A royal bombshell has been dropped this morning - with the news that the Duke of Edinburgh is to step down from royal duties.

A statement from Buckingham Palace said: "His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has decided that he will no longer carry out public engagements from the autumn of this year.

"In taking this decision the Duke has the full support of the Queen."

The statement says the Duke will continue to attend previously scheduled engagements between now and August, individually and with the Queen.

It also leaves the door firmly ajar for the future.

Although he will not accept any further invitations the statement is careful to say 'he may still choose to attend certain public events from time to time'.

The Queen meanwhile will continue to carry out a full programme of official engagements.

It is only six weeks since the 95-year-old Duke visited Windsor Forest Bowmen's new archery club in Windsor's Home Park.

He was on excellent form, making jokes and laughingly posing beside a younger image of himself.