No 10 has apologised to Buckingham Palace for two parties that took place in Downing Street on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral last year, Boris Johnson’s spokesperson has said. The Daily Telegraph reported that two separate leaving parties, for the former director of communications James Slack and a government photographer, were held on 16 April, with drinking continuing into the early hours. The prime minister’s spokesperson said: “It’s deeply regrettable that this took place at a national mourning, and No 10 has apologised to the Palace for that.”