The Duke is ranked as “category 1” by the BBC, a list which emphasises how important a royal’s death is, along with the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William.
Should Philip die, newsreaders must wear black, alongside any other presenters who are on the television, as a sign of respect.
Commercial radio stations will flash blue “obit lights” in the event of a national emergency or a “category 1” royals death, telling presenters to switch to inoffensive music and to prepare for a sombre broadcast
Chris Price, BBC Radio producer, said to the Huffington Post in 2011: “If you ever hear Haunted Dancehall (Nursery Remix) by Sabres of Paradise on daytime Radio 1, turn the TV on. Something terrible has just happened.”
