Flowers, tributes and books of condolence: The UK mourns Queen Elizabeth II

Books of condolence have opened and Parliament pays tribute

Author: Chris MaskeryPublished 9th Sep 2022
Last updated 12th Sep 2022

Flowers are being left at Royal Castles and Palaces across the country as the UK pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following her death at Balmoral yesterday.

A number of events are taking place today to remember the Queen.

Today, politicians are paying tribute to Her Majesty in parliament; and up and down the country books of condolences have been opened so people can share how they are feeling.

Royal salutes are being fired in London on Friday at 1pm in Hyde Park by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company, with one round being fired for each year of the Queen’s life.

Flags at royal residences were at half mast on Thursday and will remain half-masted until 8am on the morning after the final day of royal mourning.

The nation’s new monarch King Charles III has said a period of “Royal Mourning” for the Queen will be observed from now until seven days after her funeral. The date of the Funeral will be confirmed in due course.

Tributes being paid to Queen Elizabeth II

Tributes continue to be paid to the woman described by the prime minister as the “rock on which modern Britain was built”, with the Dalai Lama expressing his “deep sadness” over the death of the Queen in a letter to King Charles III.

He told the King: “Her reign, as Britain’s longest-serving monarch, represented celebration, inspiration and a reassuring sense of continuity for so many people alive today.

“Your mother lived a meaningful life with dignity, grace, a strong sense of service and a warm heart, qualities we all should treasure.”

Thousands of people lay flowers in memory of the Queen

The Queen’s former homes of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Balmoral continue to attract thousands of people wanting to pay their respects to the late monarch.

Here are some of the scenes form around the country as people pay their respects to the UK's longest serving monarch.

Flowers are being laid outside many of the Queen's homes, following her death. Here a family lay flowers outside Windsor Castle in Berkshire, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II

Crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace the evening after the news of the Queen's death was made public.

Mourners gather at Buckingham Palace placing flowers and paying their respect

Messages on the flowers included this 'Forever our Queen' message

Even the gates of Buckingham palace were adorned with flowers

Books of condolence have been set up in many places across the UK, including this one at Liverpool Cathedral

Birmingham Cathedral also had a space for remembrance

People were queuing to sign the book of condolence in Birmingham

Flowers at the gates of Balmoral in Scotland

Brighton UK 9th September 2022 - A tribute to The Queen at a bus stop in Brighton today after her death at the age of 96 was announced yesterday .

Floral tributes to Queen Elizabeth II at the gate of Buckingham Palace.
London, England, UK. 9th Sep, 2022.

Newmarket, UK. 9 September, 2022. Floral tributes left in memory to Queen Elizabeth II after her death on 8th September on a bronze statue designed by Etienne Millner, which is situated at the Newmarket Racecourse entrance which was a gift from the town in the year of her 90th birthday. Pictured is Matt Hancock Conservative MP, for West Suffolk, with his floral tribute the Queen.

Mourners make their way along the Long Walk to pay their respects at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Union Flag flies at half mast at the City Chambers in Edinburgh, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

John Houston of the Merchant Navy Association pays his respects at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Floral tributes and messages at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Floral tributes and messages at the gates of Sandringham House on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, following the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Minutes of silence before the game to pay respect after the death of Queen Elizabeth II before the UEFA Europa Conference League match at the London Stadium, London.
London, England, 8th September 2022.

Crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II who died on Thursday 8th September.
London, England, UK. 8th Sep, 2022.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie looks at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland. The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Floral tributes left at the gates of Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland. The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon, Buckingham Palace has announced.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson looks at floral tributes at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland. The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Floral tributes continue to be left outside several locations across the country and the world. Here, on 11th September, at the gates of Buckingham Palace, the crowds continue to gather and leave flowers and other tributes.

Six-year-old Terezka Cernianska leaves flowers at the gates of Balmoral in Scotland, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Large crowds gather to show their respect along the A90, Forfar, as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is taken to Edinburgh.

Floral tributes left next to a fountain in St James' Park outside Buckingham Palace.

Read More:

Queen Elizabeth II's death: What happens next?

Queen Elizabeth II, a life in pictures

The Queen's 73-year marriage to Prince Philip

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