A sea of tributes at gates of Sandringham
THE gates of Sandringham have been overwhelmed by a sea of flowers after an estimated 30,000 mourners paid their respects at the late Queen’s Norfolk residence in a single day.
Tributes started to build up by the Norwich Gates within 30 minutes of the monarch’s death being announced on Thursday.
By yesterday morning there were thousands of bouquets of flowers, along with drawings, balloons, candles and soft toys. Lady Dannatt MBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk – King Charles III’s representative in the county – was at the site of the tributes yesterday.
She told her local newspaper: ‘It’s completely overwhelming. I am absolutely blown away by the sheer number of floral tributes and the wonderfully poignant messages on each. I wish I could stay here for hours to read each and every one.
‘I love the pictures of horses and the drawings by the children. It’s the messages of love for Her Majesty The Queen which really hit hard and also the messages of great support for His Majesty The King.’
Lady Dannatt will head to London to see the Queen lying in state and will attend the Westminster Abbey funeral on Monday.
Notices outside the visitor centre state
that Sandringham has entered an official period of royal mourning.
The Queen traditionally stayed at Sandringham every Christmas and winter until February 6, the anniversary of her father George VI. Her final visit was in July.
She was the longest-serving member of the local Women’s Institute, having joined the Sandringham branch in 1943 and taken over as president there from the Queen Mother on her death in 2002.