It's a historical day today, as King Charles III has been proclaimed the new monarch by the Accession Council. Royal fans have gathered in crowds by St James's Palace in hopes of catching a glimpse of the momentous occasion.
People will no doubt still be flocking to Buckingham Palace as well, to continue to pay their respects to The Queen following her death on Thursday evening. Thousands of people from all walks of life have already been to honour Queen Elizabeth II, leaving floral tributes and handwritten notes in droves outside Buckingham Palace and sharing touching stories of Her Majesty. A number of royal supporters were kind enough to speak to The Mirror, telling us exactly what the Queen meant to them and sharing their thoughts on the new monarch.
For the latest updates as the world mourns the Queen and King Charles III's reign begins, follow our live blog.
Christine Bourne, 66, from Surrey, choked back the tears as she explained that she can’t imagine a life without the Queen.
"She is such a familiar presence in our lives. Everyone is being so kind and willing to be part of what is here - you can feel the mourning and the sadness."
Kemi Pennicott, 30, from London, clutched the bouquet of flowers that she planned to lay at the gates and said: "the Queen was someone I felt the constancy of, she felt like such a caring monarch.
"Even though she was so far removed from us you never felt that way - you felt like she actually cared about you personally".
Speaking about the atmosphere, Kemi added: "It’s a very respectful mood, it feels like everyone has come together in grief. The Queen herself said that grief is the price you pay for love and it feels like a very loving atmosphere here right now".
From college students to elderly couples, people travelled far and wide to mark the historical moment. Tourists from America, New Zealand, Canada and Australia all made it their mission to visit the Palace to mourn the beloved monarch's death and welcome King Charles III.
Opening up about a moment when she met the Queen as a young child, Kemi said: " When I was five, there was an awful fire at a nearby school, so all of the kids from that school came to ours for a while. When theirs reopened, the Queen came to open the school so we all got to watch her.
"Even though I was only five years old, I remember it so vividly because it really felt like she cared - it’s just the spirit you get. I felt really connected to her. She’s like my grandma - she’s everyone’s grandma".
Cindi Wendt and David Dylan arrived in London on Thursday from New Zealand and were visibly shaken by the sad news. Cindi couldn't hold back the tears when asked what the Queen meant to her, but her partner David shed light on how important the Monarchy is in their home country.
"She’s been our Queen for all our lifetimes and she’s as much loved in our country as she is in yours", he explained.
"It’s sad but wonderful to be here today. It’s a mixture of emotions. You don’t want to be here but you wouldn’t want to miss it either. We feel very blessed and privileged to be here.
"We always felt like we were a part of the empire - she embraced our country as much as Australia, Canada and everyone else. It was a family feeling that she managed to manifest in such a wonderful way.
"She was incredibly graceful and wonderful to everybody. It’s a very special talent and a gift".
By midday yesterday, heavy rain thudded down on Hyde Park, but the poor weather didn't stop anyone from honouring the Queen as visitors came prepared with umbrellas and trench coats.
The Palace's gates had become so full of bouquets that the police stopped visitors from laying their tributes, urging them to leave their flowers throughout Hyde Park instead. Organising staff estimate hundreds of thousands of bouquets were left for the Queen yesterday, with more to come throughout the period of national mourning.
The torrential rain cleared just in time for the official gun salutes at 1pm, solemnly marking the death of the Queen. As the 96 rounds of fire began, the crowd fell silent and tears began to fall.
The sun pierced through the sky and warmed the faces of emotional onlookers, with some hugging their loved ones tight in a powerful moment of collective grief.
One mother rocked her newborn baby while standing silently at the palace gates, another grabbed her friend in an emotional embrace.
Kasey Street, a 29-year-old from Arkansas, US, said that the loss of the Queen is a loss for women globally.
"Even though we’re not from here she was an impact around the world so it’s really sad to see her dynasty end. We’re sad to be here, you feel the heaviness with everyone around you.
"For women around the world she has been an icon - to see her be a great mum, a great leader and an icon for the world is awesome for women".
The crowds continued to swell through the afternoon as thousands of people spilled into the surrounding area in the hope of catching a glimpse of King Charles III as he arrived at Buckingham Palace.
The grieving King made his way past the crowds with Camilla Queen Consort at his side, greeting people at the Mall and down at the Palace gates. While the air was certainly electric with excitement, the crowd's sorrow remained as the loss of their beloved Queen was still so raw.
"We managed to see The King at the front of the gates. When he came out, I was surprised that it was nearly silent. I was shouting 'God Save The King' but everyone else was just stunned and still in grief," Fiona Ardern from Oxfordshire said.
"It’s marvellous to see him, he’s been waiting for a long time. We’ve had the Monarchy for a thousand years so it needs to continue".
Once the crowds around King Charles dispersed, thousands of people remained at the Palace to soak up the monumental moment.
Those who came to pay their respects were a wonderful mix of cultures, ages and religions, proving that the Queen's legacy is a thread that runs through communities across the country and beyond.
Visitors from commonwealth countries were deeply shocked and saddened by the Queen's passing. Natalie Bale, a 36-year-old nurse from Perth, Australia, was visiting London with her five-year-old son Jack, and desperately hopes that the royal family continues to inspire her little boy's generation.
"My family have Scottish and English heritage so growing up I’ve really admired the royal family. They are a part of my history and I would like to think it will be part of my sons. I’m very proud of the Queen and I know a lot of my friends are too."
The Commonwealth also means a huge amount to London-based Grace Gothard, as she held a sign that read: "I came here on behalf of the Commonwealth to say thank you Maam, may she rest in peace".
Wearing a traditional Ghanaian dress paired with a British flag tied around her neck like a scarf, Grace proudly held a life-size cut-out of the Queen in her other hand.
"She’s our queen. The head of the Commonwealth, we love her so much. She worked so hard to the last moment," she said.
As the crowds began to deplete after a historical day, Hilary Farnworth, 73, London, reminisced on her first ever memory of Her Majesty: "I’m old enough to remember the Coronation. We hired a telly and the relatives were in the bedroom because it wouldn’t work in the downstairs.
"My dad had to hold the aerial out the window. It was raining like anything outside, there was a bottle of sherry, and my aunties were sitting on the bed - I was only five but I knew it was a huge thing.
"I loved the Queen's dignity and poise and the way she managed to work a crowd - she was incredible".
This weekend, the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror celebrate the life of Her Majesty the Queen with a commemorative special filled with all the key moments from Britain’s longest reigning monarch. Be sure to pick up your copy of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror to get both pullouts.
