Downing Street staff held two parties the night before Prince Philip’s funeral – at a time when Covid restrictions banned indoor mixing.

The events, first reported by The Telegraph, took place on 16 April 2021 and went on until the early hours.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was not at either party – but it raises further questions about a culture of rule-breaking at Downing Street.

The PM is facing calls to resign from the opposition and some senior Tories.

He has urged MPs to wait for the outcome of an investigation into lockdown gatherings in government buildings by senior civil servant Sue Gray, which is expected as early as next week.