Sussex bereavement service seeing more clients since the Queen's death
Charity Cruse, which has branches in Brighton and Pulborough, says it's seeing more people come forward
Many people in Sussex and across the country are finding ways to cope with the Queen's death.
The National bereavement charity Cruse, with branches in Brighton and Pulborugh, has seen an increase in people asking for help.
Cruse is the UK's leading bereavement charity - offering support through their website, national helpline, live chat, group, zoom, telephone or one-to-one in-person support.
And they have a specially trained dedicated team of 4,000 bereavement volunteers.
They told us the Queen's death could be making people come to terms with other deaths they have experienced in the past few years.
We spoke to bereavement support worker Sue Gill who told us why so many are grieving Queen Elizabeth the Second.
"Everybody is feeling the same as if their own Mum or their own Grandma died.
"She feels that sort of person to us because she's been with us all our lives. And so, we feel we know her in lots of ways.
"We're used to seeing her, and now not seeing her around and not knowing she's around feeling very strange for everybody.
"It will stir memories over the next few days... it takes a while for people to realise why they're feeling sad
"I think in lots of ways it surprised people that they are feeling this way.
"They're surprised that they're feeling emotional.
"It's bringing back memories of their own deaths within their own families and the fact the queen has died is bringing back memories and just feeling of general sadness.
"And I think there is an air of sadness around (now) that she has died."
Grief affects everyone differently
She added: "For a long time after someone has just died, you keep thinking 'oh I must tell' and you think, 'no I can't tell them that' because they have died.
"It takes a long time for it to sink in. It's usually about 6-8 months before it sinks home.
"Everybody will be feeling what they are feeling and it's okay to feel whatever you are feeling.
"It's okay because everyone is different and everybody is thinking different things... there should be no guilt."
How to cope with grief
Sue told us it is helpful to talk to other people about how you are feeling: "We listen and often people find their own way of dealing with things when they talk it out.
"Everybody is different, so everybody's grief is different... and gradually they start to come to terms (with it) and they gradually start being used to this new life without the person they loved in it."
She also told us the death of Queen Elizabeth II is a shared experience, although people might have different feelings towards it, knowing others are going through it can be helpful.
"I think people are talking about it, the need to be with other people is great.
"We need to talk about her, or even talk about our own deaths. We don't want to be on our own throughout all this.
"We're all going through this great step change together, we're all learning to say King Charles and not Prince Charles.
"We're all learning to say, Prince of Wales, meaning Prince William and all that sort of thing as well.
"It is a big change for all of us, but because we're doing it together that will make it a lot easier certainly."
Queen Elizabeth II through the years
Prince Albert and Lady Elizabeth with the new born Princess Elizabeth
Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) was born on 21st April 1926 in Mayfair, London.
Queen Elizabeth II as a baby
In October 1926 this rare photo of the young Princess Elizabeth was released.
The Queen has been a fan of corgis from an early age
Princess Elizabeth walking a Corgi in London's Hyde Park.
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Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret gave a radio broadcast
On 10th October 1940 Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret made a broadcast to the children of the Empire during World War II.
Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh on their wedding day
Princess Elizabeth, and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh on their wedding day, 20th November 1947.
Princess Elizabeth poses with her newborn Prince Charles
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The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
The newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth II waves to the crowd from the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne stood with her. The coronation took place on 2nd June 1953.
Queen Elizabeth II presents the Jules Rimet trophy to Bobby Moore
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Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Silver Jubilee
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In 2007, the Queen became the UK longest reigning monarch
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Queen Elizabeth II greets schoolchildren in Victoria Square during her Diamond Jubilee visit to Birmingham in 2012.
The Queen celebrated her 90th birthday in 2016
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The lunch was part of a weekend of celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday and 63-year reign.
Sapphire Jubilee celebrations in 2017
In 2017, the Queen became the first monarch to celebrate their Sapphire Jubilee. It was marked by a 62 round royal gun salute from the Gun Wharf outside the Tower of London with Tower Bridge.
Prince Philip dies aged 99
After more than 70 years of marriage together, Prince Philip sadly passed away in April 2021. The Queen attended his funeral at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, and had to social distance due to Covid-19 restrictions which were in place at the time.
Queen Elizabeth celebrates Platinum Jubilee
To celebrate her 70 years on the throne, Platinum Jubilee celebrations took place in June 2022. The celebrations included a Platinum Party at the Palace show on 4th June, festivals, as well as street parties over the long weekend. The celebration is extra special as Her Majesty was the longest reigning British monarch and is the only one to have ever celebrated a Platinum Jubilee.
Queen Elizabeth sadly passed away on September 8th 2022 in Balmoral Castle. Royal Family members such as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as well as Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex reportedly travelled to Balmoral after Queen was placed under medical supervision earlier that day. Her funeral is due to take place on September 19th.