The Queen's loyal public are gathering outside Balmoral Castle, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace as they pay emotional tributes to the Monarch who has died on Thursday aged 96.

Thousands of well-wishers flocked to Buckingham Palace this evening as news broke of the Queen's death.

Tourists and concerned Britons headed to the iconic London landmark, while people also congregated outside the royal castle in Aberdeenshire to mourn for Her Majesty.

Her son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, is now King. The Queen's children and grandchildren travelled to be with her this afternoon after doctors said they were 'concerned' for her health.

Around 100,000 people are expecting to line the streets outside Buckingham Palace this evening. Already crowds now stretch for more than a mile to Trafalgar Square, Daily Mail reports.

At 6.30pm a Union flag atop Buckingham Palace lowered. It drew gasps from the crowd who knew what the symbolic gesture meant.

The sad news of Queen Elizabeth II death was then announced officially. Some people in the crowd wept as others gave an impromptu rendition of God Save The Queen.

Two members of the Queens household emerged and placed a notice of the Queen’s passing on the gates of Buckingham Palace.

The crowd surged to the gates as the notice announcing the death of the only monarch most Britons have ever known was attached to the black iron gates.

On the grand Mall boulevard leading to the palace, black London taxis lined up in tribute.

Royal super fan John Loughrey, 67, fought back tears and said: ‘I can’t believe the news, I’m devastated.

‘I didn’t think she was going to die today, I knew she was ill but I hoped she would survive a few more months.

‘She deteriorated when her husband Prince Philip passed away. They were soul mates. They were like swans, together forever.

‘I met her twice and I thought she was marvellous. The news hasn’t really sunk in. I’m going to miss her so much.’