A rainbow above as flowers are laid at Windsor Castle

While some people talked about the late Queen, others stood quietly by themselves. Several people were weeping.

Many who live in the town of Windsor, which surrounds the castle, came to pay their respects. Courtney Rudge, who works with disabled people and lives in a flat opposite the castle, said she felt as if a family member had died.

Rudge also said she was worried about how it would affect the country at a time of political turmoil in the UK and a war in Ukraine.

Visitors to the town, which is close to Heathrow airport and strewn with red, white and blue bunting, were among the crowd.

The Duchess of Cambridge, who has remained in Windsor with her children while her husband Prince William travelled to Balmoral, was seen driving out of the grounds of the castle on Thursday afternoon. Her children George, Louis and Charlotte had their first day at a new school on Thursday.

Later, a police car drove through the crowds and then placed barriers to hold back the gathered media and the crowd.