Queen Elizabeth II: Your tributes to UK's longest-reigning monarch

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

'Excuse the muck, ma'am'published at 14:02 British Summer Time 13 September 2022
Neil Barford, from Corley, Warwickshire, met the Queen when his horse won the prestigious Foxhunter category at the Horse of the Year show at Wembley.
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My boss won it and the groom always got presented with a crystal bowl. So there I was covered in mud and shavings and all kinds of muck. She put her hand out to shake mine, and I was like 'excuse the dirt, Ma'am'. But she said 'if you haven't got any dirt on you, you haven't done your job properly' - and then 'congratulations'."
Neil Barford, from Corley, Warwickshire
A cheeky three-year-old's invitation for the Queenpublished at 12:51 British Summer Time 13 September 2022
Image source, Hughes family
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Rhys and his mum Glenna Hughes waiting to see the Queen in 1989
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The Queen visited Guernsey when I was three years old in 1989. As part of the visit Her Majesty came to St Peter port where our family lived at the time. Mum, Glenna, was a church leader in the Salvation Army, and [we] were with other people from the church waiting on the street with many others.
Image source, Glenna Hughes
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The Queen visiting Guernsey
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I was able to present the Queen with a posy of flowers - along with cheeky three-year-old me asking Her Majesty if she would like to come home for tea. Sadly (but not surprisingly) she declined graciously but accepted the flowers willingly."
Rhys Hughes, now living in Kent
'She just broke out into a lovely smile'published at 10:58 British Summer Time 13 September 2022
In 2011 the Queen and Prince Philip went to the official opening of the newly-built Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert, Scotland.
Ian Mullen, former chair of the hospital, says it was an "enormous pleasure" to give the Queen a tour of the hospital:
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We walked into a [rehabilitation] area where there were lots of patients. Lots had had heart attacks and so were on exercise bikes, or walking and running on treadmills - it was just a mass of movement and action.
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Her Majesty stopped short as we walked in. She looked at the huge amount of efforts and activity, turned to me and said: "Is there any method in this madness?" She said it straight-faced, that kind of throws you a little. But then she just broke out into a lovely smile and all of us just really collapsed in laughter. It was so unexpected. There’s always an element of tension in these situations and she just put everyone at their ease. She was absolutely lovely and incredibly knowledgeable."
Ian Mullen, former chair of NHS Forth Valley
'My great-uncle showed her how to make bricks'published at 10:51 British Summer Time 13 September 2022
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Our family's special memory [is] when the then-Princess Elizabeth met my great-uncle, Alfred Matthews. He was demonstrating the art of hand-making bricks to her. My family still make bricks and are proud to still make bricks for the Royal Family today.
Will Matthews, H G Matthews Brickmakers
Image source, Will Matthews' family archive
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Alfred Matthews shows the Queen the art of hand-making bricks
'She was a constant in our lives'published at 10:16 British Summer Time 13 September 2022
Image source, Yvonne Evans
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Nurse Yvonne Evans had lunch with the Queen and Prince Philip in 1998
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I had the privilege of meeting the Queen and Prince Philip in 1998 when they visited Harrogate hospital where I was a nurse. I was invited to attend their lunch and had the pleasure of sitting with Prince Philip on the table next to the Queen. What an honour. I will miss her, she has been a constant in our lives. Rest in peace your Majesty and now we welcome King Charles III to continue your hard work."
Yvonne Evans from South Gloucestershire
'My letter from the Queen was humbling and inspiring'published at 09:42 British Summer Time 13 September 2022
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In October 2016 I received a letter from the Queen, saying how touched and inspired she was to hear how committed I was in raising awareness of organ donation after a young man saved my life over 16 years ago when I received a transplant. Her Majesty wished me all the best with my awareness campaign. Since receiving her letter she inspired me [to] go on to have founded an online campaign group, encouraging people to have the organ donation conversation. Felt so humbled to receive such a letter from such a thoughtful, caring and wise lady who meant so much to so many."
Sarah Jones
Image source, Sarah Jones
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Sarah Jones recieved a personal letter from the Queen in 2016
'The royal handshake shall be treasured'published at 08:56 British Summer Time 13 September 2022
Image source, Bolaji Egbewale
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Dr Bolaji Egbewale meeting the Queen at a reception in Buckingham Palace in 2010
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It was indeed a rare privilege to meet the Queen and her husband on invitation, facilitated by Keele University in 2010. I was studying for my PhD in England, and was a delegate for the Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education. The royal handshake shall be treasured for a long time to come! Adieu ma'am!"
Dr Bolaji Egbewale, Nigeria
'I wanted to give the Queen's flowers to my mum instead'published at 05:21 British Summer Time 13 September 2022
Image source, unknown
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Lucy Isaacs didn't want to give the Queen flowers
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This was me attempting to give flowers to the Queen at a Royal film premier in 1979. I refused to give them to her when prompted. Instead I told her I wanted to give them to my mother instead. Apparently my mum had to try and retrieve them from me, and eventually the poor Queen was handed a battered bouquet of flowers. The Queen found it hilarious, as did the cast of the film. Not sure I found it as funny!"
Lucy Isaacs, London
Image source, unknown
'My mum was extremely excited'published at 04:03 British Summer Time 13 September 2022
Image source, Montserrat Kidwell
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Maria managed to get a picture with the Queen at the Epsom Derby
For her parents' 50th wedding anniversary Montserrat Kidwell bought them tickets to the Epsom Derby in the Queen's stand where they had a surprise.
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My mother Maria Antonia Kidwell and I went to see if the Queen was ready to leave after one of the last races. To our surprise we were alone in the foyer as we saw her proceed to walk down the steps to her waiting car. I took a photo of my mum with the Queen just behind. She was chatting away happily to the lady beside her. A lifelong fan, my mum aged 80 was extremely excited about being so close to Her Majesty, as was I. A cherished memory for all time."
Montserrat Kidwell, Surrey
'It was emotional meeting the Queen'published at 02:24 British Summer Time 13 September 2022
Image source, Becky Mitchell
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Becky Mitchell receiving her MBE from the Queen in 2020
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I’ve been living with HIV for 10 years and in 2020, I received my MBE from the Queen for services to HIV awareness. She asked what sort of work I did and if it was local or national. It was very emotional meeting the Queen as I wasn’t expecting it to be her doing the investiture.”
Becky Mitchell MBE, Bristol
Disappointment turned to delightpublished at 00:36 British Summer Time 13 September 2022
Image source, Debbi Elrick
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Debbi Elrick, aged nine, presenting a bouquet of flowers to Queen Elizabeth II at the Braemar Gathering in 1976
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I was selected to meet the Queen as I was a member of Bobby Watson's school of Highland dancing in Braemar and we all got the chance to present bouquets to the female members of the Royal Family who attended the Braemar Games every year.
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The previous year, I was supposed to present a bouquet to Princess Margaret, but she didn’t attend so I was automatically in line to present to the Queen the following year. So even though I was disappointed that I missed out that year, I was delighted at getting the opportunity to meet the Queen."
Debbi Elrick, New Zealand
'A wonderful surprise'published at 22:26 British Summer Time 12 September 2022
Image source, Sophie Haines
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I have been a primary school teacher for 12 years and have always enjoyed teaching the children about the Royal Family and celebrating royal events at school. One year, we were learning how to write letters so we all wrote a message to the Queen for her 90th birthday. It was a huge honour and a wonderful surprise to receive a letter from the Queen thanking us for our letters. This summer my then-class also sent letters for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
Sophie Haines, London
'You will always be an inspiration'published at 20:20 British Summer Time 12 September 2022
Image source, Sonia Tandon
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Sonia Tandon dancing in front of the Queen and Prince Philip at Chester Zoo during their Diamond Jubilee tour
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It was a true honour to dance for The Queen and Prince Philip. The Queen saw our dance and Prince Philip spoke to us once the dance was over. It was such an honour and an emotional moment to be in so close to them.
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You will be dearly missed, you have gone but you will live in our hearts forever. Thank you for giving us your entire self. You will always be an inspiration for generations to come."
Dr Sonia Tandon, Warrington
'She told my parents what a beautiful baby they had'published at 19:04 British Summer Time 12 September 2022
Image source, Janine Lee
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Janine has met the Queen a few times including as a baby in Jersey and in Malta as a child
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In 1949 I was only a few months old - the Queen and Prince Philip were visiting Jersey so my parents decided to walk down the lane to see if they could spot the Royal party. Not only did they spot them, but they stopped the car, got out and spoke to my parents commenting what a beautiful baby they had. I have had the privilege of seeing her a few times since. God bless you dear lady and long live the King."
Janine Lee from Jersey
'The Queen brought me a sherry at midnight'published at 18:38 British Summer Time 12 September 2022
Retired police officer Chris Clark from County Durham was guarding the Queen at Sandringham in the rain on New Year's Eve 1976 when she gave him a glass of sherry at midnight.
Image source, Chris Clark
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It's a moment I will treasure for ever. I felt completely at ease in her presence. It shows the ability of the lady to be able to talk with anyone at the same level. The then-Prince Charles spoke to me about where I was from and asked, "Have you got your waterproof underwear on?". Prince Andrew asked me, "How do you like working in this God forsaken place?". We all stood there like I was part of their social gathering and they seemed interested in this mere mortal asking all sorts of questions."
Chris Clark, retired policeman
'My nan was in a wartime pantomime with the Queen'published at 17:36 British Summer Time 12 September 2022
Image source, Studio Lisa/Rosie Mae Warby's family archive
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Nanny Rose acted in the pantomime Cindarella with Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret in 1943
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My nan was evacuated to Windsor Great Park during the war, where she was taken care of by the groundskeeper and his wife. She joined Girl Guides with the Queen and Princess Margaret. Their troupe was known as the swallows and the brown owl was the Queen Mother. My nan and her sisters were in several pantomimes and played with the Princesses frequently in the park. They all look back on these memories very fondly and had correspondence with the Queen about those times. She shared her fondness and remembered them all. My nan sadly passed away some years ago now but she was so proud of this photograph and these memories. We were and are so proud of her."
Rosie Mae Warby
We want to hear your storiespublished at 16:40 British Summer Time 12 September 2022
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, Jessica Sherwood, Olga Smirnova and Catherine Evans have been reporting your stories.
It doesn't matter how big or small your tributes are, whether you met the Queen 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:
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The day I was knighted by the Queenpublished at 16:21 British Summer Time 12 September 2022
Sir Michael Aaronson, former director general of Save the Children, when the Queen was the charity's patron.
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Those days are something else really. You just have to take your hat off to the way she handled those investiture ceremonies. It's obviously a hugely important day for us.
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She just had a way of making you feel you were the most important person in the room... that little moment with the Queen was the highlight of the whole day."
'I was unexpectedly close enough to snap this photo aged 10'published at 15:38 British Summer Time 12 September 2022
Image source, Kate Moore
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Our car ferry from Oban to the Isle of Skye was unexpectedly overtaken at sea by Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia. Children were allowed to disembark as foot passengers and I was unexpectedly close enough to snap this photo as a 10-year-old. Although I was grateful for the thrill of the bragging rights at school, what I most remember is a shared affinity for the holiday location and a sense of awe at the power of positive endorsement the Queen could evoke. The rest of our holiday was naturally magical. As a child I believed the Queen’s presence had ensured this, a comforting emotion that many people retained into adulthood and will now miss."
Kate Moore, Canberra, Australia
'Gone to meet Queen - back after lunch'published at 15:00 British Summer Time 12 September 2022
Sean Marshall - a former city councillor in Derby - was mayor when the Queen visited in 2010 to attend the Maundy Service at the city's cathedral. Afterwards, he said he sat next to her during a "surreal" lunch.
Image source, Don Smith/Radio Times/Getty Images
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We sat down at the table and there was a bit of silence and I thought 'I need to break the ice here'. So I said 'you know ma'am I closed my shop to come here today' and she looked at me. I said 'yes, it's like Arkwright, it's open all hours my shop, never closed ever but I've left a big sign on the door saying I've gone for lunch with the Queen. Who's going to believe me today?' because it was the first of April. She started laughing and from there on it was just two hours of talking. We talked about family and work and just general chit-chat."
Sean Marshall, former mayor and city councillor, Derby