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Princes William and Harry have paid tribute to their grandfather Prince Philip's devotion to service and sense of humour while insisting he'd simply want everyone to "get on with it".

The late Prince's grandsons broke their silence in statements released within minutes of each other on Monday (Tuesday morning AEST), three days after the Duke of Edinburgh's death on Friday, aged 99.

Prince Harry described his grandfather as "a man of service, honour and great humour".

READ MORE: Prince Harry lands in London for grandfather Prince Philip's funeral

"He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm — and also because you never knew what he might say next," the Prince said.

"He will be remembered as the longest-reigning consort to the Monarch, a decorated serviceman, a Prince and a Duke. 

"But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right 'til the end.

"He has been a rock for Her Majesty The Queen with unparalleled devotion, by her side for 73 years of marriage, and while I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, 'Oh do get on with it!'"

READ MORE: Gun salute honours Prince Philip at Parliament House

Prince William also hit on the concept of service in his ode to Queen Elizabeth II's late husband": service "to his country and Commonwealth, to his wife and Queen, and to our family."

"I feel lucky to have not just had his example to guide me, but his enduring presence well into my own adult life — both through good times and the hardest days," he said.

"I will always be grateful that my wife had so many years to get to know my grandfather and for the kindness he showed her. 

"I will never take for granted the special memories my children will always have of their great-grandpa coming to collect them in his carriage and seeing for themselves his infectious sense of adventure as well as his mischievous sense of humour!

READ MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle post a simple tribute to Prince Philip

READ MORE: Morrison among hundreds at Sydney service to honour Prince Philip

Prince William said Prince Philip was "an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation". 

"Catherine and will continue to do what he would have wanted and will support The Queen in the years ahead," he said. 

"I will miss my grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job."

Prince Harry finished by thanking his grandfather for his service, "dedication to Granny" and for always being himself.

"You will be sorely missed, but always remembered — by the nation and the world," he said. "Meghan, Archie, and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always hold a special place for you in our hearts."

The Prince's are two of Prince Philip's eight grandchildren.

Meghan Markle, who is pregnant, will not be attending the funeral with Prince Harry after her doctors advised her not to travel.

The Queen announced she would enter an eight-day period of mourning following the death of her husband on April 9.

Prince Philip's coffin is resting in the private chapel at Windsor Castle, where it will remain until the day of the funeral.

The Duke of Edinburgh took part in planning his funeral and its focus on family was in accordance with his wishes.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions in the UK, only 30 people will be able to attend.

An Adelaide couple has told of their anguish as their seven-year-old daughter waited more than eight hours for emergency surgery at the Women's and Children's Hospital.

The girl became critically ill as her appendix burst during the delay.

"She was in so much pain and we couldn't do anything," the girl's mother, Annabelle Oates, said.

"I was just holding onto Audrey's hand and just trying to get her through it."

9News understands the child was diagnosed with appendicitis last month.

The family were told to take her to the Women's and Children's Hospital.

When the family arrived at the hospital at 3pm, they said they waited three hours for the first examination by a nurse, then another three hours before they left the waiting room to see a doctor.

By 9.30pm surgery was ordered and Audrey was left waiting in the emergency department.

It was during this wait, at about 10pm, that her appendix ruptured. She was not taken to surgery until 11.30pm.

"There were lots of parents who just walked away, there were kids with head injuries who weren't even seen by the emergency department because everything was so busy," Ms Oates said.

Audrey is recovering from her ordeal. Her parents made the decision to take her story public to support the call for better resources for the hospital.

9News has been told both senior doctors and Premier Steven Marshall have apologised to the Oates family for what they experienced.

An investigation into the incident is underway.

"The important thing to say in this case is that we acknowledge that there was a delay in assessing this child and we're sorry to the family. We have been in contact with the family to say that," Dr James Rice from the Women's and Children's Hospital said.

Mr Marshall said the state government is expanding the paediatric services at the Lyell McEwin Hospital and at the Flinders Medical Centre.

A drunk Mercedes driver who hit and killed a grandfather in Melbourne has been jailed for four years.

Stephen Papagelou sat and sobbed in the County Court while hearing his fate for killing 73-year-old Henry Ekselman while he was crossing Chapel Street in Prahran.

Papagelou was drunk behind the wheel when he sped around the car in front to catch up with friends travelling in another vehicle.

That's when Papagelou struck Mr Ekselman, who later died in hospital.

Papagelou, 29, was supported in court by his family.

During sentencing, he appeared remorseful and was extremely emotional.

Papagelou was handed a non-parole period of two years.

He has no prior convictions, which the judge took into consideration during sentencing.

The Ekselman family released a statement following the verdict.

"Dad was vibrant, health and full of life," the statement said.

"A loving and caring father, grandfather, stepfather and husband. We miss him every day."

Devastated residents are returning to assess the damage done to their homes and businesses after ex-Cyclone Seroja caused "widespread and severe" damage to Western Australia.

Premier Mark McGowan said he was "heartbroken" by the significant destruction caused by Seroja, which wreaked havoc on the coast just south of Kalbarri where a staggering 70 per cent of homes were damaged.

Some traders in the tourist town, located seven hours north of Perth, fear they will never be able to reopen after flash flooding and winds hitting speeds of 120km/h swept roofs off houses, downed trees and tore down powerlines.

READ MORE: More than 20,000 without power as cyclone lashes WA

One in five homes no longer have a roof, with residents caught up in the madness forced to shelter in anyway they could.

Some huddled in bathtubs while others hid in pantries or toilets.

Miraculously, nobody was injured.

Mr McGowan said the biggest threat had now passed, and attention had started to shift to recovery efforts, which will be bolstered by the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

"Emergency crews have been working through the day to assess damage and restore power, it is too early to provide a complete picture of the total damage," Mr McGowan said.

"Western Australians are thinking of those people affected, we are all with you, ready to help in any way we can, the next few days however will be very tough and difficult."

The cyclone made landfall further south than usual, and was later downgraded.

But not before it smashed both homes and businesses.

Kalbarri resident Steve Wiseman said his, "kitchen is still standing – but not much else."

"I've seen cyclones before but this was a real hummer," he Mr Wiseman said.

Jetties were plunged underwater, beach shacks were decimated and some parts of people's houses ended up in other homes.

More than 167 millimetres of rain fell over the region in 12 hours, causing localised flash flooding.

The storm was so strong it even pulled screws out of street signs according to one man who filmed the wild winds.

Locals who rely on tourism are now facing a tough time, especially after a year of border closures.

Wayne Forrest owns an IGA and said his store is a " a complete mess."

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"It just looks like a bombs gone off. Whole place is wrecked," he said.

Kat Deadman from Kalbarri Boat Hire was in tears as she saw her business.

Her demountable was scuttered into the main street, and her boats were scattered.

"Not much is left," Ms Deadman said.

Not even the tables or chairs survived the cyclone at Black Rock Cafe.

Owner Kevin Dawson said the damage was so severe that he probably won't reopen.

"Total destruction," Mr Dawson said.

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A severe weather warning previously in place in the state's south-east was cancelled earlier today after the ex-Cyclone Seroja was downgraded to a tropical low.

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, said a C-130J Hercules aircraft will be sent for medical evacuations, and to transport emergency services personnel and supplies including food, water and generators.

He said soldiers could also be sent to help with the clean-up.

Houses flattened

Nine reporter Darius Winterfield, who was in Kalbarri during the storm, detailed how the roof on his balcony was torn away, and that some residences had been "smashed flat".

"Water is flooding in through the windows and the main roof is rattling very loudly… we've lost power and have little phone reception, we are considering options if the roof goes," Mr Winterfield said.

Mr Winterfield said the resort town looked like "a bomb had gone off".

"The trail of destruction is widespread," he said.

"Almost everywhere you look, it seems as though no structure has been saved from the wrath of Tropical Cyclone Seroja."

"So scary hiding under mattresses with my wife n 2 (sic) boys" was how Joel McIntyre described his experience on the Kalbarri Info Noticeboard on Facebook.

"In Northampton and have some one's roof against back shade house wall," said another post by Helene Parker.

https://twitter.com/9NewsPerth/status/1381472163883053060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

One 9News viewer sent images of her grandparents' house, with the roof ripped off and other extensive damage.

In Geraldton, 500 kilometres north of Perth, tens of thousands of people lost power, with winds hitting 150km and hour.

However, Nine reporter Mia Egerton-Warburton said the town had not been hit has hard as Karlbarri.

The system's fast movement across Western Australia allowed tropical cyclone impacts to extend well inland.

Southern Cross had recorded a wind gust of 93km/hr by 4.30am (AWST) today.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has declared an all-clear for Geraldton, with the only warning still in place for the Northampton area.

People in red alert areas are asked to stay in their homes until the all-clear comes from the DFES.

Little penguins have washed up on beaches in Victoria after severe weather conditions over the weekend.

Authorities were alerted to multiple cases of the small birds being injured yesterday.

Melbourne Zoo's Marine Response Unit was able to rescue 13 penguins, but sadly six have since died.

READ MORE: Woman allegedly threatened at knifepoint in terrifying Melbourne carjacking

Phillip Island Nature Parks took five underweight penguin chicks into their care and are continuing to look after them.

Phillip Island Nature Parks Research Technical Officer, Paula Wasiak, said that, while it was distressing to see fledgling chicks in distress, this is a normal occurrence at this time of year.

"The weekend was the perfect storm of the great breeding season producing more chicks out at sea than normal, and wild weather," Ms Wasiak said.

READ MORE: Homes in ex-Cyclone Seroja's destructive path 'smashed flat'

"Only 18 per cent of chicks survive their first year of life, with starvation being the main cause of death as they are not taught by their parents to feed."

Dr Peter Dann, Nature Parks Research Director has been monitoring the population for over 30 years.

"Little penguins are quite vulnerable in their first year. When they fledge at eight to eleven weeks old they are on their own and that inexperience can often result in mortality," said Dr Dann said.

READ MORE: Ben Roberts-Smith responds to new 60 Minutes allegations

"The good news for the Phillip Island population is that breeding success is up. Long-term data indicates, on average, 0.95 chicks successfully fledge per breeding pair."

Victoria's weekend of wild weather saw huge snowfall across mountains in the Alpine region and enormous swells batter the south coast.

The Spirit of Tasmania battled against the waves, footage showing the ferry almost completely engulfed by the Bass Strait.

Waves up to 15 metres high were recorded in the west of Tasmania.

READ MORE: Coldest morning of 2021 in Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra

Miriam Bradbury from the Bureau of Meteorology said such substantial swells at this time of year was unusual.

"The last time we saw swells this high through western Bass Strait was around 2011," Ms Bradbury said.

Anyone who sees a Little Penguin washed up or in distress is asked to call Melbourne Zoo's Marine Response Unit on 1300 245 678.

A family are furious after calling a funeral home to find out what time their grandmother was being cremated – only to be told it had already been done.The grieving family were then called back to say she hadn’t actually been cremated…

The extortion trial of former reality TV show contestant Suzi Taylor has been forced to restart, with the jury dismissed after a barrister being rushed to hospital.

The man defending Ms Taylor's co-accused Ali Ebrahimi, Barrister Peter Nolan, took a tumble on the road outside Brisbane court today, injuring his knee.

The bike lane Mr Nolan was in had to be closed for over 45 minutes before paramedics arrived – taking him to Saint Andrews Hospital in a stable condition.

READ MORE: Australia passes 1.1m vaccines

Ms Taylor and Mr Ebrahimi are charged over accusations of holding a man against his will, extorting him, assaulting and attempting to defraud him.

The trial will resume when the lawyer is fit enough to attend court, potentially coming as soon as tomorrow.

When the trial does restart, it is expected to go for four days.

The family of slain police officer Brett Forte broke down as they saw footage of the moments leading up to his death played in court.

Gunman Rick Maddison was seen unloading a magazine of bullets into the police car on May 27 2017 in footage played to the Toowoomba court today – the first day of an inquest into Senior Constable Forte's death .

Mr Forte's wife, father and mother were inside the courtroom and were all forced to relive the moment their world changed.

READ MORE: Worker threatened with knife during second armed robbery of service station in a week

The dashcam video and radio calls from the day show police pursuing the wanted man before eventually heading down a dirt road outside Toowoomba.

Maddison got out of his vehicle before he used an automatic weapon to open fire into officer Mr Forte's squad car, even reloading his gun at one point.

The harrowing police radio recording then picked up Mr Forte's partner yelling, "we're sitting ducks".

"Urgent, gunfire, urgent, gunfire," another officer said.

Bleeding out, Senior Constable Forte managed to back the vehicle away – rolling down an embankment to get his partner to safety.

It was his final heroic act. Two minutes later, the two bullet wounds he sustained killed him.

Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers had difficulty watching the graphic footage.

"It was extremely difficult and confronting watching the dashcam video where we saw the final moments of Brett's life," Mr Leavers said.

A 20-hour siege followed Mr Forte's death. Maddison was shot dead by a heavily armed response team.

Those specialist officers will be among 30 witnesses called upon to give evidence throughout the two-week inquest.

Inspecting Officer, Detective Senior Sergeant Fiona Hinshelwood, defended the pursuit of Maddison.

Mr Forte's widow's solicitor demanded to know why police were not told there was a chance Maddison was heavily armed, particularly given he had a history of violence and weapon possession.

In talking to Maddison's violent tendencies, police said Maddison had poured petrol ona woman and brandished a pirate-like weapon in another domestic-violence related incident.