Prince Philip not dead, says Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace has quashed rumours swirling worldwide about the health of Prince Philip.

"You could safely assume the Queen and Prince Philip are not dead," a palace press officer told a TVNZ reporter this afternoon.

Also, a Buckingham Palace official has told The Associated Press that a meeting of royal household staff has been called, but that there is "no cause for concern".

The official, who spoke to the AP only on condition of anonymity, said household meetings are called from time to time.

BBC Royal correspondent Peter Hunt has tweeted the meeting, due to be held at 10am local time (9pm NZ time), is not related to the health of either the Queen or Prince Philip.

The staff meeting at Buckingham Palace will be at 10am.

— Peter Hunt (@_PeterHunt) May 4, 2017

The BBC understands there is no cause for concern regarding the health of either the Queen or Prince Philip.

— Peter Hunt (@_PeterHunt) May 4, 2017

Royal Correspondent Phil Dampier told Newstalk ZB's Larry Williams it's possible the Prince Regent could be stepping down from his official position.

"Although meetings involving the entire royal household are occasionally called, the way this has been done at the eleventh hour is highly unusual and suggests that there is something major to be disseminated," the Daily Mail quoted a source as saying.

The Daily Mail earlier today reported rumours among Buckingham Palace staff were rampant after the Queen's most senior aides called her entire household to an emergency meeting later today, New Zealand time.

A Buckingham Palace switchboard operator told the Herald no one at the palace could comment but that "information and resources" would be available at 8am when the day switchboard operators took over.

He said he had been given no information to suggest either the Queen or Prince Phillip had died or were ill.

Media setting up outside Buckingham Palace pic.twitter.com/tObWFZmUCo

— Annabel Reid (@AnnabelReid) May 4, 2017

Servants from royal residences across the country have been ordered to London and will be addressed by the Lord Chamberlain, the most senior officer of the Royal Household, as well as Her Majesty's right-hand man, Private Secretary Sir Christopher Geidt, the Daily Mail says.

No.. pic.twitter.com/XptkTNu3na

— Annabel Reid (@AnnabelReid) May 4, 2017

Many Twitter users say French media were claiming the 95-year-old had died.

However, no French media appear to be doing so, and nor is UK media. One website indicates the reports are based on a rumour from earlier this week that turned out to be a hoax.

The prince opened a new stand at Lord's cricket ground earlier today, New Zealand time.

In its earlier report, the Daily Mail said even the Queen's longest-serving staff were left in the dark about why the meeting was being called but multiple sources said it was "highly unusual" and had sparked fevered talk about an imminent announcement concerning the monarch or her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Sources insisted that the Lord Chamberlain does call meetings of household staff from time to time and said it would be wrong to speculate further.

The Queen has just returned to her London residence following her extended Easter break at Windsor.

She turned 91 last month while her husband, Prince Philip, will celebrate his 96th birthday in June.

In recent years the Queen has, slowly but surely, been handing over a number of her more onerous duties including all those involving long-haul travel and many of her regular investitures.

Last year Buckingham Palace also announced that she would step down as patron of around 25 national organisations, including the NSPCC and Wimbledon tennis, after she turned 90 in April and in favour of younger members of her family.