Queen Elizabeth II: Northern Ireland shocked and saddened at monarch's death
- Published
Julie Stockman on the Shankill Road where people have been gathering in tribute to the Queen
People across Northern Ireland have been reacting to the news of the Queen's death with many describing a sense of shock and loss.
On Belfast's Shankill Road, a recently unveiled mural marking the Queen's Jubilee has become a focal point for the community's grief.
Julie Stockman is one four local women who have booked flights to London to see the Queen's funeral cortège.
"We want to pay our respects. We loved the Queen and always will," she said.
The Queen died at her Balmoral estate in Scotland on Thursday at the age of 96.
Within minutes of her death being announced, people began laying flowers at the gates of Hillsborough Castle, her official residence in Northern Ireland.
Some were close to tears, moved by the death of the only monarch they had known.
Queen Elizabeth II stayed at Hillsborough Castle many times over the years.
Edwin Parks put the union flag outside his house at half-mast.
An emotional Mr Parks, a former presenter at BBC Radio Guernsey and ex-major in the Royal Horse Artillery, said it was "a very, very sad day".
Hillsborough man Edwin Parks places the Union flag outside his house at half-mast
Living just across the road from the castle, Mr Parks used to see Her Majesty "every now and again".
"She was a very lovely woman and I was very privileged to have met her on three or four occasions," he said.
"And one of the amazing things about her was that when you met her, without the cameras and all of that around, she was a very ordinary woman.
"I always used to say she reminds me of my mother. She was just the same sort of person - very informed.
"She had a wicked sense of humour - I mean a really, really wicked sense of humour which, away from the cameras, appeared the whole time.
"She was just a lovely person to talk to.
"She was part of Hillsborough. And presumably her son will continue to be part of Hillsborough."
Stephen Gilmore: "One day you've a new prime minister, the next a new monarch"
Speaking at the castle gates, as people laid tributes while a light drizzle fell, Stephen Gilmore told BBC News NI he was "very shocked" by the Queen's death "because we saw her on the TV yesterday appointing the new prime minister".
"Yes, she was frail but she looked in good health - and today she's gone," he said.
Mr Gilmore described Queen Elizabeth as "a tremendous woman of faith and of leadership".
A clearly emotional Colin McCrory said he had travelled especially to Hillsborough to lay flowers.
Colin McCrory, from the Shankill area of Belfast, travelled to Hillsborough to pay his respects
"It's just a day everyone expected but you never thought you'd see it," he said.
"My granny loved her. I was brought up loving her. There'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."
Laura Porter, who was also at the castle to pay her respects, told BBC News NI: "She's been the longest-reigning monarch and as a woman she is just so inspirational.
"After the past couple of years with her family, as well, they kind of put her through the rounds a little bit. I feel quite sad for her today but I think she's with Philip, the love of her life.
"She 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."
Ms Porter expressed hope that everyone in Northern Ireland could come together to pay respect to Queen Elizabeth.
Laura Porter: "As a woman she is just so inspirational"
Lyndsey Gault, from Dromore, County Down, spoke of a sense of "tremendous sadness for the nation".
She said she had come to Hillsborough to pay her respects to "a godly lady".
"Her service has been impeccable," she said.
"My granny would have remembered the Queen's coronation.
Those laying flowers at Hillsborough Castle spoke of their admiration for the Queen
"And I would almost see the Queen as my granny as well. I think a lot of people would. You know, she is the nation's granny."
'Only one in that room'
In Londonderry's Fountain Estate, there was a sombre, reflective mood.
Community worker Jeanette Warke was awarded an MBE by the Queen in 1999.
"I will always remember that day and I will never forget that lady," Ms Warke told BBC Radio Foyle on Friday.
Jeanette Warke says meeting the Queen in 1999 was a day she will never forget
"It was just a privilege to stand before her and look into her eyes.
"She 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.
"She actually knew the work that I did and it's just something I'll never forget."
The union flag flying at half-mast over Belfast City Hall
Tributes were paid on the Shankill Road in Belfast with a recently unveiled Jubilee mural a focal point for the community's grief
On the Shankill Road in Belfast, many local residents expressed their grief.
Community development worker, Stacey Graham, lay flowers with her husband and children and said the experience was "really really moving".
"I'm showing my respect because I'm British and I love the Queen. We had helped organise the Jubilee mural that everybody is now using as a focal point for their grief," she said.
Stacey Graham said she was moved by the tributes on the Shankill Road
"It's only right that we come down and remember such an amazing, admirable woman.
"Her grace to the very end was just unbelievable and I don't think we'll ever see another lady like her again."
Ms Graham added that she thinks Charles will be a powerful, modern monarch and she says she admires his views on climate change.
Sharon Burns lay flowers to show her respect
Sharon Burns said she was very upset to hear the news.
"When I heard they'd sent for the Royal family, I knew that was it.
"She did her duty right up until the very end. We'll see what happens but (Charles and Camilla) will not do the job the way she did it. "She was our Queen, she'll always be our Queen," she added.
Mr Finlay paid tribute to the Queen's work across the Commonwealth
Stuart Finlay works with the Shankill community garden and is responsible for maintaining the mural. He knew this would be a busy area.
He said he was "heartbroken" to hear the news of the Queen's passing.
"It's a shock to everybody... She's done so much for the whole of the UK and the Commonwealth, and did her fair share for the peace process.
"Just look down the road, there's tributes everywhere for her."
Members of the community marked their respects on Friday morning
"She just kept going and going" said Gemma Davison
Gemma Davison spoke to BBC NI as she lay flowers, saying that she felt the need to "pay my respects, she did her service for over 70 years".
"She just kept going and going.
"I think Charles will just carry on from what his Mummy did, he'll follow her example," she added.
- Published9 September 2022
- Published8 September 2022
