British Public Pay Tribute to Queen Mother

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, April 02, 2002

British Public Pay Tribute to Queen Mother

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The British public paid tribute to the Queen Mother on Monday with a 41-gun salute at a dozen locations across Britain and Gibraltar, marking the start of a period of official public mourning following her peaceful death two days ago at the age of 101.

In a television statement on Monday afternoon, the Prince of Wales said the Queen Mother had served Britain with "panache, style and unswerving dignity" for nearly 80 years, enriching the life of the nation and beyond. He said: "Somehow I never thought [her death] would come. She seemed gloriously unstoppable, and ever since I was a child I adored her. " "She was quite simply the most magical grandmother you could possibly have and I was utterly devoted to her," he said, adding that the Queen Mother had always been a "stalwart and sensitive" support to the current Queen.

Elsewhere, members of the public have also been paying tribute to the Queen Mother.

Flags have been flying at half-mast across the country and at embassies abroad, and sporting events have been holding a minute's silence.

Football grounds around the country fell silent at 1500 GMT, as players, wearing black armbands, and fans stood in contemplation.

Several thousand members of the public have signed books of condolences, and left flowers at various sites around the country.

Members of the Queen Mother's staff have paid their personal last respects at her coffin, currently resting in the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park.

Most senior members of the Royal Family have been staying at Windsor Castle.

They have been mourning largely behind closed doors, although the Queen, Princess Anne and Earl of Wessex ventured out to ride horses in the castle grounds.

The Queen Mother's coffin is to be moved on Tuesday from Windsor to St James's Palace in central London, ahead of her funeral at Westminster Abbey on April 9.

It will be moved from St James's Palace to Westminster Hall on April 5 to lie in state until the morning of the funeral.

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