Nearly 69 million people in the United Kingdom awoke Friday for the first time in seven decades without the country’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who died Thursday at age 96.
Buckingham Palace began seven days of royal mourning on Friday, following the wishes of her eldest son and heir, King Charles III, reported Reuters.
According to Buckingham Palace, the date and details of the queen’s funeral will be announced “in due course.”
While no official date has been set, it is expected to occur within the next 10 days at Westminster Abbey in London. Queen Elizabeth II will then be laid to rest with her mother, father, and husband, Prince Philip, in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
People gathered at British embassies worldwide to pay their respects to the Queen, including President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
Hundreds of people left flowers outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, the monarch’s London home, which will be closed until she is laid to rest.
Figures ranging from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Sir Elton John paid tribute to the Queen, who died at Balmoral Castle.
During his final show in Toronto on Thursday, John praised Queen Elizabeth.
“I’m 75, and she’s been with me my whole life, and I’m unfortunate that she won’t be with me anymore, but I’m glad she’s at peace,” John added. “She led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace and decency and genuine caring.”
While preparations for the Queen’s services are underway, flags at royal residences will be flown at half-staff, according to the royal family. Britain’s longest-reigning monarch will lie in state among family and friends in Scotland before being relocated to the throne room at Buckingham Palace.
On Friday afternoon, King Charles III arrived as Britain’s monarch at Buckingham Palace for the first time. The king flew from Scotland to London and was driven to the royal residence. As the car approached the palace gates, a large crowd cheered.
Saturday, King Charles will be proclaimed by the ascension council and take a public oath to the church to “facilitate continuity of government,” Reuters reported.
As the 10 days of mourning began on Friday, bells tolled across the country in preparation for the 96-gun salute, which took place Friday afternoon in London — one round for each year of the Queen’s long life.