Mourners from all 4 nations of the UK are paying their respects to the Queen after the demise of the longest-serving British monarch.
A interval of royal mourning can be noticed from now till seven days after the Queen‘s funeral – to be held on a date to be confirmed – in accordance with the desires of the brand new King.
King Charles is because of tackle the nation at 6pm this night as a part of a service of prayer and reflection at St Paul’s Cathedral, the place seats can be out there for as much as 2,000 members of the general public.
Live updates: Tears, cheers and a kiss for the brand new King
Prime Minister Liz Truss is main MPs previous and current in paying tribute to Her Majesty on the House of Commons this afternoon.
Flags at royal residences have been positioned at half-mast on Thursday and can stay so till 8am on the ultimate day of mourning, a sentiment echoed at many public and authorities buildings.
Here, Sky News appears at what’s being performed to honour the Queen throughout the UK.
England
Royal gun salutes have been fired at Hyde Park, the Tower of London and Stonehenge at 1pm on Friday, with one spherical fired for yearly of the Queen’s 96-year life.
There can be no bodily books for mourners to write down in at any royal residences – with a web-based model on the official Royal Family and Church of England web sites.
However, guests can signal condolence books at cathedrals in Guildford, Wakefield and Birmingham, the place Sky’s Lisa Dowd spoke to guests.
Jacqui Francis, 60, was the primary particular person to signal a e-book of condolence on the metropolis’s Hall of Memory.
“I came on behalf of my mother who is originally from Jamaica and lives in America now,” she stated.
“She would have been first in the queue as the Queen was part of the backdrop to her life.
“I got here for myself to supply my condolences because the nation mourns. The Queen is baked into this nation, the cash, the stamps, it is going to all change, what an iconic reign.”
An exhibition of images showing the Queen’s visits to the region will also be on display at Birmingham Library.
Read more:
What changes with the Queen’s death – and when?
Photographer reveals story behind Queen’s last public picture
At a wreath laying ceremony, the mayor of the West Midlands and former managing director of John Lewis, Andy Street, recalled assembly the Queen.
“What struck me, when I was running John Lewis, she knew so much about the business, she was so utterly fixed on that and that was her incredible character: to connect. More widely, she somehow brought everyone together, and that unity will be most cherished,” he instructed Sky News.
Authorities in Portsmouth, Derby, Preston, Nottingham, Lancashire, and Leeds are additionally amongst these which have arrange books of condolence for residents to signal.
Thousands of bouquets, private notes and candles have been left on the Queen’s houses, together with Sandringham.
Read extra:
King Charles in footage
The occasions that formed Britain’s new King
Two-year-old Phoenix Child was among the many crowds in Norfolk, clutching a Paddington toy as he laid a bunch of flowers, assisted by his grandmother, Dolores McKenna.
Meanwhile, Hillary-Fay Mellor, who positioned a bouquet, stated the Queen was the identical age as her personal mom, describing her as a “strong, devoted sovereign” and the “glue that held people together”.
Mourners have additionally been laying flowers on the foot of a golden beech tree planted in 2002 by the Queen on the National Memorial Arboretum, residence to the Armed Forces Memorial, in Staffordshire.
“This was a very special place for her, she came here on several occasions and is very much a place where people wish to come, reflect and remember Her Majesty,” arboretum lead, Mark Ellis stated.
Civic buildings can be bathed in purple gentle in Bristol and Leeds – the place church bells chimed at lunchtime.
Meanwhile, in Manchester, promoting boards have been changed with tributes to the Queen.
Wales
Thousands gathered within the pouring rain contained in the grounds of Cardiff Castle for the 96-shot gun salute, fired by the 104 Regiment (Newport) of the Royal Artillery.
Sky’s Dan Whitehead met individuals among the many crowds, together with Welsh sisters Jennifer Thomas, Janice Hughes and Jaqueline McCall.
They keep in mind Her Majesty’s coronation.
“I was heartbroken. I had such admiration for her, I thought she was a wonderful person who lived up to her word,” Jennifer stated.
Janice met the Queen when she visited the small Welsh mining village of Aberfan, following the coal tip catastrophe that killed 116 youngsters and 28 adults in 1966.
“I remember seeing her getting out of the car and thinking how small and pretty she was,” she stated.
“I am devastated. It’s a sad time and an end of an era.”
The lord mayor of Cardiff was amongst leaders who opened a condolence e-book on the metropolis corridor this afternoon, with floral tributes laid on the garden both aspect of the primary entrance.
Scotland
Several hundred individuals collected on the gates of Balmoral, however there wasn’t a noise to match their quantity, Sky News’ James Matthews stories.
This was an meeting to point out respect and gratitude, quietly. Theirs was a solemnity and sorrow with out, essentially, any sense of shock.
They travelled from close to and much, many to put tributes in flower on the gates of the royal property.
“Thank you Your Majesty our gracious lady,” was written on one card, whereas one other learn “Many thanks for your love and devotion to our country.”
Elsewhere, two-year-old Elizabeth Ewan, who was named after the Queen, left flowers on the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh.
Her father, Samuel Ewan, stated: “This is Elizabeth, she’s named after her granny and after our Queen.”
He stated he was “very sad” however “also really grateful for the last 70 years”.
Sky News correspondent Adele Robinson spoke to the Reverend Ruth Halley at Greyfriars Kirk, within the coronary heart of the Scottish capital, the place the general public have been invited to take a quiet second of reflection.
The church had a “steady stream” of tourists signing a e-book of condolences on Friday, with one message praising the Queen’s “grace, compassion, and understanding” and thanking her for her “life of service lived fully”.
Northern Ireland
The safety screening required to method the royal residence in Northern Ireland didn’t deter individuals from paying their respects, Sky News’ David Blevins stories.
Men, ladies, and youngsters got here to depart flowers on the gates of Hillsborough Castle at Royal Hillsborough in County Down.
Fighting again tears, one girl stated: “What a woman she was. What a life she had. It’s so, so sad.
“It would not matter what faith you might be, what color you might be, thousands and thousands of individuals all over the world are in the identical state as me as we speak.”
One man and his daughter, grieving the recent passing of their own mother and grandmother, said: “We really feel like we have misplaced one other member of the household.”
Several commented on the significant contribution the Queen made to efforts for a lasting peace in Northern Ireland.
“The bond between Britain and Ireland has been tough,” one man said, “however she had her half to play.”
Flowers were also placed at the Queen Elizabeth mural in Belfast, with a gun salute taking place at Hillsborough Castle in the city.
Tonight at 8pm on Sky News: Watch the documentary Elizabeth II: A life of duty with Mark Austin, a look back at the extraordinary life of Britain’s longest reigning monarch
Source: information.sky.com”