Revellers have been blasted for showing “disrespect” by climbing on Queen Victoria’s memorial outside Buckingham Palace as people came to mourn the passing of the monarch.
Thousands have been paying their respects outside the gates of Buckingham Palace after the news broke on Thursday evening that the Queen had died.
There were many tears amidst the sombre mood and some people laid flowers after flocking to the Palace despite the showers.
At one point people broke into a rendition of ‘God Save the Queen’ and there were many rounds of applause for the UK’s longest serving monarch who died at Balmoral.
Many tourists were amongst the crowds and the global media channels filming the events represented the impact that the Queen had around the world.
Nabeel Dockrat, 26, a tourist from South Africa, said: "It felt like history in the making, so we rushed over to the palace. Quite something for a holiday."
"It's one of those days like 'where were you when JFK was shot? Where were you on 9/11?'," said Laura McGee, 37, a solicitor from Glasgow.
But amongst the mourners there was some trouble with police forced to remove people who had climbed on a memorial to Queen Elizabeth with one heard shouting and singing while another was on his mobile phone.
A police woman could be heard saying: “Do you want to come down before you get nicked.”
One man on the statue repeatedly shouted: “Calm down, calm down,” before screaming “we love the Queen.”
Many people slammed those climbing on the statue telling them to show "respect" on social media.
One person tweeted: "I saw them up there earlier and was horrified."
Another wrote: "They are using a sad day to misbehave. Embarrassing. What a fine example of mourning in the UK 2022.."
But the vast majority of people were peaceful and there to offer their respects while police closed roads around Buckingham Palace due to the large crowds.
Flowers were also left at the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk and outside Windsor Castle.
At 6.30pm on Thursday night, Buckingham Palace announced the Queen's death, saying in a statement: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
"The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."
Charles, who became King on the death of his mother, said: "The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.
"We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.
"During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held."
