NATION IN MOURNING
Queen’s loyal public gather outside Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Balmoral to mourn passing of beloved Monarch
HUGE crowds are gathering outside Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Balmoral as the Queen's loyal public come together to mourn her passing.
Mourners began converging at Buckingham Palace around 5pm as concerns about the monarch’s health began to mount and swelled after the sad news of her death emerged.
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The flag at the palace was lowered to half-mast at 6.30pm as the news was announced.
As the news of Queen's death was announced, many among the hundreds of people were gathered outside the gates began crying.
By night time there was a sea of people outside Buckingham Palace as the thousands braved the heavy rain to pay their respects.
Spontaneous chants of "long live the King" from the crowd could be heard as they ushered in the new monarch, King Charles.
As darkness fell, the Palace lights were turned on and beamed its front facade, leading to applause and cheers.
Earlier, just as the news was announced a rainbow appeared in the sky above Buckingham Palace as the sun briefly emerged after an afternoon of rain.
After a brief silence, those gathered began singing 'God Save the Queen'.
Among those gathered was John Loughrey, 67, who wept as he said he "can't believe" the news and paid tribute to the "inspirational" Queen whose "duty always came first".
"I met the Queen twice. I gave flowers to her. I can't believe it," he said.
"She was inspirational. She served her duty - her duty always came first, her family next.
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"She went downhill after the Duke of Edinburgh died. God save the Queen."
Mr Loughrey said he would be camping near the palace for 10 days as a mark of respect for the Queen before lighting a candle for her at Westminster Abbey.
London's cabbies later lined their iconic black vehicles on The Mall in their moving tribute to the monarch.
Michael Ackerman, a cab driver for 26 years, and friend Robert Caulder, who has driven a cab for 10 years were among them.
Mr Ackerman said that cab drivers had come to the Palace to "show our respect" for the monarch.
"We now know the Queen's passed, the only woman we've ever known, our constant in both our lives and we're showing our respect," he said.
The Queen's passing comes as...
- Liz Truss hailed the Queen as ‘the rock on which modern Britain was built’
- King Charles told of his 'greatest' sadness as he paid tribute to his mother
- The Queen went from a shy daddy's girl to a hero who dedicated her life to the country
- The Union flag flew at half mast as the devastating news was announced
- Prince Charles has now become King Charles III
- Prince Harry was pictured holding his head as he travelled to Balmoral to be with his family
Mr Caulder was one of the first cab drivers to arrive at the Mall, at around 6.50pm.
He heard the news on the radio as he was driving his taxi on Tottenham Court Road and said he "made a beeline" to the Palace.
A crowd also began to swell outside Windsor Castle, where a Union flag fluttering from one of the towers has been lowered to half-mast.
Mourners also converged on Balmoral, where Her Majesty died surrounded by members of the Royal Family.
Sheila De Bellaigue, 77 from London, expressed the view of many gathered at the Palace.
"I'm feeling very sad as everybody is here. She's been a wonderful Queen and will be very much missed."
Michael Hammond learned of the news when he saw the Union Flag being lowered to half mast.
"I'm absolutely gutted. I thought she embodied the British spirit," said the 23-year-old from Southampton.
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Romy McCarthy, 20, said she was deeply affected by the Queen's death as she laid flowers in tribute outside Buckingham Palace.
Carrying a bouquet of white and purple flowers, she described the Queen as "iconic" and an important figure in power for women to look up to.
"As a young person, this is a really huge moment," she said.
"It's admirable that she served til the very end. It's someone who lived through so much and she has been a rock.
"It's something I'll always remember. I've had a lot of friends who cried today."
Floral tributes have started to be laid outside Windsor Castle to mourn the death of the Queen.
The crowds outside were so big that staff members returning to the castle struggled to drive through the main entrance.
Royal fans and mourners can pay their respects to the late Queen while she’s lying in state at the Palace of Westminster for three days.
The Queen’s body is expected to arrive in London by royal train after she passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022.
In a sombre statement, Buckingham Palace today confirmed Her Majesty Elizabeth II, the longest-serving monarch in British history, had passed away - making her son, Charles, King.
Her passing comes after King Charles and Prince William raced to be by the Queen’s side after doctors confirmed they were “concerned” for her health.
Plans for her funeral and a national day of remembrance to be announced in the coming days.
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Charles, who will now be known as King Charles III, gave a sombre statement as he led the nation in mourning tonight.
The new King said: “The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.
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