HUGE CROWD GATHERED AT THE GATES OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO MOURN QUEEN ELIZABETH II

 Britain is today a country in mourning after the death of beloved Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II (pictured left). The country's longest reigning Monarch died 'peacefully today, aged 96, at the Balmoral Estate, surrounded by her family. Her death sparked an immediate and huge outpouring of emotion, with thousands of mourners gathering outside the gates of Buckingham Palace (pictured right, and inset) this evening. Others laid flowers outside Windsor Castle - where The Queen spent much of the final few years of her life. Her son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, is now King Charles III, as the world grieves his mother, Britain's longest-reigning monarch. All Her Majesty's children had rushed to Balmoral today after doctors became 'concerned' for her health. Hours later she died. At 6.30pm her death was confirmed. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow'.