The British public and admirers from around the Commonwealth and world are remembering the moment they met the Queen following Her Majesty’s death at the age of 96.
There has been an outpouring of grief from many including public figures and world leaders online following Buckingham Palace’s announcement this evening.
But some of the most touching tributes have come from the ‘ordinary’ people who met her, with many taking to social media to reminisce about the time they were fortunate enough to have an audience with Queen Elizabeth II.
One BA flight attendant said he was ‘humbled’ to have met the monarch at an event in 2019.
The monarch also met her fair share of athletes, with several posting tributes to her along with photos of the time they met.
Rugby player Will Carling said he ‘was truly honoured to have met the Queen a number of times.
‘She was such an impressive person.’
Neil Back MBE, a former rugby union international footballer for England, thanked the Queen for her years of service, which he said were ‘delivered with grace and dignity’.
Scottish track and field athlete Jamie Bowie posted a snap of his meeting with Queen Elizabeth over 10 years ago.
He captioned it: ‘Incredible lifetime of service to our country, in 70 years as Queen! One was fortunate enough to have met Queen Elizabeth over 10 years ago.’
One BA flight attendant said he was ‘humbled’ to have met the monarch at an event in 2019
Scottish track and field athlete Jamie Bowie meeting Queen Elizabeth over 10 years ago
Neil Back MBE said the Queen conducted her reign with ‘such grace and dignity’ and said he was honoured to have met her
MailOnline readers sent in their own memories of meeting the Queen and the impact she made on their lives.
Beverley Bowman met the Queen in 2019 when she opened the Haig Housing Estate in Morden, south London.
Beverley said: ‘She came into our house and she spoke with our family.
Beverley Bowman sent in a picture from meeting the Queen in 2019 when she opened Haig Housing Estate. She said: ‘Nothing but good words for her, she entranced everyone when she was here’
‘She was a lovely woman and made us feel at ease. She knew about our daughter who we lost at birth.
‘She was genuinely interested which was lovely and interacted with our sons. Nothing but good words for her, she entranced everyone when she was here.’
Readers also noted the Queen’s impact throughout generations of their families.
Angela Walker Crosby said her dad Robert Fletcher met the Queen in 2006 and was awarded an MBE after 46 years of service.
A bus driver from Merseyside, Robert was moved by the Queen recalling the winter of 1962 and how tough it would have been in his job then.
Helen McLean’s father Wing Commander R W Guy was Station Commander and RAF Kemble and received the Queen when she used the base to fly in and out of the area.
Helen said: ‘Dad was very taken with her and remarked how she showed genuine interest in the people she met and what she was shown, taking the time to listen and look at things.’
Di Bellis also shared pictures of meeting the Queen and Prince Philip in Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire, including one of Robert Bellis handing the monarch some flowers.
Bus driver Robert Fletcher from Merseyside met the Queen in 2006. She recalled the winter of 1962 and how tough it must have been as a bus driver then
Wing Commander R W Guy met the Queen when she flew in and out of RAF Kemble. He remarked how she showed a genuine interest in the people she met
Di Bellis sent in a collage of pictures from meeting the Queen at Waddesdon in Buckinghamshire
Others were lucky enough to exchange a few words with Her Majesty as they received honours from her.
Food campaigner Mary Long-Dhonau OBE said ‘I feel so privileged to have met our lovely Queen on two occasions. RIP your majesty. You will be missed by so many!’
Writer Catrina McHugh, who founded the Open Clasp Theatre Company, recalled when she was awarded her MBE.
‘When I met the Queen I wanted to hug her, I felt overwhelmed and she reminded me of my aunty Maggie. She was kind.’
Some of those who were lucky enough to exchange a few words with Her Majesty as they received honours from her
Paralympian Hannah Cockroft posted along with a picture of her shaking the Queen’s hand: ‘Rest in peace Queen Elizabeth II.
‘Our longest reigning monarch, the only I’ve ever know, & and inspiration to all. I am honoured to have met you, & served you as Deputy Lieutenant of Calderdale.
‘Thank you for your years of duty, service and dedication to the Commonwealth.’
‘I was in first year architecture,’ she one woman. ‘I got the chance to see her and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, in person.’
One woman tweeted pictures from 1997 of the Queen visiting her at the National College of Arts in Lahor.
‘I was in first year architecture,’ she said. ‘I got the chance to see her and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, in person.’
Millie Robson was visited by the Queen at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital after the Manchester Arena attack in 2017.
She was 15 at the time and posted on Twitter today to honour Her Majesty, saying: ‘This moment meant so much to me.’
Garth Dallas was one of many who reflected on the touching impression the Queen made on everyone she greeted.
He recalled the special moment they met, particularly when ‘she looked me in the eye and smiled beamingly’.
Millie Robson, from County Durham was visited by the Queen in hospital when she was 15. She said today she was ‘grateful and honoured’ by the visit
Garth Dallas, a consulting CEO and non-executive director at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, said the Queen ‘smiled beamingly’ at him when they met
Tributes poured in after Her Majesty died peacefully at her home in Balmoral surrounded by her family, including her son Charles and grandson William.
The Queen’s death will see Britain and her Commonwealth realms enter into a ten-day period of mourning as millions of her subjects in the UK and abroad come to terms with her passing.
Tributes from world leaders and public figures have come in from leaders around the world.
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