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. 'People of this generation have a different bond to the Queen'

    Eric Scarrott is 96 years old, same age as the Queen. Since they announced her death, he has been crying. He was hoping they would reach 100 together and then receive his letter from her. Eric fought in the war and the two things in his life that have always kept him going and been his constant are... Brentford football team and the Queen. He remembers going to Buckingham Palace as a tradesman to re-cast some damaged plaster mouldings and was always treated with such respect. People of this generation have a different bond to the Queen that has nothing to do with celebrity.

    Eric's friend Theresa

  2. 'Nothing has hit me harder'

    I am a veteran of Her Majesty's Armed Forces. A hard former Royal Marine who was deployed to the Falkland Islands. Nothing has hit me harder than the news of the death of Her Majesty. I am not ashamed to say that I cried many days and found it extremely hard to watch the TV coverage without my heart breaking. May you rest in everlasting peace, your work is now complete.

    Tim from Berkshire

  3. 'Our daughter was star struck'

    The late Queen and children at Fortress LouisbourgGail Muir family archive

    Queen Elizabeth visited Fortress Louisbourg in Cape Breton Nova Scotia, Canada in 1994

    The two youngest in this photo are our children age five and seven in 1994 and they were volunteering at the Fortress Louisbourg in Cape Breton Nova Scotia, to depict for tourists, life as children in 1744. They knew they might see the royal couple as the entourage toured the rebuilt parts of the fortress, but were not prepared for this encounter.

    Our son, on the right, saw this group of well-dressed individuals approach the dance group of children and he looked over at us and mouthed the words, 'Which one is the Queen?' He expected to see a crown! We did not think about that ahead of time. Our daughter was star struck as Her Majesty asked, 'Are your clothes very comfortable?' It made the day very memorable. We send our sincerest condolences to all who cared for Her Majesty. Our hearts were sad when we heard the news."

    Gail Muir, Canada

  4. 'I can show my daughters the photo of when I met the Queen'

    The Queen meeting two children at Portsmouth Dockyardunknown

    This photo was taken in about 1987. I was probably four (I'm in the blue dress) and my sister Katy (six, standing to my left) handed the Queen some flowers and pictures we'd drawn for her. The picture was taken at Portsmouth Dockyard, Hampshire. My mum and nan stood behind me smiling. Our dad was Ministry of Defence police who worked at the dockyard, and he was able to get us at the start of the line. I am so thrilled to show my own daughters (now aged six and eight) this photo of when their mum met the Queen. She will be so greatly missed, may she rest in peace."

    Rachel Spilman, Hampshire

  5. 'I've tattooed the Queen on my leg'

    A tattoo of the Queen by Michael Purkiss, inked on his own legMichael Purkiss

    A tattoo of the Queen by Michael Purkiss, inked on his leg

    I decided to tattoo the Queen on my leg as I felt so sad. I share the same birthday with the Queen, 21 April, and I liked her. It hurts a lot more when you tattoo yourself, but the pain was worth it."

    Michael Purkiss, tattoo artist from Southampton

  6. 'I remember our street party for the Queen's coronation'

    Sandra Forde (left) with her brother and sisterSandra Forde

    Sandra Forde (left) with her older brother Terry and younger sister Janette during the street party for the coronation in 1953

    I have never had the pleasure to meet or even see Queen Elizabeth II in my 75 years. But I do remember our street party for her coronation in 1953 - I proudly wore my mum’s home-made rosette."

    Sandra Forde from Sutton-upon-Derwent, Yorkshire

  7. 'The Queen had universal appeal'

    The Queen and Prime Minister at a Commonwealth event in Sierra Leoneunknown

    The Queen with the former prime minister of Sierra Leone

    This photo shows why the Queen had universal appeal. She adapted and was comfortable in various social settings. My grandfather was High Comissioner in Sierra Leone in 1964. We have heard stories about when the Queen visited during her tour of the Commonwealth. You can see how relaxed she was dancing with the prime minister of Sierra Leone, the late Sir Milton Margai. This photo shows her warmth and humility."

    Dr Akiwale Akiwumi, London

  8. 'I've felt numb'

    A digital portrait of a corgi lying on a red and gold velvet cushion with sad eyes looking upwards, above the Corgi reads "Missing you always, sleep tight Lilibet"Swoopsy

    Stephanie Galloway is a digital artist whose tribute to the Queen has touched the hearts of people on social media

    This is my tribute to the Queen, one of her beloved corgis. I am a pet portrait artist and I love the Queen and King Charles; I feel so sorry for him I just want to give him a hug. When you lose someone, you feel numb, and I have felt numb after her passing. I wanted to create something that would symbolise her and how sad we all are at the passing of her Majesty.

    Stephanie Galloway from Bognor Regis

  9. Get in touch with your memories

    For those of you just joining us, this is a space dedicated to your tributes, reflections and memories of Queen Elizabeth II.

    Our journalists Victoria Park-Froud and Olga Smirnova have been reporting your stories.

    Perhaps you have a special memory of meeting the Queen, or you've been paying tribute to her where you are this week.

    You can get in touch in the following ways:

  10. 'She never complained in her 70 years, that's what kept us going'

    Steven queued for eight hours to see the Queen's coffinSteven Carruthers

    Steven queued for eight hours to see the Queen's coffin

    There were times when the queue felt upbeat, and other times it felt low. But then people would rally together, someone would tell a funny story, or someone would go and get the coffees and cakes, and everyone would feel upbeat again. I just felt the Queen was a completely unique individual who selflessly gave up the majority of her life for us. Whilst we might have complained at eight hours of queueing, she never once complained after 70 years, and that’s what kept us going despite the sore feet and sore legs."

    Steven Carruthers from Edinburgh

  11. 'It really chokes me up that the Queen died at Balmoral'

    Avi Anna Plotkin in Florida, US recalls the time her grandfather, Abe, met the Queen during a royal visit to Glasgow in July 1972.

    The Queen was opening a block of flats in the Gorbals. My grandfather had lived there as a child so he took my cousin to see if they could see the Queen. My grandfather raised his hat and said a prayer and the Queen saw him and came over to talk to him.

    Abe Plotkin chats with the Queen on her visit to Glasgow in 1972Avi Anna Plotkin

    Abe Plotkin chats with the Queen on her visit to Glasgow in 1972

    My father was from Glasgow and I take pride in being Scottish. It really chokes me up that the Queen had died at Balmoral. Scotland held a special place in her heart as it does in mine."

    Avi Anna Plotkin from Delray Beach, Florida, USA

  12. Students' tribute to the Queen

    A 2.2m canvas artwork created and signed by staff and students at Oasis Academy Coulsdon in SurreyKelly Radford

    A 2.2m canvas artwork created and signed by staff and students at Oasis Academy Coulsdon in Surrey

    Students wanted to have the opportunity to express their condolences. They felt that creating a piece of art for display in the school, paying tribute to the life and reign of the Queen, was an ideal way to do this. The solid black colour of the silhouette represents the rock that she was for so many people in our nation. The array of colours the names have been signed in represents the joy that she brought to so many. The plan is to display this in the centre of the school for all students and visitors to see."

    Kelly Radford from the Oasis Academy secondary school in Coulsdon, Surrey

  13. 'The Queen touched so many people around the world'

    My grandparents immigrated to the US from Scotland. The Queen touched so many people all over the world. She became Queen three years before I was born. But from a very young age, my mother made sure I knew about her and the royal family. Queen Elizabeth II was a special lady."

    Lisa Reach from Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

  14. When the Queen visited Regina

    The Queen and Prince Philip in CanadaGregory Moon

    Hotel general manager Gregory Moon in 1988 welcoming the Queen and Prince Philip in Canada

    I have some wonderful memories of Her Majesty. I was the general manager at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina, Canada, and it was my privilege to meet her on every occasion that she arrived at the hotel. We also cooked and served her dinner at the Lieutenant Governor's residence for 88 attendees. When I spoke with her after the dinner we talked of the menu being a revised form that was served to her father King George VI when he was in Saskatchewan. It was amazing to meet her."

    Gregory Moon, Vancouver, Canada

  15. 'Queuing to see the Queen was joyful'

    Italian Claudio Russello in Oxford says that despite the "sombre occasion" the queue he was in for more than eight hours to see the Queen lying-in-state was a "joyful" experience.

    I really wanted to pay the respects to Her Majesty because, although I am not a British citizen, I do realise of the historical relevance the Queen's reign has. I have lived in the UK for the past 11 years and I somewhat feel part of this nation, which Her Majesty so iconically and dutifully represented. It was my way to say thanks to this country. I wanted to be part of this history in the making.

    The experience was really surreal, because despite the sombre occasion, the queue was quite joyful and time went by quickly. I was impressed by the number of people from all walks of life and of all ethnicities and age. Seeing people in their 70s queue all night to pay respects to Her Majesty was really impressive. The desire to say goodbye to such an important monarch was strong and palpable."

    Claudio Russello

  16. 'I've added Paddington Bear to my crochet tribute'

    I have put my crochet postbox topper back out as a tribute to Her Majesty. It was originally displayed for the Platinum Jubilee and I have now added Paddington Bear holding her hand."

    Tracy Goude from Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire

    A postbox topper in tribute to the Queen, crocheted by Tracy Goude from Whittlesey, CambridgeshireTracy Goude

    A postbox topper in tribute to the Queen, crocheted by Tracy Goude from Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire

  17. 'My daughter got through security and passed the Queen a bag of sweets'

    The Queen accepting a bag of sweets on her visit to the Open University in Milton Keynes in 1979Unknown

    The Queen accepting a bag of sweets on her visit to the Open University in Milton Keynes in 1979

    During the Queen's visit to the Open University in 1979, Kay Ritson's daughter met the Queen. Aged four, Sara broke through security and passed Her Majesty a bag of sweets.

    I was distracted by my younger child, and turned my back on Sara for a moment. When I turned around I saw she was talking to the Queen. Sara had walked straight through security and right up to her. The Queen asked for her name, where she was from, who she was with, and my daughter gave her a bag of aniseed balls which the Queen said she’d have for afternoon tea. The police then escorted my daughter back to me."

    Kay Ritson from Bexhill

  18. A Welsh welcome

    The Queen in CardiffCarwyn Tywyn

    The Queen officially opening the new home of the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff on St David's Day in 2006

    I was new into my job as political correspondent for the Welsh language weekly news magazine, GOLWG, when the Queen came to open the new Senedd (Welsh Parliament) building in Cardiff. I took a few moments away from my reporting duties to take this picture on my old-style mobile phone.

    It was a significant moment personally, as less than two months previously, I had been unemployed and busking on the streets for a living. And now there I was, face-to-face with the Head of State! I am not a royalist by nature, however there is no question that we have witnessed the passing of one of the most influential and effective statespersons in world history."

    Dr Carwyn Tywyn

  19. Meeting the Queen was Canadian submariner's 'proudest day'.

    On June 8, 1959, the Queen and Prince Philip visited the Submarine Command in Gosport where Dar Churcher's father, a petty officer in the Royal Canadian Navy, was training to become a submariner.

    During the ceremonial proceedings, Her Majesty inspected the Royal Guard. Reaching the very end of one particular row, she stopped in front of a Canadian distinguished by his decorations and burly stature and proceeded to address him. That man was my father, Walter Robert Churcher.

    Walter ‘Bob’ Churcher meets the Queen at the Submarine Command in Gosport in 1959Portsmouth Evening News/Dar Churcher

    Walter ‘Bob’ Churcher meets the Queen at the Submarine Command in Gosport in 1959

    Imagine my father’s surprise when a photograph of this memorable occasion appeared in the Portsmouth Evening News! My mother ordered copies and I think every relative back home in Canada received one. My father always maintained that meeting the Queen was the proudest day of his life. And it certainly was."

    Dar Churcher, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

  20. 'The queue will be one of my best experiences in life'

    Jayne Price-Smith from Chester met four strangers who became friends while she queued to pay her respects to the Queen on Wednesday.

    “I didn’t want to regret not paying my respects, to say thank you and goodbye. I lost my dad at Easter and then the Queen's death came as such a shock that I needed closure and paying my respects has helped. I went to London on my own from Chester, quite apprehensive at the thought of queuing through the night and not knowing where I could stay until I could catch my train.

    "The queue will be one of my best experiences in life. Aside from being very well organised, I met four strangers who became friends during those five hours, all of us united in our grief and desire to pay our respects."

    Jayne Price-Smith, Chester