Queen Elizabeth II dies — follow the latest news as the world mourns
British Poet Laureate Simon Armitage has written a poem to mark Queen Elizabeth II's death.
The poem, Floral Tribute is composed of two stanzas of nine lines each, describing the coming of a September evening and the appearance of a lily as “a token of thanks”.
The lily of the valley was one of the queen’s favourite flowers and appeared in her coronation bouquet.
Since then, it has held special associations for the royal family and grows in the garden of Buckingham Palace.
The poem employs the form of a double acrostic, meaning the first letter of each line spells out Elizabeth when taken together.
In the first stanza, Mr Armitage writes of “a promise made and kept for life — that was your gift”.
“The country loaded its whole self into your slender hands / Hands that can rest, now, relieved of a century’s weight.”
The UK mourns Queen Elizabeth II — in pictures
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A tribute altar for Queen Elizabeth II in Green Park in London. AFP -
Ann Doran, 6, looks at floral tributes left in Green Park. Reuters -
Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, look at floral tributes on the Sandringham Estate. AFP -
A drawing of the queen and her husband Prince Philip among flowers outside Windsor Castle. AFP -
Members of the public view floral tributes in Green Park, near Buckingham Palace. PA -
People queue on a bridge over the river Thames to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth in London. Reuters -
A member of the public lights a candle at Windsor Parish Church. AFP -
Residents of the Lawn care home in Alton, Hampshire, decorate an area with photographs of Queen Elizabeth, bunting and their own flower arrangements. PA -
Lloyd's of London chief John Neal delivers remarks honouring the life of Queen Elizabeth during a remembrance ceremony in the atrium of the company's offices in London. Getty Images -
Joyce Buckley, a sponge decorator at Emma Bridgewater pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, paints a commemorative mug. PA -
A royalist standing in front of Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Tributes to Queen Elizabeth are viewed at St James's Park in London. Reuters -
Crowds gather outside St. Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile as the queen's coffin passes in Edinburgh. Bloomberg -
Chelsea Pensioners attend a Drumhead service of remembrance, with readings and prayers, in London. Getty Images -
An image of Queen Elizabeth at Green Park Tube station. Reuters -
Vanessa, Anne and Grace, from left to right, wait opposite the Palace of Westminster to be first in line bidding farewell to Queen Elizabeth in London. AP -
A young girl holds Paddington Bear and Corgi stuffed toys while waiting to watch the procession of Queen Elizabeth's coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Reuters -
Well-wishers outside Windsor Castle. Getty Images -
Lloyd Smith paints a portrait of Queen Elizabeth in London. AFP -
A child lays flowers outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. AP -
A family leaves flowers outside Buckingham Palace. EPA -
Flowers and tributes, including sunflowers and a Paddington Bear, are left for Queen Elizabeth at the Green Park memorial in London. AP -
People start to camp on The Mall ahead of Queen Elizabeth's coffin being taken from Buckingham Palace on Wednesday afternoon by procession on a Gun Carriage to the Palace of Westminster. PA -
Flowers left in St James's Park, London. PA -
A man with his dog arrive early as they wait to view the cortege carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh. Getty Images -
Members of the public gather on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh to watch the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. PA -
Crowds watch as the hearse continues its journey to the Palace of Holyroodhouse from Balmoral. PA -
The hearse passing over Queensferry Crossing on its way to Edinburgh. PA -
Flowers left at the Sandringham Estate, one of the queen's residences. EPA -
A Paddington Bear teapot at the Sandringham Estate. EPA -
Flowers left at the gates of the Sandringham Estate. EPA -
Flowers, cards and messages left in St James's Park in London. EPA -
People lay flowers at Buckingham Palace in London. Reuters
Mr Armitage has served as Poet Laureate since May 2019, when he met with the queen at Buckingham Palace.
He succeeded Dame Carol Ann Duffy, who was also at the palace for an audience with the queen to relinquish the role.
Procession of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin through Edinburgh — in pictures
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Members of the royal family arrive to attend a vigil at St Giles' Cathedral, in Edinburgh, on Monday for Queen Elizabeth II. AFP -
People queue to enter St Giles' Cathedral where Queen Elizabeth's coffin arrived earlier on Monday. It will rest there for 24 hours to enable the people of Scotland to pay their last respects. AP -
The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, for a service of prayer and reflection. -
The Earl and Countess of Wessex and the Duke of York leave St Giles' Cathedral after the service of prayer and reflection for the queen's life on Monday. -
The Princess Royal, her husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, King Charles III and the Queen Consort leave St Giles' Cathedral after the service of prayer and reflection for Queen Elizabeth II's life. -
People attend the procession of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin, from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles' Cathedral, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Monday. AP -
The Crown of Scotland sits on the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II inside St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. AFP -
King Charles, Princess Royal Anne, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence walk behind the hearse as it moves along the Royal Mile from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty -
King Charles III follows Queen Elizabeth II's coffin as it enters the cathedral for a service of prayer and reflection at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. PA -
King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward follow the hearse carrying the coffin of their mother, Queen Elizabeth, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Reuters -
King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew walk behind the hearse. Reuters -
The Royal Company of Archers, the King's Bodyguard for Scotland, arrive at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. AFP -
The hearse carrying the coffin of the queen travels slowly on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Reuters -
Members of the public gather to watch the procession, from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral, on the Royal Mile. AFP -
Royal guards carry Queen Elizabeth's coffin at the start of the procession. PA -
Royal archers outside St. Giles' Cathedral. Getty -
British Prime Minister Liz Truss attends a Service of Prayer and Reflection for the Life of Queen Elizabeth at St Giles' Cathedral. PA -
Crowds gather near Mercat Cross ahead of the procession in Edinburgh. PA -
King Charles with Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge at the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. PA -
King Charles inspects the Guard of Honour as he arrives for the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Getty -
A young girl holds a Paddington bear and a Corgi dog stuffed toys while waiting to watch the procession. Getty -
The Keys of the City of Edinburgh, to be offered to King Charles, during the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. AFP -
Crowds gather to watch the procession in Edinburgh. AP -
King Charles talks with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as he arrives at Edinburgh Airport. Reuters -
A convoy of cars with King Charles heads to Holyroodhouse. AP -
The honour guard outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse. AFP -
Police officers keep guard ahead of the arrival King Charles in Edinburgh. Reuters
For the platinum jubilee, Mr Armitage wrote a poem, Queenhood, to mark her 70 years of service.
The poet, who was brought up in Marsden, West Yorkshire, has published about 30 collections of poetry and his work is studied by children as part of the national curriculum.
He worked as a probation officer in Greater Manchester until 1994 before focusing on poetry.
Floral Tribute by Simon Armitage
Evening will come, however determined the late afternoon,
Limes and oaks in their last green flush, pearled in September mist.
I have conjured a lily to light these hours, a token of thanks,
Zones and auras of soft glare framing the brilliant globes.
A promise made and kept for life — that was your gift —
Because of which, here is a gift in return, glovewort to some,
Each shining bonnet guarded by stern lance-like leaves.
The country loaded its whole self into your slender hands,
Hands that can rest, now, relieved of a century’s weight.
Evening has come. Rain on the black lochs and dark Munros.
Lily of the Valley, a namesake almost, a favourite flower
Interlaced with your famous bouquets, the restrained
Zeal and forceful grace of its lanterns, each inflorescence
A silent bell disguising a singular voice. A blurred new day
Breaks uncrowned on remote peaks and public parks, and
Everything turns on these luminous petals and deep roots,
This lily that thrives between spire and tree, whose brightness
Holds and glows beyond the life and border of its bloom.
