‘Heartbroken’ members of the public lay flowers at Windsor Castle

“Heartbroken” members of the public have been laying flowers at Windsor Castle to pay their respects to the “amazing” Queen.

The piles of flowers laid at Cambridge Gate at the end of the Long Walk built up as Friday morning progressed.

Amanda Bartlett, from Wraysbury, Berkshire, who laid flowers with her 14-month-old daughter Ayla, said: “It’s a massive part of history and Ayla is not going to remember it so I wanted to do something for her so we can tell her when she is older.

“It’s really sad but it’s lovely in terms that everyone has come out and I can’t believe how many flowers there are.”

Reverend Jill Kells, of the Bursledon Church of England parish near, Southampton, Hampshire, said: “I have always admired the Queen, I think she’s an exceptional lady and has served us so well and for so long and I just wanted to be here.

“You can spend time watching TV but it’s not the same as being in a corporate place in mourning and there’s such a quietness and sombreness but also a community feeling at the same time.”

Dawn McCrudden, 51, a former private in the Royal Corps of Signals and husband, Andrew, 63, a former corporal in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) from Camberley, Surrey, also paid their respects.

Mrs McCrudden, who was visibly upset as she lay flowers at Cambridge Gate, said: “I feel absolutely heartbroken, there are no words to describe how I feel.

“I have known no other Queen, she has been my Queen my whole life, she is so dignified, so regal, she has always been there, especially for the military being our commander in chief, she has put so much into the country, she is such an amazing person.

“When I took my oath (to join the armed forces) it was the proudest day of my life.”

Mr McCrudden added: “You take the oath to her. It’s a massive loss to the whole country.”

Erin Sweetman-Clarke, 40, from Egham, Surrey, brought her daughter Imogen Clarke, three, to pay her respects.

She said: “I felt like I should come and have a little moment, it’s a nice atmosphere, it’s not sad, it’s grateful for all the years.”

Sylvia Booth, 68, and Sandra Riley, 63, came to lay flowers and pay their respects.

Ms Riley said: “She served the country and looked after everyone, she loved everyone. My birthday was the same as her so I sent her a birthday card every year.”

Ms Booth added: “We wanted to pay our final respects.”

Julie Laycock, 64, from Runnymede, Surrey, said she felt had a personal connection to the Queen and said: “My children went to both the Royal School and and sang in the Royal Chapel Choir.

“The Queen was so lovely, she would always ask my boys about their fishing and what lourdes they were using and she was just so friendly and nice to us as a family.

“I remember her giving my son a special clap when he had really messed up a reading at Christmas, she was just lovely.”

She added: “I do feel like it’s a solemn collection of people who are all going to miss their beloved Queen.”