Sombre mood reigns in London, beyond as UK mourns Queen Elizabeth

Mourners gather outside Buckingham Palace in London [Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP]

Britain has begun a 10-day mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II, with bells tolling around the country and 96 gun salutes planned in London – one for each year of the late monarch’s life.

Hundreds of people arrived overnight to leave flowers outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, the monarch’s London home, or simply to pause and reflect.