Many south Londoners are visiting Buckingham Palace to mourn the death Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Since news of the Queen’s death broke at 6.30pm on Thursday, thousands of people from across the country – and the globe – have visited the royal residence in central London to feel part of a moment in history.

Kwok-kit Ngan, 37, a dentist from Bromley, said he felt “great sadness” when the Queen died but it was “heart-warming” to see hundreds of tributes at Buckingham Palace early on Friday morning.

After laying a bouquet of sunflowers, the last in a nearby supermarket, Mr Ngan said: “She’s been leading the country for the last 70 years and I think she really has led by example through the good times and the bad times.”

Asked how it felt to see so many people paying tribute at the Palace, he said: “It’s quite heart-warming. Not many events would draw people together.

“I think what happened yesterday has really got people to reflect and appreciate what she’s really done for us over the past 70 years.

“I think although it’s a sad event, some good will come out of it.

“If you look at Prince Charles and Prince William over the past few years and the good they’ve done for the country, I think we’re in safe hands.”

Annette German, who attended the Queen’s coronation, said the Queen “could not better have dedicated her life” to her people.

Speaking outside Buckingham Palace, Ms German, 84, a retired teacher from south London, said: “I was with my grandmother at the coronation and when I heard the news she was unwell, I thought I must be there and I got on a train and got the news as I was just round the corner.

“I share a birthday with the Queen and I’ve listened to the national anthem every birthday.

“I’m from a left-wing family but massively in favour, the Queen could not have better-dedicated her life to her country.”

Speaking of her shared birthday with the Queen, she said: “It’s a very special. I’ve had that link all that life.”

Royal superfan John Loughrey, 67, from Wandsworth, south west London, wept outside Buckingham Palace as he said he “can’t believe” the news and paid tribute to the “inspirational” Queen whose “duty always came first”.

“I met the Queen twice. I gave flowers to her. I can’t believe it,” he said.

“She was inspirational. She served her duty – her duty always came first, her family next.

“She went downhill after the Duke of Edinburgh died. They were like two swans “God save the Queen.”

Mr Loughrey said he would be camping near the palace for 10 days as a mark of respect for the Queen before lighting a candle for her at Westminster Abbey.

Sisters Hannah Shomade, 32, and Lourdes Shomade, 19, from south London, went to Buckingham Palace with their parents to leave floral tributes.

“She’s been part of our lifetime for so long, the only monarch we have known. We didn’t think it would ever change,” said Hannah.

Her sister said: “It’s that bittersweet moment where she ended on a high as being such an incredible monarch, but I just never really wanted it to come to an end.

“It’s just very solemn, a very sad, unsettling time. It’s all I have ever known, it’s all my parents have ever known, it’s all we have ever known.

“I think it’s difficult and I feel like it will be difficult to adjust to it, but we move forward, and I think she would’ve wanted us to move forward and trust her son now, King Charles III.

“He will want to do her proud and hopefully we can do him proud by sticking by him through this difficult time.”

Those who wish to leave floral tributes at Buckingham Palace will be guided to lay them at dedicated sites in Green Park or Hyde Park, the Palace said.

Flowers left outside the Palace gates will be moved to the Green Park Floral Tribute Garden by The Royal Parks.