Londoners have gathered in their thousands to mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II as the capital’s landmarks dimmed their lights and black cab drivers formed a convoy in impromptu marks of respect to the monarch.
On Thursday evening, after the news of the Queen’s death was announced at 6.30pm, people hugged and kissed in the rain under a huge projection of the smiling monarch in Piccadilly Circus.
Gun salutes took place in Hyde Park and the Tower of London and a memorial, to be attended by new Prime Minister Liz Truss, will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday night.
The first of 96 rounds reverberated across the royal park as a blank was fired in the direction of Buckingham Palace.
Bells will be rung at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Windsor Castle. Churches have been urged to toll their bells in England at midday.
Iconic landmarks like the BT Tower all beamed messages and pictures mourning the loss of Britain’s longest reigning monarch.
Bulletins announcing the tragic death of the Queen suddenly appeared on advertising hoardings on the side of London roads and bus stops.
Wellwishers broke out in an impromptu mass sing-a-long of the new national anthem honouring King Charles III as they gathered to pay their respects outside Buckingham Palace.
There was total silence outside Buckingham Palace as the news broke, and then the crowds broke into song: God Save the King. pic.twitter.com/6kCUNSLw68
— Anna Stewart (@annastewartcnn) September 8, 2022
Black cab drivers lined The Mall last night in a fitting tribute to their “London girl”
Michael Ackerman, a cab driver for 26 years, said they 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.
“There would have been a lot more cab drivers here but they’ve closed the road, so no more can get here.”
Mr Ackerman said: “We’re both from London. Liz is a London girl ... she’s one of your own, she’s one of ours.”
Cab drivers performed a similar ovation when Prince Philip died in 2021.
Thousands are also flocking to the gates of Buckingham Palace to pay tribute.
A large Union flag in tones of black and grey has been pinned to the right flank of the gates and thousands of bouquets of flowers are beginning to pile up.
The black clouds broke and a rainbow appeared over Buckingham Palace and The London Eye moments after the announcement of her passing.
The London Eye said it would be dimming its lights from sunset in honour of the Queen with the Eiffel Tower in Paris following suit.
Theatres across the UK and other landmarks are set to switch off their lights as a mark of respect.
A statement from the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre said they were “deeply saddened” by news of the Queen’s death.
While other sights around the world dimmed their lights, New York’s Empire State Building glowed in regal purple.
Organisers of the weekend’s sporting events are to be left to decide whether to postpone their schedules in the wake of the death of Her Majesty the Queen.
Rail and postal worker strikes due to take place next week have been suspended as a mark of respect to Queen Elizabeth II.
On Friday, King Charles and Queen Camilla will return to London after spending the night at Balmoral.
He will hold his first audience with Prime Minister Liz Truss and is expected to make a statement in the evening.
Charles automatically succeeded his mother as the nation’s monarch upon her passing, but he will not be formally proclaimed King until an Accession Council is held at St James’s Palace on Saturday.
