Black cabs have lined up along the Mall in a striking tribute to the Queen.

Rows of iconic Hackney carriages spontaneously descended on Buckingham Palace as crowds began to flock there.

The nation is entering at least 12 days of official mourning and tributes are pouring in to the iconic monarch.

Wagie, 37, has been a black cab driver for seven years. He told Metro.co.uk: ‘The passing of the Queen is a sad moment for the nation.

‘As London cabbies we’ve come here to pay tribute, and pay our respects to her.

‘It is a sad day. It’s not just me, it’s the whole nation – she represented and was like the mother of the whole nation.

‘Most of us have only known her as the Queen, as she’s been on the throne for 70 years.

Queen Elizabeth II dead: Key details

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has died after 70 years on the throne, with her death announced by Buckingham Palace on September 8, 2022.

She died at the age of 96 surrounded by her family at her home in Balmoral, including her son and heir to the throne Charles, the Prince of Wales, and her grandsons, the Duke Of Cambridge, Prince William and the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry.

Follow Metro.co.uk’s live blog for the latest updates.

‘I turned up here without anyone telling me, and everyone [other black cab drivers] is already here.

‘It’s good to see everyone come together – there are a lot of people here today, from other parts of the world, even if they’re on holiday or just passing through.’

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The news of the monarch’s death was confirmed in a short statement by Buckingham Palace.

It read: ‘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.’

The new prime minister Liz Truss led the tributes to the monarch with a statement outside Downing Street.

Dressed in black, she said the news was a ‘huge shock to the nation and the world’.

‘It’s an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years,’ she said. ‘Her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories.

‘In return she was loved and admired by the people in the United Kingdom and all around the world.’

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