gun salutes are about to take place. gun salutes are about to ring out across the united kingdom, to mark the death of queen elizabeth ii. carolinian. cannons fire salute

this is called the death gun salute and is taking place in every corner of the united kingdom. cardiff castle, edinburgh castle, hillsborough castle, york, portsmouth. one round is being fired every 10 seconds — 96 rounds in total — representing one round for every year of the queen's life.

the gun salutes ringing out right across the united kingdom, the first

ceremonial event, main event, since the queen's death yesterday afternoon. royal correspondence nicholas witchell is next to me. these salutes are part of tradition. they are. bells are sounded at churches across the country and flowers are laid, and the nation begins its period of mourning, this first formal expression of that national mourning, the gun salute of 96 rounds fired by different branches of the armed forces, the army and royal navy at more than a dozen different locations around the united kingdom. in the capital city, in both hyde park, with the king's troop royal horse artillery and at

the tower of london with the honourable artillery company. and in other national capitals, at cardiff castle, edinburgh castle and hillsborough castle near belfast. and in other cities within the united kingdom, at york, portsmouth, gibraltar. we saw gun salutes being fired at stonehenge and injersey in the channel islands. mil fired at stonehenge and in jersey in the channel islands.— the channel islands. all of this is takin: the channel islands. all of this is taking place _ the channel islands. all of this is taking place as — the channel islands. all of this is taking place as the _ the channel islands. all of this is taking place as the new- the channel islands. all of this is taking place as the new king, - the channel islands. all of this is l taking place as the new king, king charles iii, makes his way now from aberdeen airport, and he took off about a0 minutes ago, heading down to london at the start of a very public duties at a time of very private grief and pain.- public duties at a time of very private grief and pain. yes, at the start of what _ private grief and pain. yes, at the start of what will _ private grief and pain. yes, at the start of what will be _ private grief and pain. yes, at the start of what will be a _ private grief and pain. yes, at the start of what will be a very - start of what will be a very challenging moment for king charles. he is expected to be landing at

northolt within the next half an hour or so. there he is boarding the aircraft in aberdeen a few moments ago, accompanied by camilla, the queen consort, and his immediate officials. boarding the raf aeroplane. charles was at his mother's bedside yesterday afternoon when she passed away at around a.30. the princess royal was also there to stop the queen died before other members of the royal family arrived at balmoral at around 5.30. it now falls to king charles to lead the nation's mourning and to become that figure of reassurance and stability, that focus for unity, that his mother was for 70 years. no easy

task. it wouldn't be easy for anyone to succeed to the throne after the long reign of such a revered monarch. charles has had many years to think about it. he is the longest serving heir to the throne who has finally succeeded, and the oldest person to succeed to the throne in british history. he is now on his way to london, he will go to buckingham palace and i imagine he will see the many flowers that have been left there. he may well read some of the tributes left by ordinary members of the public. and there we see hundreds, if not thousands of people, gathering not just at buckingham palace but other royal palaces. i think there is a need for people to feel they are coming together.— need for people to feel they are coming together. people have been arrivin: at coming together. people have been arriving at buckingham _ coming together. people have been arriving at buckingham palace - coming together. people have been arriving at buckingham palace since before the official news was

confirmed yesterday afternoon, coming in very large numbers, leaving messages, flowers, messages of thanks, and people keep talking about the atmosphere there and how quiet and sombre it is. yes. about the atmosphere there and how quiet and sombre it is.— quiet and sombre it is. yes, that's ri . ht. quiet and sombre it is. yes, that's riht. it quiet and sombre it is. yes, that's right- it was _ quiet and sombre it is. yes, that's right. it was pouring _ quiet and sombre it is. yes, that's right. it was pouring with - quiet and sombre it is. yes, that's right. it was pouring with rain. - quiet and sombre it is. yes, that's right. it was pouring with rain. we were sitting here yesterday afternoon waiting for further news from buckingham palace and you are right, we could already see many people who just felt this significant moment because clearly it was going to be a significant moment. they were already starting to gather outside buckingham palace in the very inclement weather yesterday afternoon. and those numbers have increased. people were there, if not throughout the night, then certainly into the early hours of this morning and then again very early this morning. as you say, wanting to be part of this, individuals wanting to pay their private tributes, whether it is leaving flowers or a card expressing their thoughts at this significant

moment in the nation's life. i sense we will see a level of mourning, public and national mourning in this country that we have not seen since the death of diana, princess of wales. we will have the lying in state of the queen in westminster hall. that will, i'm sure, attract many hundreds of thousands of people, who will wish to pay their respects by the coffin of the late queen in westminster hall, recalling the scenes in 2002 when the queen mother died, and she was laying in state. the numbers who came and were queueing for hours to file past the coffin and think their private thoughts and pay their private tributes. people feel compelled at this moment to be there and be part of this. this process beginning with the sounding of bells, the firing of these death gun salutes. the flag of

these death gun salutes. the flag of the royal navy, i think, at one of the royal navy, i think, at one of the locations. all carefully worked out, the plans for this operation, codenamed london bridge, were worked out many years ago and the finishing touches will be being put to those plans over the next 2a hours. we expect to learn when the state funeral will take place, and that will be a public holiday and a day of national mourning. we don't know the date for that yet, but i would imagine it will be ten, 11, i2 the date for that yet, but i would imagine it will be ten, 11, 12 days after the day of death. before that, lying in state. and before that, these many expressions, acts of condolence, condolence books online, the laying of flowers. and this afternoon, once the prime minister... the king arrives in london, he will have an audience with the new prime minister. it is quite bizarre, both new in their

jobs. it will be for both of them the first time they have attended an audience. liz truss had an audience with the queen on tuesday at which she was appointed but she has not had an audience with the monarch. and the monarch has not had an audience with the prime minister, so that will take place this afternoon. parliament will be suspended. there will be a broadcast the king's address at around six o'clock this evening, we think, and shortly after that there will be a service at st paul's cathedral in london, a service of prayer and reflection on the death of queen elizabeth ii. find the death of queen elizabeth ii. and the death of queen elizabeth ii. and the prime minister said that she spoke to the new king last night by phone. as you said, she will meet with him this afternoon in person for the first time since he has become king. but she said his sense of duty and service is very clear, and it is this sense of continuity

as well, which will be crucial at this point in the monarchy. continuity i think is self—evident. the greater challenge is for charles to embody the sense of unity that the monarch must represent. and for him to be seen to be a stabilising force at this moment when there are uncertainties anyway, because of politics, economics and so on and so forth. at this particular moment of uncertainty we have lost our head of state, that figure who has been our reassuring figure for so many years, to whom the nation has been able to turn at moments of difficulty, and has always found those reassuring words. and i think the king will wish to show very quickly, and we will get a sense of this in his address tonight, that he will be that head of the nation, reassuring figure, that at this of all times he

needs to be, as the nation is mourning, as he and his family are mourning. he will now have the responsibility and duty to stabilise feelings around the nation and to lead that national mourning. nicholas witchell, for now, thank you. we can take you back to the house of commons. mps have been gathering, meeting for the last hour or so, sharing their reflections, thoughts and memories of the queen, the former prime minister borisjohnson spoke. he spoke of his deep and personal sorrow at her loss. he said we had all been lulled into thinking she might be eternal and that we may now understand in her death the full magnitude of what she did as queen.

0ur correspondence daniel sandford has been listening and reports on the day's events so far. less tha n less than 2a hours after his mother's death, the grief still raw, king charles iii at aberdeen airport, preparing to leave for london where this evening he will address the nation as its pneumonic. as well as mourning his mother he now has to pick up the mantle of leadership, as the head of state of 15 countries and the head of the commonwealth. at noon... bells rang out. in abbeys and cathedrals across the country. to mark the passing of the country. to mark the passing of the uk's longest serving monarch. moments later, mps assembled in parliament. moments later, mps assembled in parliament-— parliament. order, order. i invite the house — parliament. order, order. i invite the house to _

parliament. order, order. i invite the house to rise _ parliament. order, order. i invite the house to rise and _ parliament. order, order. i invite the house to rise and observe - parliament. order, order. i invite the house to rise and observe a l the house to rise and observe a minute's silence in memory of her late majesty queen elizabeth ii. the late ma'esty queen elizabeth ii. the cut late majesty queen elizabeth ii. the cut and thrust of political debate silenced. this a time only for tributes. ., silenced. this a time only for tributes. . a, , , silenced. this a time only for tributes. . , , ,, tributes. her late ma'esty queen elizabeth u t tributes. her late ma'esty queen elizabeth ii was _ tributes. her late ma'esty queen elizabeth ii was one _ tributes. her late majesty queen elizabeth ii was one of _ tributes. her late majesty queen elizabeth ii was one of the - tributes. her late majesty queen i elizabeth ii was one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known. she was the rock on which modern britain was built. she came to the throne atjust 25 in a country that was emerging from the shadow of war. she bequeaths a modern dynamic nation that has grown and flourished under her reign. the united kingdom is the great country it is today because of her.— is the great country it is today because of her. ., ._ ., _, , because of her. today our country, our peeple. _ because of her. today our country, our peeple. this — because of her. today our country, our people, this house, _ because of her. today our country, our people, this house, are - because of her. today our country, our people, this house, are united| our people, this house, are united in mourning — our people, this house, are united in mourning. queen elizabeth ii was this great— in mourning. queen elizabeth ii was this great country's greatest

monarch. and for the vast majority of us. _ monarch. and for the vast majority of us, it_ monarch. and for the vast majority of us, it feels impossible to imagine _ of us, it feels impossible to imagine a britain without her. all our thoughts are with her beloved family. _ our thoughts are with her beloved family. our— our thoughts are with her beloved family, our royal family, our thoughts are with her beloved family, our royalfamily, at our thoughts are with her beloved family, our royal family, at this moment— family, our royal family, at this moment of profound grief. today there are countless _ moment of profound grief. today there are countless people - moment of profound grief. today there are countless people in - moment of profound grief. today | there are countless people in this country— there are countless people in this country and — there are countless people in this country and around _ there are countless people in this country and around the _ there are countless people in this country and around the world - there are countless people in thisj country and around the world who have _ country and around the world who have experienced _ country and around the world who have experienced the _ country and around the world who have experienced the same - country and around the world who. have experienced the same sudden access_ have experienced the same sudden access of— have experienced the same sudden access of unexpected _ have experienced the same sudden access of unexpected emotion. - have experienced the same suddenj access of unexpected emotion. and have experienced the same sudden. access of unexpected emotion. and i think millions — access of unexpected emotion. and i think millions of _ access of unexpected emotion. and i think millions of us _ access of unexpected emotion. and i think millions of us are _ access of unexpected emotion. and i think millions of us are trying - access of unexpected emotion. and i think millions of us are trying to - think millions of us are trying to understand _ think millions of us are trying to understand why— think millions of us are trying to understand why we _ think millions of us are trying to understand why we are - think millions of us are trying to understand why we are feeling i think millions of us are trying to i understand why we are feeling this deep and _ understand why we are feeling this deep and personal— understand why we are feeling this deep and personal and _ understand why we are feeling this deep and personal and almost - deep and personal and almost familial— deep and personal and almost familial sense _ deep and personal and almost familial sense of— deep and personal and almost familial sense of loss. - deep and personal and almostl familial sense of loss. perhaps deep and personal and almost. familial sense of loss. perhaps it is partly — familial sense of loss. perhaps it is partly because _ familial sense of loss. perhaps it is partly because she _ familial sense of loss. perhaps it is partly because she has - familial sense of loss. perhaps it is partly because she has always| is partly because she has always been _ is partly because she has always been there. _ is partly because she has always been there. a— is partly because she has always been there, a changeless - is partly because she has alwaysj been there, a changeless human reference — been there, a changeless human reference point _ been there, a changeless human reference point in _ been there, a changeless human reference point in british- been there, a changeless human reference point in british life. . been there, a changeless human reference point in british life. fisj reference point in british life. ae3 people reference point in british life. people gathered at buckingham palace, the queen's london home, the premier league announced it would postpone the weekend fixtures. the last night of the proms has already been cancelled. we are entering a

period of royal mourning and national mourning. among those at the palace, two chelsea pensioners who had met the queen.— who had met the queen. ordinary --eole who had met the queen. ordinary peeple she _ who had met the queen. ordinary people she would _ who had met the queen. ordinary people she would put _ who had met the queen. ordinary people she would put at - who had met the queen. ordinary people she would put at ease. - who had met the queen. ordinary| people she would put at ease. she just had that wonderful ability to be personable. the just had that wonderful ability to be personable.— be personable. the queen, as a mother, grandmother _ be personable. the queen, as a mother, grandmother and - mother, grandmother and great—grandmother. .. | mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. .. mother, grandmother and acreat-randmother... ., �* ,, ., great-grandmother... i don't know, i 'ust had great-grandmother... i don't know, i just had to — great-grandmother... i don't know, i just had to come. _ great-grandmother... i don't know, i just had to come. i _ great-grandmother... i don't know, i just had to come. i had _ great-grandmother... i don't know, i just had to come. i had to _ great-grandmother... i don't know, i just had to come. i had to put - great-grandmother... i don't know, i just had to come. i had to put some. just had to come. i had to put some flowers— just had to come. i had to put some flowers down — just had to come. i had to put some flowers down. just— just had to come. i had to put some flowers down-— flowers down. just to be here and see everyone _ flowers down. just to be here and see everyone come _ flowers down. just to be here and see everyone come together, - flowers down. just to be here and see everyone come together, alll flowers down. just to be here and i see everyone come together, all the people walking out of green park with flowers, it's very moving. i felt today i had to be here. her death dominates the front pages. of newspapers around the world in a way that only a few events do in each generation. the country is now preparing for the formal process of marking the passing of the monarch. the lying in state, the funeral, the

end of the era of queen elizabeth ii. daniel sandford, bbc news. we can now go to the gates of balmoral where the queen passed away yesterday afternoon. crowds there who have been coming to pay their respects, just as they have that many royal residences around the country, leaving flowers and messages, standing and reflecting on what has happened. 0ur correspondent sarah campbell is at balmoral. we saw not that long ago, the new king leave balmoral with the queen consort, with camilla. they went to aberdeen airport and are currently in the air, heading down towards london and they are expected at around i.a0 this afternoon. meanwhile, the rest of the royal members of the family are still

there. . . .. . members of the family are still there. , , , there. this place is somewhere the queen is said _ there. this place is somewhere the queen is said to _ there. this place is somewhere the queen is said to have _ there. this place is somewhere the queen is said to have cherished. i there. this place is somewhere the i queen is said to have cherished. you can see why. she spent many months here enjoying the beauty in this remote part of the scottish highlands. it was herfamily rushing to be here yesterday afternoon, just 2a hours ago, that really alerted us to the seriousness of the situation. 0vernight, as you say, the new king and new queen consort stayed here. princess anne, the duke of york, the earl and countess of wessex were here, along with her grand sons, prince william and prince harry. it was, said the new king, a moment of greatest sadness for him and his family, and a reminder that as well as being a globalfigure she family, and a reminder that as well as being a global figure she was to them a mother, grandmother and a great—grandmother. there have been movements this morning. this morning prince harry left first thing and a few moments ago prince william left to make the journey down to windsor

to make the journey down to windsor to see his family. just after 11 o'clock the new king, king charles iii, here with the queen consort, less than 2a hours since his mother died, but he must now manage his personal grief and assume the role she carried out so flawlessly for the last 70 years and among those initial duties, it includes finalising the details for her funeral and the period of mourning. those details this afternoon are starting to emerge. as you say, people have come to leave _ as you say, people have come to leave tributes, bal morrow was a place _ leave tributes, bal morrow was a place that — leave tributes, bal morrow was a place that the queen loved to spend time and _ place that the queen loved to spend time and she was very much a part of the community, a member of the nearby— the community, a member of the nearby church, and people here are feeling _ nearby church, and people here are feeling it— nearby church, and people here are feeling it personally today.- feeling it personally today. people here very upset — feeling it personally today. people here very upset at _ feeling it personally today. people here very upset at the _ feeling it personally today. people here very upset at the loss - feeling it personally today. people here very upset at the loss of - feeling it personally today. people here very upset at the loss of the l here very upset at the loss of the queen and the speed with which, let's remember, it was on tuesday

that she was photographed here, meeting the new prime minister. looking frail but she was smiling and i think that is why it has been such a to people but let me read out one of the tributes that struck me. it said thank you for your dedication, service and reign. you have been a source of inspiration and a calming figure throughout my life, you will be sadly missed. rest in eace. life, you will be sadly missed. rest in peace. sarah _ life, you will be sadly missed. rest in peace. sarah campbell at bow moral, thank you. let's take you back to the house of commons. 0ur chief correspondent nick eardley is there. police mike mps continuing to pay tribute to the queen and some moving tributes and reflecting on her humour, a lot of people talking about her humour, her cheeky sense of humour?— about her humour, her cheeky sense of humour? r ,,., , _, , of humour? absolutely. of course the normal cut and _ of humour? absolutely. of course the normal cut and thrust _ of humour? absolutely. of course the normal cut and thrust of _ of humour? absolutely. of course the normal cut and thrust of politics - normal cut and thrust of politics will be suspended for some time but the house of commons chamber is

packed, it sat largely in silence to hear tributes to the queen but also there were moments of light smiles and laughter as politicians recalled their encounters with the monarch. i think it's a sign of the unique regard that the queen was held with here at westminster that there is such a long list of people wanting to line up and pay tribute to her, the prime minister talked of her as one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known, sir keir starmer saying it was impossible to imagine britain without her. some of the most interesting and touching tributes have come from those who knew her best. the former prime ministers who had those weekly audiences at buckingham palace and elsewhere. with the queen. boris johnson saying the queen had been as wise as anyone he ever met, theresa may saying she was the most

remarkable woman she had ever encountered so there is a sense of sadness here today but also a sense of celebration and i think a sense of celebration and i think a sense of change as well. remember it's only three days since the new prime minister was sworn in by the queen at balmoral, we now have a new monarch, only a few hours into his reign and the two of them will have their first reign and the two of them will have theirfirst audience at reign and the two of them will have their first audience at some point this afternoon. a visual embodiment of the changes at the top of the british state but also a sense of continuity, the constitutional monarchy continues. hick continuity, the constitutional monarchy continues. nick eardley in westminster. _ monarchy continues. nick eardley in westminster, thank _ monarchy continues. nick eardley in westminster, thank you. _ the queen chose to spend most of her later years at her official residence of windsor castle, instead of buckingham palace in london. 0ur correspondent duncan kennedy has been there this morning speaking to people who have gathered to pay tribute. windsor has become a place of

mournful silence. crowded but still. reflection and tranquillity. we can see that it means a lot.— see that it means a lot. yes, it does, see that it means a lot. yes, it does. it's _ see that it means a lot. yes, it does. it's very _ see that it means a lot. yes, it does, it's very sad. _ see that it means a lot. yes, it does, it's very sad. what - see that it means a lot. yes, it does, it's very sad. what does| see that it means a lot. yes, it - does, it's very sad. what does she mean to you? _ does, it's very sad. what does she mean to you? i— does, it's very sad. what does she mean to you? ithink— does, it's very sad. what does she mean to you? i think she - does, it's very sad. what does she mean to you? i think she means . mean to you? i think she means everything. _ mean to you? i think she means everything, doesn't _ mean to you? i think she means everything, doesn't she? - mean to you? i think she means everything, doesn't she? to - mean to you? i think she means everything, doesn't she? to the j everything, doesn't she? to the world. she was everything, wasn't she? an incredible lady and it's incredibly sad.— she? an incredible lady and it's incredibl sad. ., , ., ., incredibly sad. thousands have made the cambridge _ incredibly sad. thousands have made the cambridge gate _ incredibly sad. thousands have made the cambridge gate a _ incredibly sad. thousands have made the cambridge gate a haven - incredibly sad. thousands have made the cambridge gate a haven for- the cambridge gate a haven for unspoken emotion. for private contemplation. what did the queen mean to you? she contemplation. what did the queen mean to you?— contemplation. what did the queen mean to you? contemplation. what did the queen mean to ou? ,, ., , ,, ., , mean to you? she was the queen of my hometown, mean to you? she was the queen of my hometown. so — mean to you? she was the queen of my hometown, so everything, _ mean to you? she was the queen of my hometown, so everything, literally - hometown, so everything, literally everything. hometown, so everything, literally eve hina. ., . ., ., ,, everything. how much of a special woman was _ everything. how much of a special woman was she _ everything. how much of a special woman was she to _ everything. how much of a special woman was she to you? _ everything. how much of a special woman was she to you? very - everything. how much of a special. woman was she to you? very special, she has reigned _ woman was she to you? very special, she has reigned over _ woman was she to you? very special, she has reigned over the _ woman was she to you? very special, she has reigned over the country - woman was she to you? very special, she has reigned over the country for i she has reigned over the country for so long _ she has reigned over the country for so long lt's — she has reigned over the country for so long. it's going to be so

different, yes, very sad. these ladies are _ different, yes, very sad. these ladies are close _ different, yes, very sad. these ladies are close friends - different, yes, very sad. these ladies are close friends and - different, yes, very sad. these| ladies are close friends and felt different, yes, very sad. these i ladies are close friends and felt a strange pool to be in this place. i have taken my daughter out of school because this is a moment in history and i wanted her to be here. she’s and i wanted her to be here. she's been the one _ and i wanted her to be here. she's been the one constant _ and i wanted her to be here. she's been the one constant in - and i wanted her to be here. she's been the one constant in my - been the one constant in my life since _ been the one constant in my life since i_ been the one constant in my life since i was — been the one constant in my life since i was born and it is a day in history— since i was born and it is a day in history and — since i was born and it is a day in history and i_ since i was born and it is a day in history and i felt it was the right thing _ history and i felt it was the right thing to— history and i felt it was the right thing to do to be here today and pay our respects. like thing to do to be here today and pay our respects-— our respects. like so many places windsor has _ our respects. like so many places windsor has become _ our respects. like so many places windsor has become a _ our respects. like so many places windsor has become a home - our respects. like so many places windsor has become a home for. our respects. like so many places - windsor has become a home for those absorbed by the end of reign, the finality of a monumental presence. sam was inspired by the queen for his close companions. alien; sam was inspired by the queen for his close companions. very historic da and his close companions. very historic day and very _ his close companions. very historic day and very sad- _ his close companions. very historic day and very sad. it's _ his close companions. very historic day and very sad. it's been - his close companions. very historic day and very sad. it's been such . his close companions. very historic day and very sad. it's been such a i day and very sad. it's been such a constant, hard to realise it is real, the very first banknote i held had her head on it and i think today wasjust the first had her head on it and i think today was just the first day of some healing. ih was just the first day of some healinu. . . .

was just the first day of some healinu. ., , , ., healing. in a burst of subdued activi , healing. in a burst of subdued activity, windsor _ healing. in a burst of subdued activity, windsor has - healing. in a burst of subdued activity, windsor has been - activity, windsor has been transformed. for sandra, the queen was someone who connected with people and had pride for the country and its ideals. aretha; people and had pride for the country and its ideals-— and its ideals. why have you come here? to pay _ and its ideals. why have you come here? to pay our _ and its ideals. why have you come here? to pay our respects. - and its ideals. why have you come here? to pay our respects. she . and its ideals. why have you come l here? to pay our respects. she was the queen, we loved her, my birthday was the same day as her and i would give her a card every year! hat give her a card every year! not everyone _ give her a card every year! not everyone here _ give her a card every year! not everyone here is _ give her a card every year! not everyone here is a _ give her a card every year! not everyone here is a royalist. today has drawn the curious, the intrepid, respect and fascination lay like birds and stems. 0ne respect and fascination lay like birds and stems. one person said simply the queen feels like family. duncan kennedy, bbc news. here are some of the key moments we expect over the coming ten days — many of the exact dates are still to be confirmed. tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock the accession council,

which includes senior government figures and privy counsellors, will meet at st james's palace for the formal proclamation of charles as king. that will be broadcast here on bbc one for the first time in history, until now, that has always remained behind closed doors. the queen's coffin is expected to leave from balmoral on sunday to be taken by road to the palace of holyroodhouse in edinburgh. there will be a ceremonial procession along the royal mile to st giles' cathedral for a service attended by members of the royal family. the coffin will remain at st giles' cathedral for a period of lying at rest. the coffin will then be flown to london, will arrive at buckingham palace for a few hours and then travel to westminster hall — hundreds of thousands of people

will be allowed to file past over a period of about four days of lying in state. in this time, king charles will visit scotland, northern ireland and wales. and then we expect the state funeral to be held in ten days or so — at westminster abbey. the exact date will be confirmed by buckingham palace.