The death of Queen Elizabeth II is being most keenly felt in one particular part of Northern Ireland.
The Co Down village of Royal Hillsborough is home to the official Northern Ireland residence of the Royal Family.
Hillsborough Castle has long been the residency of choice for the Queen and other members of the Royal Family when they have visited Ulster. It is now the official home of the Secretary of State.
Read more: The Queen's Death: A special relationship with Northern Ireland
Just last year, the village celebrated a new regal status as the first area of Northern Ireland to be granted a royal title.
Letters Patent from the late Queen officially changed the name to Royal Hillsborough and new signage was soon erected to mark the change.
So it was here on Friday that hundreds of people from across Northern Ireland and further afield gathered for a 96-round royal gun salute to mark the death of the Queen.
At lunchtime, the sound of gunfire boomed out across the silent village as Reservists from the 206 Battery 105 Regiment Royal Artillery fired the salute - each round marking a year of the Queen's life.
In attendance was Lord Caine, the Permanent Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Minister of State, Steve Baker.
As the gun salute finished after around 15 minutes, there was a moment of silence before applause broke out from the large crowd of both young and old, who had gathered outside the castle gates listening to the sound of the cannons with their heads bowed.
As the UK enters a period of official mourning, much of the focus in Northern Ireland will be on the small village, which will be the centre of ceremonial activities.
A major security operation is underway, with traffic restricted ahead of what is expected to be a large number of visitors paying tribute over the coming days.
Hundreds of floral and heartfelt tributes have already been left at the gates of the castle, with people travelling from across Northern Ireland and beyond to pay their respects.
Among those paying tribute was local man Xander Foster, who told Belfast Live : "I was very shocked and distraught when I heard the news about the Queen's passing yesterday.
"We knew she was unwell but we just didn't know how unwell she was until it was announced that she had passed away."
"I felt it was important to be here because she was the head of our nation, she once opened my local primary school and she gave our village royal status just last year."
Xander added: "I think she'll be remembered for her longevity because when she came to the throne back in 1952, the world was a very different place.
"I quite like Charles and Camilla, I think the two of them are lovely and will make a good King and Queen."
Parents were also guiding young children to the gates to lay flowers including Claire Harrison, who works in Hillsborough Castle.
"I just felt it was important to come here today to pay tribute to the Queen for everything she had done," she said.
"She has always been a special part of my life and a constant throughout it. My grandparents were from Windsor so I grew up around royal connections too.
"She was a mother, a grandmother and great-grandmother too and someone who was so well loved. It feels like part of your rock is gone because she's always been there.
"I feel a wee bit uneasy about what's to come but there's excitement too about the prospect of a King."
Making her way to the castle from her home "just down the road" was Pauline Hewitt along with her friend Vanessa Baird, who was carrying sweet pea picked from her own garden in nearby Banbridge.
Pauline said: "The Queen made a promise to the country and her people 70 years ago to serve and was a real example of grace. She had her own faith but she treated everybody with a lot of kindness.
"I couldn't have not come here today to mark her passing. I'm still quite shocked because I don't think any of us were really expecting it after seeing her meeting the new Prime Minister on Tuesday. Yes she was a frail woman but you still didn't expect her to be gone so quickly."
"The Queen has been a staple figure throughout so many people's lives, especially the dedication and service she showed to the country," Vanessa added.
"Regardless of your feelings on the royals, you have to respect the woman she was and her complete selflessness towards the community at large. I think that's what really defied her, her love for people so I wanted to celebrate that today."
Also mingling among the locals were US tourists and husband and wife Lynn and Eileen Wodder from Chicago.
"We're here with friends touring around Ireland and had been planning to visit Hillsborough today anyway. When Diana died 25 years ago we were on vacation too so it feels pretty ironic to have been on two trips when two such famous people passed away," Lynn said.
Eileen added: "Even though she wasn't our Queen the news really hit us yesterday. She seemed to be such a wonderful person and I think a lot of people thought she was going to live forever. She was a woman who had a goal and followed it through, doing her duty until the day she died."
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