best to minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission in larger crowds, paving the way for large events to resume later in the year. The findings will inform ministers’ decisions over ending social distancing on 21 June, when Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown reaches its final stage. Face coverings and social distancing will be...

Prince William and his brother Prince Harry will not walk shoulder to shoulder in their grandfather’s funeral procession on Saturday, following speculation they could do so. The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex, who have been reunited in person for the first time following the explosive Oprah interview last month, will both be in attendance on Saturday. However, the brothers will walk separately, either side of their cousin Peter Phillips – Princess Anne’s son – as they trail their grandfather’s coffin at St George’s chapel in Windsor. When the coffin is taken into the chapel at Windsor Castle, William will then move ahead of Harry as the family arrives in pairs. Details of the funeral were released by Buckingham Palace on Thursday, marking almost a week since the death of Prince ...