Tulip Mazumdar
BBC News

People have been queueing since before 3pm for tonight's service at St Paul's.

Our bags have been searched and the people at the front of the queue are going inside the cathedral.

Strangers chat, reflecting on why the Queen was important to them. The atmosphere is solemn but also warm - everyone here is acutely aware that history is being written.

Sylvia Usher says she was in the crowds at the Queen's Coronation in 1953.

She was a little girl, but remembers it being a "magical day".

"It was a special moment in my life that I'll never forget," she tells me.

"I was there at the moment she started her reign and I'd like to say goodbye here today at the end of it too."

Image source, PA Media

Mourners are beginning to take their seats in St Paul's Cathedral in London for the service of prayer and reflection to remember Queen Elizabeth II which will begin at 18:00.

People are dressed smartly in black suits and ties, while others are wearing black mourning veils.

All 2,000 wristbands for the service were distributed to members of the public within three hours, a cathedral spokeswoman said.

Prime Minister Liz Truss and senior ministers are also expected to be there.

Image source, PA

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

The Queen was "frail" but in "good spirits" when PA photographer Jane Barlow took the last public pictures of her.

She had been dispatched to Balmoral to capture the moment when the monarch met the new prime minister, formally appointing Liz Truss to her new role.

While waiting for the Conservative leader to arrive at the Queen's Highland retreat, Barlow took some portraits.

There was small talk about the weather and lots of smiles from the Queen.

"It was a real privilege to be able to take that picture, an honour and a privilege," Barlow said.

"I was there to photograph her meeting the new prime minister but for me the best picture was the one of the Queen on her own. And it has obviously become more significant now."

The King has held his first in-person audience with Prime Minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace.

Truss, who was appointed by the late Queen on Tuesday, spent approximately half an hour with King Charles III.

Later the PM will attend a service of remembrance for Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul's Cathedral in London at 18:00 BST.

The first official rendition of God Save the King will be sung at the end of this evening's memorial service for the Queen at St Paul's Cathedral in London later.

The lyrics to the national anthem will change from "Queen" to "King" and "her victorious" to "him victorious".

Earlier a crowd at Buckingham Palace sang a version to King Charles as he greeted well-wishers who'd gathered outside.

Sean Coughlan
BBC News, royal correspondent

When the Queen came to the throne in 1952 much was made of it being a “New Elizabethan” era.

It was full of post-war optimism about an age of modernity and technological and social progress, at a time when wartime rationing had still not ended.

We’re now in a new era of the reign of Charles III. But how will this be described?

It could be the “New Caroline” era, with the previous Caroline era being the reign of Charles I, which ended in 1649 with his beheading after losing the civil war.

Or could it be “New Carolean” era, which usually references the merry monarch, Charles II? Although his reign often gets described as the Restoration, after the return of the monarchy in 1660.

Both come from Carolus, the Latin version of Charles.

If you go to Greenwich in south-east London, you can see Carolus Rex carved above the 17th Century buildings along the Thames.

More than 300 years later there’s another Carolus Rex on the throne. But it also might just be remembered by historians as part of the wider era of the House of Windsor.

Nadeem Shad
Reporting from outside Buckingham Palace

Thousands of people have gathered outside Buckingham Palace to pay their respects to the Queen and welcome King Charles III.

"We didn't think it would be as emotional as it was," said Zack Jones, 39, from Eltham, south-east London.

"My mother recently died and she was a big royalist.

"I just know how it feels to lose a parent and wanted to come pay our respects."

Sue Northcott, 67, also from London, said that although today was a sad day, she wanted to come to Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Queen's life.

"She brought us so much joy during her long reign and long life," she said.

Irina Druzhinina, 48, from Vienna, Austria, said that although Elizabeth was not her Queen, she was the "moral standard for generations".

"I worry that world grows more turbulent without the Queen," she said.

Dominic Casciani
Legal Correspondent

Justice is carried out in the name of the monarch, representing the courts’ independence, and so today some judges and barristers have chosen to wear optional “mourning bands”. This is a 17th-century pleated collar strip that was once always worn to mark the death of a significant public figure.

Ede and Ravenscroft, one of London’s legal outfitters, tell me they have been taking orders all morning from their clients.

They and the other specialist tailors have also been digging out boxes of “weepers”.

These pieces of white cloth are a combination of a shirt cuff and a handkerchief. The tradition was that a judge or a senior lawyer - King’s Counsel as of today - could use them to wipe away their public tears.

Clerks ran around London’s legal quarter all morning buying up bands and weepers - and as trials resumed after lunch at the Old Bailey, some of the barristers and judges were already wearing both - as sketched below by the BBC’s court artist, Julia Quenzler.

That said, the tradition is so lost in the mists of time that everybody I spoke to admitted they’re not quite sure how the weepers should be folded and pinned to their jackets.

Image source, Julia Quenzler

Image source, EPA

The Royal Standard is once again flying over Buckingham Palace after King Charles entered the building for the first time as monarch.

The flag is flown when the sovereign is in residence in one of the royal palaces - and is never flown at half mast, even after the death of the Queen, as there is always a sovereign on the throne.

Earlier today, before the new King reached Buckingham Palace, it was flying the union jack at half mast.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, PA Media

People can sign an online book of condolence, external on the Royal Family website but there will be no physical books at royal residences.

Any organisation can open a book of condolence and there will be opportunities to sign one at locations around the country, such as town halls and some cathedrals.

A memorial flower garden will be created in London's Green Park on Saturday and will be the main designated place for laying flowers near Buckingham Palace.

Flowers can also be laid in specific sites close to other royal residences in Balmoral, Windsor and Sandringham, and at Hillsborough Castle in Belfast, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh and at the entrance to Cardiff's City Hall.

There may be places within local communities where flowers or tributes can be left, such as a town hall or a church and the government advises checking with the council or in local media.

But the government and Royal Household have asked that no flowers, wreaths or tributes be sent directly to royal residences, government offices or to the location of the Queen's funeral.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

Image source, PA Media

The warmth of the reception for King Charles outside Buckingham Palace seemed to be reciprocated as he went over to greet some of the crowd of well-wishers.

It might be a glimpse of his future style as monarch. On visits Charles has become a rather affable, grandfatherly figure, putting up with a huge amount of small talk, and deploying plenty of self-deprecating humour.

He has always had a rather serious side to his character, with a natural sense of reserve, but he seems to have become a warmer figure, mellowing into his autumn years.

The King’s arrival back in London heralds the beginning of some tough days ahead. He’s lost his mother, but at the same is being pushed to face the public, in person and on TV.

He’s in mourning, with all the vulnerabilities that come with that, but at the same time is appearing for the first time in one of the highest profile jobs in the world.

Jeremy Gahagan
Reporting from Buckingham Palace

Hundreds of people are patiently queueing up Constitution Hill alongside Buckingham Palace in central London so that they can lay floral tributes.

Police are keeping order as mourners arrive from nearby Green Park station.

Earlier on, the crowds were treated to a visit from the new King, Charles III, as he arrived in the capital after staying overnight at Balmoral Castle.

King Charles III has entered Buckingham Palace for the first time as King, with his wife Camilla alongside him.

He was greeted with cheers and shook hands with several well-wishers waiting outside the palace.

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

Later today we will see a quite remarkable moment: the new prime minister, Liz Truss - who has only been PM for about 72 hours - meeting the new monarch, King Charles III, a man who has only been king for fewer than 24 hours.

It will be a big moment in British history: the changing political leadership and the changing head of state.

There is no doubt things will be different. The Queen became the monarch at such a young age, while King Charles was the first-in-line to the throne for decades and did speak a lot publicly about his views.

The assumption here is, that will change over the coming hours. King Charles himself has said his activism would stop the moment he became monarch. We know he has some strong views about issues like the environment, but I wouldn't expect us to hear any of them over the next few years.

This is a moment where the relationship between the Crown and the prime minister and No 10 Downing Steet will change - in the sense that we get two new figures at the very top of British life.

There are big changes coming to British life, in terms of the figureheads that we see on a regular basis - the constitutional make up will remain the same though.

Nadeem Shad
Reporting from outside Buckingham Palace

Image source, Reuters

The crowd waited with nervous anticipation for the arrival of the new King at Buckingham Palace.

A hush rolled out across the crowds as members of the King's footguards went into formation on the Palace forecourt.

The sound of orders being shouted echoed across the Victoria Memorial. Sunshine broke through the clouds, illuminating the main gates.

Then all of a sudden cheers could be heard emanating down the Mall, cascading towards the Palace.

After a few moments of people querying whether they could see him, or where he was exactly, some spotted the royal car just behind the Palace gates.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the King appeared in front of the gates, by the flowers - talking and shaking hands with onlookers.

He did this a few times before he eventually entered Buckingham Palace for the first time as King Charles III.

Cries of "Long live the King" rang out across the park and groups of people clapped.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Reuters

Extra officers will be deployed across the capital as the Metropolitan Police says it has initiated "well-rehearsed" plans.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Candy warned those visiting London to remain vigilant.

He says: “This will be an extremely poignant moment for the nation, and I know people will want to pay respects and celebrate the Queen’s dedication to public service.

“Working closely with the City of London Police and British Transport Police, the Met will now co-ordinate and deploy a comprehensive policing plan in London.

"This operation will be highly visible, particularly in Westminster and areas around Buckingham Palace and St James’s Park.

“A great number of police officers will be on duty during this period, to ensure the safety of those visiting London and to deter any potential criminality.

"Officers will also be offering advice to visitors, particularly those who may be unfamiliar with the city."

Image source, .

Charles and Camilla have entered Buckingham Palace for the first time as King and Queen.

This image from our news helicopter shows the rows and rows of people held back by barriers placed in front of the railings of Buckingham Palace a few minutes ago, as King Charles met the crowds.

Their wait was rewarded as the new King - seen in the centre of the photo - got out of his car and made his way along the lines of people.

Image source, PA Media

The King and Queen Consort are admiring the many bouquets of flowers for the Queen lining the gates of Buckingham Palace.

Image source, .

King Charles III received a warm reception as he made his way past the crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace.

The King was offered bouquets of flowers and even a kiss on the cheek as he shook hands with those who had gathered to see him arrive.