Following the official announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s death on Thursday, September 8, 2022, crowds that gathered outside Buckingham Palace, sang a morose royal anthem, God Save the Queen.

Almost a hundred people gathered outside Buckingham Palace when news of the Queen’s deteriorating health was announced on Thursday. Hundreds more joined following the confirmation of the Queen’s death in heavy rain.

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A rainbow became visible for a couple of minutes, which raised spirits, however, a melancholic mood became prevalent after 6:30 pm local time, when the news of the Queen’s death was announced. Cries were heard saying, “oh no”, as reported by the AFP.

Many started to weep when the Union Jack atop the Queen’s residence in London was lowered, followed by a total silence in the crowd. The Union Jack at the Windsor Castle, outside London, was kept at half-mast and as it was being lowered, another rainbow was witnessed.

“She’s been the queen for as long as I’ve been alive, she’s been the queen for as long as my parents have been alive,” AFP quoted a currency broker, Charlie Wolstenholme, saying.

“So she’s really a very, very important part of the fabric. You know, it’s going to be terrible,” he added.

Soon after, the iconic black taxis of London started lining up in the Mall, the road that leads to Buckingham Palace. The gesture was a tribute to the dead Queen. In Piccadilly Circus, a picture of the late Queen, made up of neon lights, glowed.

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Many people who gathered outside Buckingham Palace, some of whom have different nationalities, carried flowers.

“As a French person, even I am touched by this,” Chloe Papeil, a student, told AFP. “She is a part of English culture, but also global culture,” Papeil added.

Queen Elizabeth II was the longest reigning British monarch at the time of her death. She marked the beginning of the Platinum Jubilee year of her reign earlier this year.