Solemn atmosphere and national communion. Thousands of Britons gathered outside Buckingham Palace, the royal residence, in London. At 19:25 they learned of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Much of it remained there to pay homage to the monarch.
Around 8:00 p.m., a poster was hung announcing the death of the monarch.
Part of the crowd gathered along the Victoria Memorial, located in front of the palace gates. Several of them laid bouquets of flowers, sang “God save the Queen,” the national anthem, or burst into tears.
“She was like a grandmother to the nation”
Many, including young people, wanted to show their attachment to Queen Elizabeth II, for the most part the only monarch they have ever known. “We came to pay tribute to her. She was like a grandmother to the nation. She was our conscience. She is a great loss,” Sophie, a 27-year-old Englishwoman who came with a friend of hers, told AFP.
“I feel sad, of course. She’s been around my whole life. She means a lot to all of us. No one knows what will happen without her,” says Lukas Baskow, a 26-year-old Englishman.
Source: BFM TV
