Flowers and tears at Windsor

Police officers help to collect the flowers from mourners

Ryan Dilley BBC News Online

As the nation comes to terms with the death of the Queen Mother, mourners have descended on Windsor Castle to pay their respects.

Under skies as leaden as the castle's grey walls, Windsor's union flags are at half mast.

"Our grandmother" has gone

As crowds thicken in front of the Henry VIII gate, Wendy Filkens puts the finishing touches to the window display of her gift shop.

Amid poppies and scattered petals Ms Filken has placed two pictures of the Queen Mother - one a smiling head and shoulders, the other of a younger woman in a sumptuous gown.

"Those pictures show exactly what the Queen Mother was - elegant and regal," she said, wiping away tears.

'Our grandmother' lost

"We all knew in our head she was going to die like you know your parents will eventually die, but that doesn't make it any easier. We have lost our grandmother."

Many of the tourists leaving the gift shop seem confused by the crowd of mourners and hordes of reporters outside.

"A very sad duty" for the wardens

At the gate of the state of apartments, two wardens in red emblazoned uniforms explain to these visitors why the castle will be closed on Sunday.

Many seem genuinely moved by what they see.

The wardens' walkie talkies soon called them back to the main gate.

"We need help," they are told. "The flowers are coming thick and fast now."

Flowers abound

People carrying floral tributes, large and small, are inundating the staff at the gate, with wardens and policemen struggling under great armfuls of pink, yellow and red blooms.

"It's a very sad duty," said one woman warden. "The people coming here seem so upset."

Rebecca's flowers are gratefully accepted

Seven-year-old Rebecca Sutton steps carefully through the crowd of adults - many of whom are swapping stories about the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Rebecca holds a posy of wild flowers picked from her grandfather's garden.

This tiny tribute is respectfully taken by a warden and the little girl watches as her flowers are laid on the fast disappearing grass outside the castle chapel.