Summary

  • We've been sharing your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II following her death aged 96

  • You've told us what she meant to you, moments you remember from her life and your stories of meeting the UK's longest-reigning monarch

  • On Monday, the nation paid a final farewell to the Queen, with a state funeral and military procession

  • Our tributes page has been a reminder that hundreds of thousands of us felt a personal connection with the Queen, says BBC Media and Arts Correspondent David Sillito

  • "She made you feel as if you were important at that moment in her life," says Simone Kennett, who was head teacher of a school when it was visited by the Queen

  • We'll be preserving this page so people in the UK and around the world can continue to read the tributes so many of you have left for the Queen

Live Reporting

  1. 'We invited her to our wedding'

    We invited Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh to our wedding. As ordinary civilians, we didn't expect a response.

    A letter came back from her lady-in-waiting declining, but saying that the Queen and the Duke wanted to pass on congratulations to us. It was hand-signed. She didn't need to ensure a response to every letter, but I can picture her sitting by the fire reading everything that she was sent. These memories will last through the generations.

    James Cain, 36, an NHS manager from London

    The hand-signed letter sent from Balmoral CastleJames Cain

  2. 'A commitment few could have borne'

    What can I say apart from my admiration for a life well lived, and for the commitment few of us would have borne.

    The past day has taken me straight back to my day at school after King George VI died. It came as such a shock and we were given the whole day off. Tears were shed.

    Julia Gahagan, Tetbury, Gloucestershire

  3. 'Her kindness will stay with us forever'

    My sister and I were invited to Windsor Castle to posthumously receive our mum's MBE. When we arrived, we were informed only one of us could receive the award. Upon hearing our story, the Queen made a special exception and allowed us both to meet her and receive our mum's medal. Although it was a bittersweet day for us, the fact she changed the rules just for us shows what an unbelievable woman she was. That moment and her kindness will stay with us forever.

    Gavin Frost, from Wimbledon

    Gavin Frost and his sister Nicola Pritchard receiving the MBE from the QueenGavin Frost

    Gavin Frost and his sister, Nicola Pritchard, receiving their mum's MBE from the Queen

    Gavin Frost and his sister Nicola Pritchard receiving the MBE from the QueenGavin Frost

  4. 'One of the greatest human beings'

    More tributes have been coming in from Radio 5 Live listeners.

    Andy from Oxfordshire passes on his condolences to the Royal Family and says "thank you ma'am" to the Queen.

    "It really does hurt me that she's passed away," he says.

    "I expected her to live beyond 100 so I'm in a state of shock.

    "I believe she's one of the greatest, if not the greatest, human being in the world."

    "I'm heartbroken she's passed away... she's been absolutely remarkable for the last 96 years."

    Scout (left) and her friend Amy pose with a cardboard cutout of the Queen.Scout

    Scout (left) and her friend Amy pose with a cardboard cutout of the Queen

    Scout from Kendal says she isn't a "massive royalist" but was crying in her kitchen when she heard the news of the Queen's death.

    "It feels wrong to say I loved her, but what else could account for that level of grief?" she says.

    Scout and her sister are thinking about travelling to London to pay their respects.

    "It feels like I want to do something, she was a wonderful person... she was a steadying influence in all our lives."

  5. The day the Queen met Tiny and his turkey

    Nicola Swanborough, from the Epilepsy Society, found this archive image of the moment the Queen met one of the charity's residents - and his feathered friend - in December 1985.

    the photograph showing the Queen meeting the man - and turkey - in 1985Epilepsy Society

    The Queen was patron of the Epilepsy Society, a cause close to her heart as her uncle Prince John is believed to have died of epilepsy at 13.

    The Queen visited our residential site and met 'Tiny' Morrison, who was holding a prize turkey on his lap. Tiny worked on our farm which often raffles off turkeys for Christmas. He seems to have been chosen to demonstrate to the Queen the type of work he was involved in at the charity - and was happy to show off his prize turkey.

    Nicola Swanborough, from the Epilepsy Society

  6. My sister and I met the Queen in 1986 when she visited Christchurch, New Zealand. Mum somehow managed to get us up the front (I suppose because we were small, cute and holding flowers).

    Unfortunately quite a bit of time had elapsed between picking the flowers from the garden and actually seeing the Queen, and it was quite a warm day, so they'd got rather droopy by then! The Queen was very gracious though, and took them saying, "Are these for me?" Dad snapped this picture of my sister presenting her flowers and me waiting, all big eyes and droopy carnations, about to meet the Queen.

    Susan Smith, in Uxbridge

    Susan Smith meeting the QueenAlan Townley

    Susan Smith, now living in Uxbridge, met the Queen in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1986

  7. 'She had such an infectious giggle'

    Radio 5 Live listener Karen used to work at Sandringham in the Queen's stables.

    She says one of her fondest memories of the Queen is one particular ride along a bridleway when Karen's hairnet became stuck in a tree.

    "The Queen turned round and saw this hairnet hanging in the tree and we creased ourselves," she says.

    "She had such an infectious little giggle and we giggled all the way back to the yard."

    Speaking about the Queen's demeanour in the stables, Karen said she was a "normal horsey person".

    "It was all about the horses and what they were doing, how they were getting on."

    Karen with the Queen and one of her horses..

  8. 'She was our matriarch'

    My love for the Queen grew through my grandmother, a royalist who shared a birthday on 21 April with Her Majesty. Over the years, my love and intrigue for the Queen, the royals current and past, grew. For me, the Queen was the very symbol of Great Britain, she was a living legacy of our history. She was our matriarch, our leader and our sovereign.

    I took an oath and swore my allegiance to the monarch back in 2002 when I became a police officer. I took great pride in serving the Queen in [the] office of constable and I will continue to do so for King Charles III. She was my “boss”. I really feel that everything I did, I did in her name and it was a great honour to do so. I have no doubt she will become known as Elizabeth the Great.

    Melissa

  9. Welsh school children create book of remembrance

    Imogen looks at the book of remembrance she has made for the QueenHywel Griffith

    Imogen looks at the book of remembrance she has made for the Queen

    If they look at the book, they can probably know a little bit more about the Queen and know that she was a real inspiration.”

    Imogen, Year Six pupil at Ynysowen Community Primary School, in Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

    We’ve had such links with the Queen... we’ve never known anything else, and it’s just hit me.”

    Tara Nicholls, a teacher at Ynysowen Community Primary School

    You can get in touch with your own story in the following ways:

  10. 'I moved to London from Munich because of the Queen'

    While you've been sending in your memories of the Queen, Radio 5 Live has been hearing from listeners keen to share their experiences, too.

    Caroline was nine when she visited Buckingham Palace with her family, from Munich.

    "I thought Buckingham Palace was amazing so I sent her [the Queen] a letter," she says.

    "Four weeks later a note and a parcel arrived at my door in Munich and it contained all sorts of little presents of how to learn English - about the culture and history of the country."

    She says that this is the moment that "sparked" her "love for this country".

    Caroline moved from Germany to London at the age of 14. "[The Queen] gave me that direction in a way."

    Caroline.

    Caroline says the grief caused by the Queen's passing has rippled throughout the world.

    "I've had people from Germany call me and they are just as sad as the people in this country.

    "They've always felt very united and admiration towards the queen with the people of Great Britain.

    "My mother, who is 70, said: 'She is always there, she was someone constant in life that is always changing'."

  11. 'She was everyone's maternal figure'

    "We came last night when it was pouring with rain and when the flowers slowly started coming in, so it's quite nice to see it in broad daylight and read all the messages on the flowers.

    Isabella Pemberton

    "She was that maternal figure, everyone’s maternal figure, the granny we all had that we never thought would die, that sort of comforting feeling there's always someone looking over you, watching over you so it's quite sad now she's gone."

    Charlie Pemberton

    Charlie and Isabella Pemberton visit Buckingham Palace in their school uniformsCharlie and Isabella Pemberton

    Charlie and Isabella Pemberton visiting Buckingham Palace in their school uniforms

  12. In around 2012, I was based at RAF Marham, where the Queen was Honorary Air Commodore. I was learning to drive while there and somehow it had escaped my instructor's attention that the Queen was visiting that day. It therefore added an extra layer of trepidation to my lesson when, navigating through a suspiciously quiet camp, I pulled out – rightly – at a junction only to nearly crash into a big black car – it was the Queen.

    We exchanged a glance, my face a mixture of horror and panic, and Her Majesty’s mild amusement. Her driver was not as amused.

    Matthew Lees, 30, from Lincolnshire

  13. Send us your memories of the Queen

    We're sharing tributes, reflections and memories of Queen Elizabeth II and would love to hear from you.

    It doesn't matter whether you met her in person or simply want to pay your respects.

    You can get in touch in the following ways:

  14. Flowers and a curtsy

    Sheena Jones gives the Queen a bouquet of flowersSheena Jones

    My mum wrote a letter to organisers, explaining that on the day of the [Queen's] visit, I would be adopted by my parents. It was going to be a special occasion. I came straight from the courtroom after my official adoption and changed into a purple dress. I was placed outside the leisure centre, where I handed her a bouquet as she left the venue. I was so nervous and didn’t curtsy properly even though I’d rehearsed it! She thanked me, it was a brief moment, but a huge moment in history because she was making Newport a city and I got to be a part of that.”

    Sheena Jones, 31

  15. “My mum wrote to the Queen around 2002. I didn’t see the letter that my mum sent but when mum died I saw the Queen’s reply which had been pristinely treasured in mum’s personal belongings. Today I find myself in tears sensing the great loss to our country now and also knowing the generations before me loved and respected her greatly. I have the letter now, and it’s time to put it in a frame.”

    Gareth Evans, 49, Milton Keynes

    The letter sent to Gareth Evan's mother from the QueenGareth Evans

  16. Remembering 'the best Ma'am in the world'

    She's been a great Queen. It's very, very sad that she's gone. I think she'll be really missed. She's been absolutely brilliant right throughout. I even remember her coronation.

    Ernest Leech

    It's obviously quite tragic, for somebody to have reigned for that long; we are never going to get anyone else like her again are we?"

    Adam Featherstone

    We've just lost the best Ma'am of the world, I don't really know how to put it into words."

    Leon Perart

  17. Michael and Shane

    We are extremely emotional, I don't know why, I couldn't put words to it. The moments that come to mind are the Platinum Jubilee, the moments with Paddington Bear and the quips like that, it would just bring a smile to everyone's face and it's nice to remember her like that. It's hard to believe she is gone."

    Michael and Shane from Southport

  18. 'She let me have one of her puppies'

    I'll remember the Queen with great regard and affection. I met her on a few occasions and she knew an awful lot about corgis and the breed. A lady called Nancy Fenwick used to work for the Queen and she organised some of us to go up to Windsor so the Queen could choose a father for her puppies. The Queen just liked my dog - she let me have one of the puppies too.”

    Mary Davies, from Ammanford in Carmarthenshire, Wales

    We want to hear your memories and tributes to the Queen. Click here to get in touch.

    The Queen takes a photo while out walking with three of her beloved corgisGetty Images

  19. 'The whole world has lost a Queen'

    Photograph by Zohrab Markarian of Queen Elizabeth and King HusseinZohrab Markarian

    A photo of the Queen and Prince Philip with Jordan's former King Hussein

    I'll never forget the day she visited Petra in 1984. She used her own camera to take photographs of the [Jordanian] King. She was so down to earth, she would walk up to the local Bedouin people and just say 'hi'.

    The whole world has lost Queen Elizabeth, not just England."

    Zohrab Markarian, who was the official photographer to the father of Jordan's King Abdullah II, King Hussein

  20. In 1983 when I was eight years old the Queen visited our little Welsh town of Brecon to attend a service at our Cathedral. I was one of the Brownies there and we lined the streets near the Cathedral for hours excitedly waiting for her arrival. I had a single white rose wrapped in a bit of tin foil, did not enjoy the wait and slowly lost the will to live! To my amazement the Queen stopped for us and I handed her my now nearly dead rose. She took it and said something like, ‘what a beautiful colour rose’."

    Jo Woodley, from the Wirral

    Jo Woodley, from the Wirral, gives a rose to a smiling QueenJo Woodley, from the Wirral

    The Queen visiting the Welsh town of Brecon in 1983