A royal 'super fan' is camping for 10 days outside Buckingham Palace to pay his final respects to Queen Elizabeth II. John Loughrey, 67, who is in a red tent and wearing his favourite hat full of royal badges, has been a loyal royalist since he was a child, meeting the Queen and the Royal family on many occasions.
Mr Loughrey said: “The atmosphere here is very sad. I am in shock. I caught my breath when I found out the news, I thought she was going to live until 100. I wanted to camp out as I wanted to be here, not just watching it at home on my TV. I want to be with the people and the flowers in this atmosphere.
“There is so much sadness on people’s faces. All morning people have been bringing flowers and sharing experiences about what the Queen has done for their life.
“When I was around seven years old my mum used to always read magazines about members of the royal family and I really fell in love with them. When I was at school I always stood up for the national anthem in assembly and loved following the family and the Queen.
“I have always been there for them. I think I am an old spirit. In a past life I think I was very close to the family in some way as I have such a big connection to them. I think Charles will be a great King because he has been taught what to do from a very young age and has been taught well by his mother the Queen. He knows the ins and outs of what to do.
“And he has Camilla who will be a great Queen Consort by his side, which he will need because it is not easy doing it on your own. I have met the Queen multiple times. One time I dressed up as a King and gave her flowers for her and all her family.
“Her legacy is that duty came first. I will always remember her as an amazing carer for her country as well as her family. At least she can now be reunited with her husband. He had a great sense of humour and uplifted the queen. He was her rock and I am happy they can be together again.
“She never put a foot wrong and she is loved by everyone around the globe. We’re not mourning on our own, the whole world is.
“I am really going to miss her Christmas speech. That has really got to me.
“I have lots of badges that I wear on my hat and I had one that said ‘God save the Queen’ but it broke when I went to wear it today."
Mr Loughrey has stood by the Royal family through happy and sad times, attending every day of the inquest into Princess Diana’s death. He has also waited outside hospitals for hours on end after royal babies have been born, and now he is standing right by them again, camping outside the Palace.
Mr Loughrey said: “I would love one day to write a book about all my experiences.” He added: “She is my favourite monarch of all time.”
You can leave your tribute to The Queen here
