Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, 1921-2021

His Royal Highness visited the ground to open the Indoor Cricket Centre in the 1990s and returned in 2011 to perform the official opening of the brand new South Stand.

He also met the Bears players and management at Buckingham Palace on several occasions due to the tradition of the county champions travelling to the palace for a reception with him shortly after their triumphant season.

Warwickshire cricket operations manager Keith Cook met the Duke of Edinburgh on several occasions, mostly recently at the Palace after the Bears won the title in 2012.

"We went down to Buckingham Palace, in accordance with tradition, and it was clear that he really loved his cricket," said Cook. "He knew who the players were and asked them good questions.

"Whenever he came to Edgbaston he was always very interested in what was going on at Warwickshire. When he came to perform the official opening of the South Stand, I remember him going round with Ashley Giles and Colin Povey and asking a lot of well-informed questions.

"He was a true cricket-lover who knew the game and was always a very welcome visitor to Edgbaston."

During the morning's play of the Bears' championship match against Derbyshire at Edgbaston today, the flags were lowered to half-mast. A two-minute silence was held after the lunch break and players and officials wore black armbands.