POLICE started to let members of the public stand at the gates of Balmoral Castle to pay their respects to the Queen on Friday morning.
Several people walked to the entrance of the grounds of the royal retreat from 6.30am to lay bouquets of flowers as a tribute to the late monarch.
One woman was spotted lighting a candle while others were seen reading personal notes written on the flowers.
The area was blocked off for a period on Thursday night when members of the royal family arrived at the castle as news broke of the Queen dying.
But within an hour on Friday, members of the public had left their messages of thanks and floral tributes.
One card said: “Thank you for your dedication, service and reign.
“You have been a source of inspiration and a calming figure through my life.”
Another card was left by pupils from St Roman’s Primary School more than 100 miles away in West Dumbartonshire.
Dozens of bouquets were left by people who braved the heavy rain in north east Scotland to pay their respects.
