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The country is now in a period of official mourning with the duke of Edinburgh’s funeral to take place this coming Saturday. Over the last few days people who’ve met him here as well as around the world, have been paying their tributes to a man praised for his service to queen and country. But for the millions who didn’t know him personally, there’s still a sense of loss, a sort of grief which comes with losing someone who like the queen has been a constant presence in our lives. It’s difficult to describe this kind of loss in words but that’s why national symbols matter and can offer consolation - from flags at half mast, to the bell tolls, gun salutes, moments of silence and a myriad of other small changes to daily events. I think we need these symbolic gestures to reflect our collective mourning. They add to the private, the personal and the religious rituals which allow us to be part of something bigger, to share in the ways a country can show its respect and affection. So, despite being advised to stay away, to refrain from laying flowers, people will find their own ways of marking Prince Philip’s death, of saying good bye, because grief always needs a release. And for the royal family, for whom the major events of their lives have almost always been lived under the public gaze, this smaller more private funeral, even though televised, will have a different feel and rhythm, but will perhaps provide an opportunity to simply be with one another, to find solace as a family, to share and reflect on the end of a life and the end of an era. National as well as religious and personal rituals don’t necessarily lessen the grief but they can help with the process of coping. So often they help to mark a beginning and an end of particular times. For Muslims around the world, this week marks the start of Ramadan, a month of relative abstinence and increased prayer and devotion. And in this second Ramadan under Covid restrictions, those fasting will again experience a different rhythm to the month, but the rituals of dawn and dusk, the relative austerity of the day’s fast and the joy of the evening meal will continue as a defining experience for the faithful. As social beings, we struggle when we can’t share our moments of joy and sadness with others especially under current restrictions. But after a year of so much loss, we can come together in spirit in the next few days to show affection, solidarity and respect which may just help us all to heal a little.