Queen Elizabeth II death news: King Charles to address nation as royal mourning period announced

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, along with president Draupadi Murmu, extended their condolences and tributes after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, calling her “a stalwart of our times”.

The Indian government has announced a day of state mourning on 11 September as “a mark of respect” for the Queen, during which the national flag will be at half-mast throughout the country and there will be no official entertainment.

Mr Modi on Thursday recalled his “memorable meetings” with the Queen during his visits to the UK in 2015 and 2018, saying: “I will never forget her warmth and kindness.”

My colleague Stuti Mishra has more details here:

The courts have fallen silent and cases were briefly brought as judges expressed their “profound sorrow” at the death of the Queen.

Lawyers and court users gathered in the Great Hall of the Old Bailey to observe the two-minute silence at 10am.

The death of the Duke of Edinburgh was “considerable” for the Queen because he was the final person she felt she could be “normal” with, according to family friend Gyles Brandreth.

The broadcaster and author told BBC Breakfast: “She didn’t let her private life go into the public area, and she didn’t give interviews, but when you were with her, she was very much herself, she was very unaffected, she was very easy to be with.

“I say that, but of course she was also the Queen and there was an always invisible moat around her because nobody ever treated the Queen quite normally.

“For her, I think the loss of a mother and her sister, and then her husband – the three people who could simply treat her as a woman – that was very considerable for her, because nobody else was entirely normal with her.

“Her children, of course, but even they would bow and curtsey to her at the beginning of each day.”

Those who wish to leave floral tributes at Buckingham Palace will be guided to lay them at dedicated sites in Green Park or Hyde Park, the Palace has said.

At Windsor Castle, floral tributes can be left at Cambridge Gate on the Long Walk. These flowers will be brought inside the castle each evening and placed on the castle chapter grass on the south side of St George’s Chapel and Cambridge Drive.

At Balmoral Castle, floral tributes can be left at the main gate, while at the Sandringham Estate, people are encouraged to leave floral tributes at the Norwich Gates.

At the Palace of Holyroodhouse, people are encouraged to give floral tributes to the wardens at the entrance to The Queen’s Gallery, who will lay them on the forecourt grass in front of the palace’s north turret.

At Hillsborough Castle, floral tributes may be laid on the castle forecourt in front of the main gates.

The musician, Sting – who was made a CBE by the Queen in 2003 – has said that he had a “quiet weep” following the death of the British monarch.

Celebrities across the worlds of music, film, television, theatre, art and literature are paying tribute to the Queen. Our music and culture news editor, Roisin O’Connor has more details in this report:

My colleague Thomas Kingsley has been speaking with people paying their respects outside Buckingham Palace this morning.

Rani Krishnasamy, who was returning to Malaysia today with her family, said: “We feel very close to the Queen. We wanted to share and grieve with British people , it’s incredibly sad. We’re going back to Malaysia today but we wanted to be here.” “She’s reigned for 70 years , she’s come to Malaysia 3 times – she’ll definitely be missed. Everyone in Malaysia will miss her – as part of the commonwealth it’s very sad for us.”

Environmental consultant Matthew Swabey said the Queen will be missed as a constant figure in changing times.

“It’s shocking. I never thought it was going to happen. She was such a steady figure in my entire life. Only two days ago she’s was pictured out of bed doing her duty. I’m shocked and sad but grateful to be alive for part of her reign,” the 28-year-old said.

“I just wanted to pay my respects. She got out of bed almost everyday to do her duty so the least I could do was come out. She’ll be remembered incredibly fondly. It’ll take time for us to appreciate how amazing she was. It’ll be a strange time of transition. The fact that we had her as a constant for so long will be missed.”

Recent graduates Twyene Rabelais and Constance Edobor said the Queen was like a grandmother to them, as they paid their respects.

“When I heard she was sick I didn’t think it was that serious initially but when people begun speaking about it more I couldn’t believe it. I’m still quite shocked that she’s not going to be with us anymore,” Constance said, adding: “We already miss her.”

Twyene added: “We just wanted to pay out respects to the head of state. It’s the least we could do.

“Since I was a little girl she’s everything I’ve ever known there was always the Queen of England. I always wished I could have tea with her. To me she was like a grandma , to my mother she was like a mother. We aspire to be as wise , as progressive as her. To lose her today means a lot to the world – not just the English.”

“People will need time to mourn,” Constance added.

As Liz Truss awaits her first audience as prime minister with the new monarch, King Charles III, ministers have been arriving in Downing Street this morning for a Cabinet meeting.

A service of “prayer and reflection” on the Queen’s death will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral in London this evening, with 2,000 seats available for the public on a first come, first served basis.

Those wishing to attend the service – which will be broadcast on BBC One – are advised to visit the City of London tourism office on Carter Lane to collect a wristband from 11am onwards, with the queue for security at the cathedral opening at 3pm.

The order of service will be available on the cathedral’s official website shortly prior to the service. The cathedral will be closed due to preparations for the service on Friday and will reopen for private prayer and worship the following day.

Here are images of the car believed to have been carrying Prince Harry from Balmoral to Aberdeen International Airport, escorted by police.

My colleague Chiara Giordano has more in this report:

The Duke of Sussex was seen leaving Balmoral at about 8.15am, with the convoy passing flowers that had been laid as tributes to his late grandmother.

The King is expected to leave later for Aberdeen airport to fly back to London.