BUCKINGHAM Palace has announced that Prince Philip is stepping down from all of his royal duties, after Queen Elizabeth II’s staff were summoned to an emergency meeting.

The announcement was made public after a staff meeting at 10am local time in London.

The Duke of Edinburgh is Patron, President or a member of over 780 organisations, with which he will continue to be associated.

A statement was issued from Buckingham Palace to confirm the move.

Statement from Buckingham Palace pic.twitter.com/FcR4wUDqFG — Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) May 4, 2017

Servants were reportedly addressed by the Royal Household’s most senior officer Lord Chamberlain and Her Majesty’s Private Secretary Sir Christopher Geidt.

The meeting, called suddenly and described as ‘highly unusual’, sent Britain’s rumour mill and social media into a concerned frenzy that bad news is imminent.

However royal watchers said the announcement wasn’t to do with a death, or even the health of the Queen or Prince Philip.

There was earlier speculation that the announcement related to either the Queen’s health or that of her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Social media erupted in panic as word of the large-scale meeting spread, with many offering theories about the announcement, from abdication to far more serious issues.

The Mirror reported that even the most trusted of staff were left in the dark as to what the meeting will be about.

But a growing number of royal reporters in the UK were told there’s no cause for alarm.

The BBC understands there is no cause for concern regarding the health of either the Queen or Prince Philip. — Peter Hunt (@BBCPeterHunt) May 4, 2017

BREAKING: Buckingham Palace official to AP: Royal household staff called to meeting but "no cause for concern." — The Associated Press (@AP) May 4, 2017

Both the Queen and Prince Philip appeared in good health today - Her Majesty meeting Teresa May and Prince Philip at Lords Cricket Ground pic.twitter.com/ARd8iJ1mkD — Tom Steinfort (@tomsteinfort) May 4, 2017

RELATED: Worries persist over the health of Queen Elizabeth II

Royal Editor for Sunrise and the Evening Standard Rob Jobson tweeted that special meetings of Palace staff like this are not unprecedented. He also said there was no cause for alarm.

ITV’s Royal Editor Chris Ship also downplayed the “hysterical speculation”, saying the meeting wasn’t related to a death.

Sorry I am not answering individual questions. Special meetings of Palace staff are not unprecedented. There was no meeting called for 3am. — Robert Jobson (@theroyaleditor) May 4, 2017

My understanding re so called Buckingham Palace "emergency meeting" is there is no cause for alarm. — Robert Jobson (@theroyaleditor) May 4, 2017

Lots of hysterical speculation about a Buckingham Palace announcement. There *is* a meeting today. But it's not -as some say- due to a death pic.twitter.com/Xi9HKkPO6G — Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) May 4, 2017

0600 London: Busy morning at #BuckinghamPalace. Quite a gathering. No one's quite sure why. pic.twitter.com/jOVEdrAtbp — Richard Gaisford (@richardgaisford) May 4, 2017

The Queen has just returned to Buckingham Palace from an extended visit to Windsor over Easter. She met with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.

Prince Philip was seen yesterday too when he opened the new Warner Stand at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

Household staff from as far as Balmoral in Scotland were reportedly been included in the roll call.

This appears to be from earlier today. Prince Philip looks great and in good spirits here. https://t.co/mPK47eVmfs — Kristen S Anderson (@KSoltisAnderson) May 4, 2017

The Queen and Prince Philip both took ill over Christmas and missed some public engagements, which raised concerns about their health.

However both recommenced some of their normal duties in recent months.

Prince Philip has suffered health scares in the past, including a heart problem and bladder infection.

Her Majesty marked her 91st birthday last month and Prince Philip turns 96 in June.



