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. At Westminster Hall 'people fell into their own thoughts'

    Steve and his partner Clare queued for eight hours to see the Queen lying-in-state. They travelled by car and train from North Devon and joined the queue at London Bridge on Wednesday at 7.45pm. At 4.30am on Thursday they made it into Westminster Hall.

    We are both huge fans of Her Majesty. We were both in the car together when we heard on the BBC that the Queen had died. We said at that moment that we should make the journey for her funeral or to see her lying-in-state."

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    “We both noticed how the atmosphere changed quite quickly as we approached Westminster Hall. People weren't boisterous but they had been chatty. But we noticed how people seemed to fall into their own thoughts and went quiet as we approached Westminster Hall. Not a word was said for the entire time we were in there."

    Steve, Devon

  2. 'My father's drawing of King George V lying-in-state'

    A drawing of Elizabeth II's grandfather lying-in-state in 1936Peter Camplin

    A drawing of Elizabeth II's grandfather lying-in-state in 1936

    From Wednesday a very similar image of a very similar event is being seen around the world. However, this one shows the lying-in-state of Queen Elizabeth II’s grandfather, King George V in 1936. This not a press photo but a pen and ink drawing made by my father at the age of 19. I was told from an early age that my father attended the 1936 lying-in-state as a member of the public, but obviously he could not stand there for long enough to produce the work, so I can only assume that he was inspired by a press photo and rose to the challenge."

    Peter Camplin from Maidenhead

  3. 'I told her she looked smart'

    I was lucky enough to witness a little of Her Majesty's warmth and humour when I was nine. She was visiting Hull to celebrate the Red Cross group I attended, and she told me, "you look smart' and I said, "you do too". She smiled warmly with a touch of a laugh and thanked me. I'll always remember that brief, kindly exchange, as will my proud mum.

    Jamie Smith, 35 from Hull

  4. 'This photo made all the standing around worth it'

    The Queen in her carriageChris Bryan

    The Queen and Prince Philip in their carriage

    I was fortunate to take this photo of the Queen and the Prince Philip as they made their way down the Mall on the wedding day of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I treasured this one photo as I really think I caught a natural smile and glance at my camera. It certainly made all that standing around worth it."

    Chris Bryan, Crawley

  5. 'A proud moment for my grandad'

    The Queen meeting members of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment in Germanyunknown

    Megan Hawkin's grandad shaking hands with the Queen

    This is a picture of my grandad Robert Best Napier who was a Regimental Sergeant Major in the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment. This photo was taken in Germany in the 1960s. It was a very proud moment for my grandad shaking hands with the Queen. God Bless the Queen. A very special lady who was very much loved and will be missed."

    Megan Hawkins, Essex

  6. 'I captured this great smile'

    The Queen smilingAlan Inglis Photography

    The Queen smiling on a visit to Edinburgh

    The Queen came to open a newly built biochemistry building at the Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh, in the summer of 1982. Photographers from the Home Office were sent to cover the event. As one of two photographers employed by the Institute, I was a bit peeved when we were told to wear a white coat and 'keep out the way.' Fortune favoured the brave as I didn't quite do as I was told. I captured this great smile when the Queen, unknowingly, turned her back on the Home Office snappers."

    Alan Inglis, West Lothian

  7. 'She showed interest in the pupils'

    Hugh Howe standing next to the Queen as she signs a pictureFir Vale school

    The Queen opened a school in Sheffield in 2003

    It was a proud day for Fir Vale School in Sheffield when it was officially opened by the Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh in 2003. It was a privilege and a great honour for me as headteacher to welcome the Royal party. It was a wonderful day made more special by being able to introduce the Queen to my mother and spending a short time in the Queen's warm and engaging company. She showed interest in the pupils and I look back with pride. I pray that she will rest in peace."

    Hugh Howe, Lincolnshire

  8. 'I was a guard at King's funeral and Queen's coronation'

    I have known about the Royal Family since 1935, when I was at school in Gloucestershire and there was a party for George V’s Silver Jubilee. I was born in the same year as the Queen. I was in the Coldstream Guards in 1952 and was a guard at King George VI’s funeral. It was a very cold day and we wore overcoats.

    Veteran in uniformSharon Hines

    Victor Roberts on Remembrance Sunday in 2021

    I had a job to do and I had to get on with it but I was very proud to be a guard for the King. I was also a guard at the Queen's Coronation.”

    Victor Roberts, 96, Somerset

  9. A King meeting a Queen

    The Queen receiving flowersLeanne King

    The Queen visiting Newport in Wales when it was granted city status in 2002

    We met our wonderful Queen when our town of Newport was given city status for the millennium. My son Andrew, who was about six at the time, and I, stayed up really late the night before making a red, white and blue hat for him to wear. We waited hours for the Queen to come. She came by us and walked past, but when she saw Andrew's hat she doubled back and came and took his flowers from him. She was full of smiles.

    She was a wonderful monarch and a lovely, beautiful soul. I also think it's funny that our surname is King, and we used to live in Queen's Road when we lived in Chepstow. I will miss her terribly."

    Leanne King, Wales

  10. 'We made the Queen cakes and trifles'

    The Queen looks at cakes and pastries made by the girls of Barnet school, behind her stands two girls in aprons, one is Lynda CarterLynda Carter

    Lynda Carter (far right) met the Queen when she visted her school in Barnet in 1957

    This was when the queen visited my school Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School for Girls in Barnet in 1957 if I remember rightly. We were in a domestic science class and we made "Queen cakes" a type of fairy cake and trifles. I did see a recording of the visit on BBC this week which I’d never seen before. Such a proud memory for me. I'm now 78."

    Lynda Carter from London

  11. 'It was such a fleeting moment'

    The Queen in her carMaura Sellars

    When Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip came to Australia in 1970, they visited Richmond, New South Wales. I was aged 10 and one of hundreds of children bussed in to line their route. I was armed with my Kodak Instamatic camera ready to take a snap as the entourage drove past. It was such a fleeting moment but I remember the excitement vividly. It took some time before the film was developed. Although it is black and white and not great quality, I was so thrilled to capture this memory of the Queen smiling and waving to the crowd."

    Maura Sellars, Surrey

  12. ‘We re-enacted our wedding for the Queen’

    The Queen looking at a Malaysian woman's jewellerySiok Lay

    The Queen on a visit to Malaysia taking a close look at Siok Lay's wedding attire

    I met Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and Lord Mountbatten in Malacca, Malaysia in 1972. My husband and I had the honour of re-enacting our Peranakan wedding for a cultural display curated for our royal visitors.

    I was very nervous but the way the Queen spoke and smiled put me at ease. She was fascinated by our traditional wedding attire. She asked questions about our culture and very closely observed the wedding jewellery that I was wearing. I am very happy to have met her and will always remember her."

    Siok Lay, Malaysia

  13. 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 Rozina Sini, Andrée Massiah, James Kelly, Emma Pengelly, and Jessica Sherwood have been reporting your stories.

    You can get in touch in the following ways:

  14. 'I taught the Queen to set off an explosion'

    The Queen smiling after being taught how to set off an explosion by the RAFRoyal Air Force

    The Queen smiling after being taught how to set off an explosion by the RAF

    I taught the queen to set off an explosion at RAF Holbeach Air Weapons Range in 2007. I thought it was a beautiful image of her and I was proud to have the chance to be stood next to her when it was taken."

    Dan Stubbins, Gloucestershire

  15. 'Her love for horses was evident'

    The Queen with carriage driver Michael MalonePaul Orchard

    The Queen with carriage driver Michael Malone

    I had the pleasure of meeting the Queen on several occasions through carriage driving. On every occasion, I was impressed by the Queen's humour and personal touch. I was also present at a private invitation to the Coaching Club at Windsor in July. We were not allowed to photograph the Queen as it was her personal space, but the joy on her face inspecting the horses was evident.

    Michael Malone from Kent

  16. 'She took time to talk to the crowd'

    The Queen talking to people in EdinburghDawn Third

    The Queen talking to people in Edinburgh

    Although never being fortunate enough to actually meet Her Majesty, I did see her on several occasions. To take this picture I waited on her coming out of Sunday Service at Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh. I was delighted she took time to talk to the crowd and looked truly radiant with her lovely smile. A treasured memory."

    Dawn Third, Edinburgh

  17. Memories of the Queen on tour in Australia

    Child handing flowers to the QueenHerald Sun

    Cheryl Peacock, aged six, handing the Queen flowers in Victoria, Australia

    I was nearly six when I met the Queen. My mother wrapped up flowers in foil to give her. We were in Portland Victoria in Australia for her tour. Her car stopped in front of where we were standing. Mum encouraged me to step out to give her the flowers."

    Cheryl Peacock

  18. Dallas, aged 99, pays her respects

    Dallas Gill, from West London, lays flowers at Windsor CastleDésirée Gill-Evans

    Dallas Gill, from West London, lays flowers at Windsor Castle

    Our mum, who will be 100 in January, wanted to lay flowers as a mark of respect and to say a prayer for our Queen. Travelling to Buckingham Palace was a step too far, but with Windsor Castle within our reach we took her on Monday. Our mum has lived long enough to have witnessed the reign of five monarchs. The death of our Queen has had a profound effect on her, as it has on so many of us."

    Désirée Gill-Evans from Wraysbury

  19. 'We kept some of the carpet laid under the throne'

    A section of carpet fitted underneath under the throneMary-Ann Freshwater

    A section of carpet fitted underneath under the throne

    Mary-Ann Freshwater's father laid the carpet under the throne in 1952 ahead of the Queen's coronation in 1953. After leaving the army, he had worked for a carpet fitter.

    He managed somehow to get me and my brother into a room overlooking the road so that we could see the golden coach. I saw its gilded exterior and the large wheels, driven by horses and coachmen trundling by as they left the abbey. I was looking down and seeing the golden coach go past with the Queen and Prince Philip inside. I was four years old at the time, the memory has been engraved into my consciousness.

    My father brought the carpet home having laid it for the throne. There was a lot more of it that got moth-eaten over time, but I came across it again when my mother died - I thought I must keep it as a memento."

    Mary-Ann Freshwater, from Kingston

  20. A food parcel sent by the Queen in 1947

    A letter from the Queen in 1947Chris Millyard

    A letter from the Queen in 1947

    Chris Millyard, a retired teacher from Worcestershire, found this letter from the Queen when sorting through her dad's belongings. His parents, Albert and Ann Walls, were among the recipients of a letter and food parcel distributed to mark the Queen's marriage to Prince Philip in 1947.

    Out of my dad's things rolled this teeny bit of paper no bigger than a cigarette. I discovered what it was and realised the implications."

    Miner Albert Walls and his wife, AnnChris Millyard

    Miner Albert Walls and his wife, Ann

    The letter, with a food parcel, was sent to my grandparents. They lived in a little miners cottage near Doncaster. The miners kept the country going during the war and my grandad was at the coalface, he was a hewer. I think that's probably why they were selected. They weren't rich. They were very humble people. I showed it to one of my friends and they said, 'Why don't you frame it?'. Maybe I will."

    Chris Millyard