Speculation rife about Prince Philip, despite Duke pictured in good health yesterday

The Queen summoned her entire royal staff from across the UK to a “highly unusual” meeting at Buckingham Palace in the early hours of Thursday, London time.

The only official confirmation from the Royal Family has been that a meeting has been called but that has not stopped wild speculation about the health of both the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen herself.

However, long-time Royals commentator and correspondent for London’s Evening Standard Robert Jobson said emergency Buckingham Palace meetings were not unusual and this specific meeting was, “no cause for alarm”.

Britain woke to the overnight hysteria on the other side of the globe, but the Royal Editor for UK television news station ITV also soon quashed rumours of a royal death.

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As Britons slept, internet users Australia and New Zealand wildly speculated that the meeting was about Prince Philip, despite the 95-year-old looking in good health just yesterday at Lord’s cricket ground.

Queen Elizabeth II arriving at Buckingham Palace ahead of meeting Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday. Picture: Lauren Hurley/PA WireSource:AAP

Prince, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh opens the new Warner Stand at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Wednesday. Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Should speculation about the Duke’s health prove true, however, an official announcement remains at least two hours away, with royal protocol surrounding the Duke of Edinburgh’s death dictating an announcement not be made until 8am.

Servants were to be addressed by the Royal Household’s most senior office Lord Chamberlain and Her Majesty’s Private Secretary Sir Christopher Geidt, according to the Mail Online.

However, royal protocol dictates that any public announcement will not occur until at 8am London time.

In a 2015 article detailing the procedure that would follow the death of Prince Philip, the Daily Beastreported: “If Philip were to die in the night, the news would not be announced by Buckingham Palace until after 8am.

“The BBC would be informed first, and tasked with making the official announcement.

“Eight days of official mourning would be observed by all staff at the palace.

“Flags at major institutions and military establishments (especially naval ones, given the Duke’s service in the Royal Navy) would be flown at half mast, but the Royal Standard flag which flutters above Buckingham Palace when the Queen is in residence would not be lowered to half mast.”

Just last month, The Guardian also revealed the elaborate, secret plan for when Queen Elizabeth II, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, dies.

The secret code is “London Bridge is down”, which kicks off Operation London Bridge, the plan to alert the world of her death.

None of the detail listed an emergency meeting of all royal staff being called at Buckingham Palace.

It did explain that the world would be informed quickly.

After the prime minister is alerted, the Foreign Office’s Global Response Centre would inform the 15 governments where the Queen is still head of state, including Australia, Canada, the Bahamas and Belize.

Prince Philip on Wednesday. Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Then the 36 nations where she still serves as a figurehead would be informed.

Next, the Press Association would send out a news alert to simultaneously notify the world’s media — a break from the past, when the BBC was always the first to know about royal deaths. Social media and modern technology have negated that system.

Thursday morning’s meeting, called at the 11th hour and described as highly unusual by some royal watchers, has sent the world’s rumour mill into a concerned frenzy.

The UK media has swarmed to Buckingham Palace, with speculation swirling as to what the meeting is about.

The Queen and Prince Phillip.Source:Getty Images

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

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“Although meetings involving the entire royal household are occasionally called, the way this has been done at the 11th hour is highly unusual and suggests that there is something major to be disseminated,” the Mail Online reported.

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment.

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

The Queen was sick over Christmas and missed some public engagements, which raised concerns about her health.

However she has recommenced some of her normal duties in recent months.

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