The country is currently mourning the loss of the Queen following her death on Thursday afternoon (September 8). Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at her Balmoral home in Scotland aged 96 surrounded by her family including King Charles III.
The death of the Queen has saddened the whole nation with tributes pouring in from across the world. We have now entered a period of National Mourning to honour Her Royal Highness and remember her remarkable lifetime of service to the country.
The mourning period began at midnight on Friday (September 9) and will be in place until seven days after Her Majesty's funeral which will take place on Monday, September 19.
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Queen Elizabeth II was our longest reigning monarch and during her 70-year reign, she resided in several homes across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Here we take a look at each of the Queen's beloved royal residences that are located across the UK - and how you can pay tribute to Her Majesty at each location.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is arguably the best known royal residence in the world and is the centrepiece of the UK’s monarchy.
For much of her 70-year reign, The Queen resided in the Palace's private living quarters, but she spent less time there during her later years.
For the last seven decades Buckingham Palace has served as the venue for many significant royal events and ceremonies including the recent Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.
Although it was in use for the many official events and receptions held by The Queen including State banquets and weekly audiences with the Prime Minister, the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace welcome hundreds of thousands of tourists when it opens to the public every summer.
Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms including 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.
The balcony of Buckingham Palace is one of the most famous in the world marking many monumental occasions from the Queen’s annual official birthday celebrations to Royal Weddings.
Whilst Buckingham Palace is seen as the administrative hub of the monarchy, it is also very much a family home with the Queen giving birth to both Prince Charles and Prince Andrew there.
A memorial flower garden will be created in Green Park to pay tribute to the queen and will be the main place for laying flowers near Buckingham Palace.
Windsor Castle
Out of all her residences, the Queen is considered to have been 'most fond' of Windsor Castle - which eventually became her main home in the two years before her death.
Her Majesty spent most of her private weekends there as well as using the castle as an official royal residence where she undertook formal duties.
Every year prior the Queen took up official residence in Windsor Castle for a month from March to April known as Easter Court where she would host occasional 'dine and sleeps' events for guests, including politicians and public figures.
The Queen also lived in Windsor Castle every year for a week in June where she attended the service of the Order of the Garter and the Royal Ascot race meeting.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Queen and Prince Philip spent each national lockdown at Windsor Castle.
The Castle is also a busy visitor attraction with many parts open to the public, including the precincts, the State Apartments, Queen Mary's famous dolls' house, St George's Chapel, and the Albert Memorial Chapel.
During the period of National Mourning, flowers can be laid on the Long Walk at Cambridge Gate close to the town centre.
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle in Scotland was known to be one of the Queen's favourite royal residences and was where she passed away.
Her Majesty spent most summers at the 50,000-acre country estate in Aberdeenshire with her husband Philip and her family.
Just days ago on Tuesday (September 6) the Queen was photographed meeting and appointing the new Prime Minister Liz Truss at the Scottish Castle.
The Queen had reportedly been living at the castle since July for her annual summer holiday and had been receiving medical care there in the days prior to her death.
Balmoral has been one of the official residences of the British royal family since 1852. It is a working estate, including grouse moors, forestry and farmland, as well as managed herds of deer, Highland cattle, sheep and ponies.
In 1931, the castle gardens were opened to the public for the first time and they were open daily between April and the end of July, after which Queen Elizabeth II would have arrived for her annual stay. The ballroom is the only room in the castle that can be viewed by the public.
Flowers can be laid at the Main Gate to the Castle during the period of National Mourning.
Sandringham Estate
Sandringham Estate is one of the Queen's beloved privately-owned homes which is traditionally lived in by the Royal Family during the Christmas period.
Since King George VI's death, Queen Elizabeth II spent the anniversary of her accession privately with her family at Sandringham House, and more recently, she used it as her official base from Christmas until February.
Prince Philip took on the main responsibility for the management of the estate at the start of the Queen’s reign in 1952. After his retirement from official duties in August 2017 until his death in April 2021, the late Duke spent much of his time at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate.
The estate includes 16,000 acres of farmland, 3,500 acres of woodland and 150 properties. Well-known for hosting the royals' annual walk to Christmas Day services at St. Mary Magdalene church.
Flowers can be laid on the estate and visitors will be directed to the correct location on arrival.
Hillsborough Castle
Hillsborough Castle is the official Northern Ireland residence of the Queen. Since 1922, the Queen and other members of the Royal Family have regularly visited Northern Ireland using Hillsborough as their ceremonial and personal base.
Built in the 1770s, the grand royal residence gets thousands of visitors each year accessing its grand Throne Room, State Drawing Room, Lady Grey's Study, State Dining Room, Red Room, Stair Hall and 100 acres of beautiful green gardens.
The Queen and the The Duke of Edinburgh stayed in Hillsborough Castle during their visit to Northern Ireland as part of the Golden Jubilee tour in 2002.
According to The Mirror, Her Majesty last visited with the Prince Philip in 2016, but hasn't been back since.
During the period of National Mourning, Flowers can be laid at Hillsborough Castle.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Queen's official residence in Scotland is the Palace of Holyroodhouse where Her Majesty lived whilst attending meetings and visiting Scottish regions.
Queen Elizabeth's stay in Edinburgh usually took place from the end of June to the beginning of July each year for the ‘Holyrood Week’ of engagements.
The Palace is open to the public all year round with virtual tours of the Grand Stair, the Morning Drawing Room and the Royal Dining Room.
Visiting Scotland was important to the Queen as she was of Scottish heritance as her mother Queen Elizabeth was from a Scottish family.
Flowers can be laid at the Palace of Holyroodhouse during the mourning period.
We have turned comments off on this story but you can share your tribute in our online condolence book.
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