Crowds have been gathering outside Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Balmoral after the Queen's death was announced.<br /><br />Mourners began to gather at Buckingham Palace around 5 p.m. when concerns about the monarch's health began to rise and grew after the sad news of her death emerged.<br /><br />The flag at the palace was lowered to half-staff at 6:30 p.m. when the news was announced.<br /><br />When the news of Queen's death was announced, many of the hundreds of people gathered outside the gates began to cry.<br /><br />As night fell, there was a sea of people outside Buckingham Palace as the Queen's loyal public gathered to pay their respects.<br /><br />A crowd also began to grow outside Windsor Castle, where a Union flag flying from one of the towers had been lowered to half-staff.<br /><br />Mourners also converged on Balmoral, where Her Majesty died surrounded by members of the Royal Family.<br /><br />John Loughrey, 67, wept outside Buckingham Palace as he said he "can't believe" the news and paid tribute to the "inspiring" Queen whose "duty always came first".<br /><br />"I met the Queen twice. I gave her flowers. I can't believe it," he said.<br /><br />"She was inspiring. She did her duty: her duty always came first, her family after her.<br /><br />"She went downhill after the Duke of Edinburgh died. God save the queen."<br /><br />Loughrey said he would camp near the palace for 10 days as a show of respect for the Queen before lighting a candle for her in Westminster Abbey.<br /><br />Sheila De Bellaigue, 77 from London, voiced the opinion of many gathered at the Palace.<br /><br />"I feel very sad because everyone is here. She has been a wonderful Queen and she will be sorely missed."<br /><br />Michael Hammond learned the news when he saw the Union flag being lowered to half-staff.<br /><br />"I am absolutely crushed. I thought she embodied the British spirit," said the 23-year-old from Southampton.<br /><br />Floral tributes have begun to be placed outside Windsor Castle to mourn the Queen.<br /><br />The crowds outside were so large that staff members returning to the castle struggled to get through the main entrance.<br /><br />Royal fans and mourners can pay their respects to the late Queen while she is in the Palace of Westminster for three days.<br /><br />The Queen's body is expected to arrive in London by royal train after she passes away peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022.<br /><br />In a somber statement, Buckingham Palace today confirmed that Her Majesty Elizabeth II, the longest-serving monarch in British history, had passed away, making her son, Charles, King.<br /><br />Her passing comes after King Charles and Prince William rushed to the queen's side after doctors confirmed they were "concerned" about her health.<br /><br />The UK was immediately plunged into a state of mourning, with plans for her funeral and a national day of remembrance to be announced in the coming days.<br /><br />Carlos, who will now be known as King Carlos III, made a somber statement as he led the nation in mourning tonight.<br /><br />The new King said: “The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty her Queen, is a moment of the greatest
