‘She was amazing’: Thousands travel to Buckingham Palace to honor Queen | Queen Elizabeth II

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Thousands of mourners lined the streets outside Buckingham Palace on Saturday, where they paid their respects to the Queen and hoped to catch a glimpse of King Charles III.

The well-wishers packed the mall with colorful flowers, souvenirs and favors. By noon the grounds around the palace were nearly full.

A mourner lays a wreath outside Buckingham Palace on Saturday.
A mourner lays a wreath outside Buckingham Palace on Saturday. Photograph: Loïc Venance/AFP/Getty Images

One note, written by a child and tied to a nearby lamppost, read: “To the Queen, I hope you love Heaven.” I love you. see you soon. From Gracie.

Among the mourners forced to travel to central London was Julie Sanders, 54, from Ashtead, who said she admired the Queen as a role model.

Julie Sanders holds flowers outside Buckingham Palace.
Julie Sanders said the Queen was a ‘fantastic role model’ for women. Photograph: Sophia Evans/The Observer

“I wasn’t a sentimental royalist or anything, but I wasn’t a Republican either,” she said. “I think it’s amazing when a woman spends her whole life to serve all of us.

“She gave it to him unselfishly, that was her commitment and that’s what she did flawlessly. She was a wife, a mother, and a wonderful role model as a woman.

In a fitting tribute to the new King Charles III, it was the magnificent Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs that traveled to Buckingham Palace.

One of them, Twiggy, is Estelle Isaacs from London, whom the Queen says has saved her from being a republican.

Estelle Isaacs with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Twiggy
Estelle Isaacs with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Twiggy. Photograph: Sophia Evans/The Observer

She said, “I came here to lay flowers for the queen. I was really an anti-royalist but I’ve come around to it. Being half Venezuelan, I saw what happened there and it made me appreciate the stability of the royal family.

Sam Parton, 31, from Balham, said he was “very patriotic” and came to pay his respects to the Queen.

Sam Parton and Lily Reynolds outside Buckingham Palace
Sam Parton and Lily Reynolds wanted to pay their respects ‘on a big day’. Photograph: Sophia Evans/The Observer

“This is a big day so we want to come down to show our respect for a special woman who gave her life for our country,” he said.

“I love everything about the Royal Family. She was a special lady and makes you proud to be British.

Sam’s girlfriend Lily Reynolds, 27, added: “I’ve always been a royal, to be honest I love the Queen and the whole family. Those were very sad days.”

However, in a recurring theme, she said she had little interest in King Charles III but was willing to give it a chance.

“I’m sure Charles will grow on me,” she said. “I’m more of a Queen’s fan but he gave his life for his country.”

Sam Quinn, 37, traveled from Wimbledon with her husband Steve and their 10-month-old son Hendricks. She said: “I loved that King Charles acknowledged the new Princess of Wales in his speech and the weight on her shoulders.”

Steve added: “It’s a historic moment in British history, obviously she’s been Queen for 70 years and I guess today is the place where I can go and acknowledge that.” Her whole life is dedicated to serving her country and she is part of Britain for all our lives.

Steve and Sam Quinn with their son Hendrix
Steve and Sam Quinn with their son Hendrix. Photograph: Sophia Evans/The Observer

Henry Middleditch, 31, from London, said: “I think Charles has been in a complicated position all his life.

“Being apolitical and trying not to stand for anything, and having opinions like everyone else – and not bad opinions, he should have had a lot of things to publicly distance himself from now.”

Sam Stewart, 31, concluded: “The Queen is a legend. She has done a lot for the country in her life. She spent her whole life for something that was not her own.

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