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
Quote MessageWe were in the ballroom when the Queen appeared with her equerry [assistant]. I caught his eye and he led the Queen towards me."
Quote MessageWe had a chat and it was just a thrill. She made you feel that you're the one that is important. It was such an honour to meet her and it means more now than ever."
Stephan Pavlou, from Enfield, north London
"She just had that wonderful ability to be personable to people."
The Chelsea Pensioners are former non-commissioned officers or soldiers of the British army who live at the Royal Hospital in London.
Catherine McQuilliam's daughter Samantha Armstrong met the Queen in London in 2001:
Quote MessageSamantha took part in a poetry competition when she was in junior school. It was about what do you think you will be like when you’re old.
Quote MessageMy daughter won a prize and HRH Queen Elizabeth was there to present the prizes. We couldn't believe it! She was so friendly and kind to the children. Amazing lady.”
Image source, Catherine McQuilliam
Jane (left) and friend Suzanne Dickens, alongside a statue of the Queen with a mare and a foal in the town of Newmarket
Quote MessageEven though you don't personally know her, you have a connection to her and her family, especially working in horseracing; that was her passion and joy and we feel the same passion for that as well."
Jane Buick, from Newmarket
Catherine Ruckles and her daughter Connie
Quote MessageIt’s very sad. I remember the Queen visited Sunderland when I was a kid. It was a lovely day my school lined the street in the hope of getting a look at her. She’s just always been in our lives. My mam turns 69 today and she’s known no other monarch, even my daughter Connie has been learning about her in school.”
Catherine Ruckles, 43
Quote MessageI think everyone thought she was going to be there forever. I don’t think we’ll see the likes of her again, well not in my life time.”
Shona Hudson, 78
Quote MessageI’m no royalist but I’ve got to say I am quite sad about it. Without a doubt it’s an end of an era and I think she represents a really prosperous and special time for the country, I don’t know what happens next.”
Steven Smith, 63
Image source, Lily YorkeLily Yorke met the Queen in London when she was eight years old.
Quote MessageWhen Her Majesty came past the crowds she spent ages talking to a lady who had collapsed. She went over to her where the woman had been given a chair to sit on."
Quote MessageHer kindness and devotion, especially to this lady, and to the people was just extraordinary.”
Richard Puntis from Chippenham, Wiltshire has this memory from when he was 10 years old:
“My parents took us to walk around the shops at Badminton Horse Trials when suddenly we heard 'make way!' The people parted to allow the Queen through. My mum, standing behind me, bent down and jokingly said, 'don’t forget to say hello to the Queen'.
“As she walked past, I blurted 'good morning!' as loudly as I could. My mum was mortified."
Quote MessageThe Queen stopped, took a few paces back and replied 'Good morning young man!' I’ll never forget, even though I’m 53 now. To me she is immortal.”
Margaret Thompson, 83, says she saw the Queen drive past her on a visit to Cardiff when she was a young child.
Quote MessageBrilliant, it was. That was as near as I got to her, but she looked lovely.”
Margaret says the Queen always felt like “a relation of yours”.
Her daughter, Jane, 56, adds that the Queen was “a mother and a grandmother” to the country.
Image source, Brimfield and Little Hereford Bowls ClubFor Barbara Griffiths, a member of the Brimfield and Little Hereford Bowls Club in Shropshire, meeting the Queen came as a complete shock.
She was playing a match against a Royal Household team at Windsor nine years ago when the monarch turned up unannounced.
"She drove herself down there, with a bodyguard of course, but she just arrived to look at a tree that had been recently planted," says Barbara.
"The game just stopped and she shook everyone's hand, made time for everyone and spoke to us all.
Quote MessageShe was just fantastic, so natural. Then the game carried on and she watched a bit of it... before driving herself off again. It was so surreal.”
For those of you just joining us, this is a space dedicated to your tributes, reflections and memories of Queen Elizabeth II.
It doesn't matter how big or small they are, whether you met her in person or whether you simply want to pay your respects - we want to hear from you.
You can get in touch in the following ways:
Image source, Fred BuddFred Budd, a mechanic from Wolverhampton, recalls coming to the Queen’s rescue when her Rolls Royce broke down during a whirlwind tour of the Midlands in 1977.
Buckingham Palace was quick to send thanks to Fred for preventing the tour from being delayed.
A letter to him said:
Quote MessageYour assistance resulted in the tour going along without delay and we are all most grateful for the help given by you and other members of your staff."
"I shall treasure it and it will always be with me," Fred said.
"It is one of those never-to-be-repeated opportunities and it could have been anyone in the garage that went that day, but I was the only one that didn't go to lunch so I was picked to go."
Carrie Morley, from London, helped her daughter Lillian celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this summer by making a special scrapbook.
It featured pictures of the Queen, and Lillian wrote about her horses as the monarch also loved the animals.
The pair were "over the moon" to receive a letter from Windsor Castle saying how much the Queen had enjoyed the scrapbook.
"It’s all framed and up on the wall and makes a wonderful keepsake and we are so proud to have it," Carrie says.
Image source, Lillian Morley
Londonderry community worker Jeanette Warke, 78, was awarded an MBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 1999.
"I will always remember that day, and I will never forget that lady," Jeanette tells BBC Radio Foyle.
"It was just a privilege to stand before her and look into her eyes," she says.
"She actually knew the work that I did and it's just something I'll never forget."
Quote MessageShe made every single person feel the same way, you feel as if you're the only one in that room and that is so special - it's not just simply handing over a medal.”
Image source, Tracy MarshallTracy Marshall, 58, from Liverpool recalls being "very star struck" when having a special lunch with the Queen.
Despite being unable to speak at first, Tracey (pictured left with her friend Gloria on the right) says the Queen was "very kind" during the three course meal.
“I was chosen to have lunch with the Queen. I worked for Liverpool City Council at the time doing grants for communities," she says.
Quote MessageWe were all lined up waiting to meet her and when she got to me she said 'And what is it that you do?' I suddenly became very star struck and lost the power of speech! My friend Gloria had to respond for me.”
“The Queen was very kind in her approach to the situation and just carried on as normal, and the lunch, a three course sit down meal at the town hall, was fabulous.”
It's not just here in the UK that people are mourning the loss of the Queen - tributes are pouring in around the world.
People in Sydney have shared their "devastation" with BBC News, with one member of the public calling her an "icon that's always been there my whole life".
The Queen visited Australia 16 times during her reign as the country is part of the Commonwealth.
"The Queen, she was always a monarch but to many of us she was a mum," one person said.
"She was somebody we could really relate to."
Queen Elizabeth II: Australians pay tribute to 'a great monarch'
"The Queen of our hearts" is among the tributes left outside Buckingham Palace this morning as people mourn the death of the UK's longest-reigning monarch.
Image source, Getty ImagesStephanie Flynn, who is 31 and lives in Aberdeen, says her late father was a minister who was invited by the Queen to preach while the Royal Family was at Balmoral.
“They were enjoying a barbecue in the grounds and she opened the door of the Land Rover and patted the seat next to her, and told him to 'hop in' so she could drive him back to the Palace," she says.
Quote MessageHe has passed now but said that he was treated like royalty for not being royal. He also said her faith was her bedrock, and he would never forget how fun, curious and kind she was during that weekend.”
People in Hull have spoken of their shock and heartbreak at the Queen's death.
"England won't be the same country without her," one woman told us.
"She's always been there. She's been positive, she's always picked us up when we're down," another passerby says.
"She's loved all over the world."
People in Hull paid tribute to the Queen
Laura Porter, who also visited Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland to pay her respects, says the Queen was "inspirational".
"I feel quite sad for her today but I think she's with Philip, the love of her life," she says.
Quote MessageShe was a mother and she had a full time job as well. Many women can relate to that. And she was our servant too. I just heard today that she signed off in all her communications as 'Your servant' and that just means a lot to me."
Colin McCrory, from the Shankill area of Belfast, travelled to Hillsborough to pay his respects
Colin McCrory travelled to Hillsborough to lay flowers following the news of the Queen's death.
"It's just a day everyone expected but you never thought you'd see it," he says.
"My granny loved her. I was brought up loving her.
Quote MessageThere's a picture of the Queen in every single room in my house. It's just loyalty and devotion. She had it to the world and to the UK, and we had it to her."