A somber crowd of Americans and tourists has gathered at a New York City English pub to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Churchill Tavern in Midtown Manhattan also saw a flowers and a British bulldog arrive, with a sign erected saying ‘Long Live the Queen, Queen Elizabeth RIP.’
All those who visited said that the Queen’s death felt exceptionally strange, and that she had done an exceptional job during her 70-year-rule of the United Kingdom.
But there was division on what should happen next; some said Charles – now crowned King in the wake of his mother’s death – should step aside in favor of his son William.
Others were happy to follow the strict rules of succession, which see Charles’ wife Camilla crowned Queen Consort.
And disturbingly for the scandal-plagued royals, there was already discussion of the future of the Commonwealth.
One Australian DailyMail.com spoke to said a referendum on whether to detach from the royal family now seemed a certainty.
While the conversations of the monarchy’s future continue into the evening, people across the globe are honoring the life and legacy of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Tonight, the Empire State Building’s tower lights will shine in purple and sparkle in silver in honor of the Queen. And in Times Square, the Queen’s image is already displayed on the Nasdaq billboard.
The Empire State Building has announced that it will be lit up in purple and silver on Thursday evening to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday
A photo of Britain’s longest-serving monarch Queen Elizabeth II is displayed on the Nasdaq billboard in Times Square on Thursday. She died after 70 years on the throne
Britons and tourists gathered at The Churchill Tavern in New York for comfort at news of the monarch’s passing. These two visitors raised a glass to the Queen’s illustrious 70 year reign
A British bulldog was pictured close to a plastic beefeater statue outside the Windsor Tavern, next to a bouquet left to pay tribute to the late monarch
The Churchill Pub left a bouquet of red roses outside to pay tribute to the Queen, after owner Scott Robertson was unable to find white lilies
Rhianne Humble, a 34 year-old British woman in New York said she sobbed on hearing the news.
She told DailyMail.com: ‘I cried when I heard, I also cried when I saw the Paddington tweet it got to me.
‘I left work to come straight here, because you just need some time to process it.
‘She was an incredible woman, a fantastic role model for women and she will be missed.
‘I’ve had American friends asking me if I’m ok and offering my condolences and I think thats a great thing.
‘She was an amazing woman, and it really is devastating.’
Pub owner Scott Robertson, a British expat, said he was overwhelmed by the news.
The 49-year-old said: ‘When I heard I did shed a tear, she’s the one that has been around our whole lives.
‘We have been busy, we did get an idea when we heard, and we will do something for the funeral.
‘We set up in 2011, chose the name because of the leader (Winston Churchill) was.
‘They were good friends, the Queen and Winston. Great leaders.
‘We’ve covered all of the big events, the wedding, the Jubilee everything.
‘I’m from Stoke-on-Trent and I have great memories of her opening the gardens there.
‘We put down red roses because they’re English. I wanted to get lilies because they were her favorites but I couldn’t.
‘It will be interesting to see Charles as King but I personally would prefer William.
‘Seeing all this the community, how big an English community there is in New York and what I think we do as Brits, we all like to come together having a pint its what we do.’
Jono Mannielle waits to give flowers to his neighbor Nicky Perry, owner of a British fish and chip shop Tea & Sympathy in Manhattan, following the news of the Queen’s death
Nicky Perry wipes her tears outside her shop on Thursday and said she also cried when she heard the news about the Queen’s death, saying: ‘It feels like a family member of mine has died. That’s how it feels’
Nicky Perry (right) said: ‘She was an amazing woman, I cried when she died. I’ve had grown men coming here and shedding a tear, she touched so many hearts’
Perry and her neighbor Jono Mannielle hug as mourners gather at the tea shop in Manhattan
Deanna Clow, 31, is a New York native – but said she felt an ‘affinity’ with the UK, and wanted to mark the Queen’s death among the late monarch’s countrymen.
She explained: ‘When you grow up you hear about princesses and Royalty.
‘Obviously we don’t have the monarchy or anything like it, but we have an affinity with Britain.
‘When Princess Diana died there were people on the streets in tears, and i think this is the first British person to die on that level.
‘We obviously don’t have the same level of emotion, but it is sad and we want to support the Brits in any way we can.
‘She was a great woman, we did always see royalty growing up in movies but this was real life.
‘America is mourning with the UK.’
A flag was placed next to a portrait of the Queen at the Churchill Pub in Manhattan
A model of a Queen’s guard in a black bearskin cap sits in front of a sandwich board marking the Queen’s death at the age of 96
The other side of the board was decked out with a more cheerful message, wishing the Queen’s successor King Charles III luck as his reign begins
Rob Fisbourne, 58, is a Houston-based Brit who sought comfort from his fellow Englishmen at news of the Queen’s passing.
He said: ‘In solace the British all come together, in times of adversity and that’s what’s happening now.
‘I had a lump in my throat when I heard what happened. It is the end of an era.
‘We need to give Charles a chance. His mother was an incredible woman and he has some very forward thinking ideas.
‘We were coming here anyway, but I’m glad we did. It’s good to be somewhere that we can keep an eye on the coverage.
‘She is all we knew and she was just an amazing woman.’
Londoner William Hardman’s emotion was etched on his face. The 21 year-old said: ‘I shed a tear, I was woken up to be told that the Queen had died and I think its fair to say I cried and I was upset when I heard.
‘I think Americans don’t understand exactly what’s happened, they don’t have a monarchy so that’s why we came to a British pub.
‘I would want Charles to be King, because I respect the way of succession. But if you could choose I’d have William.
‘No one else I know has known anything but Elizabeth, apart from my grandmother.’
A couple called Paula and Ettie, from Hove in England said they’d made a pilgrimage to the pub on hearing of the queen’s death.
They explained: ‘We’re here on holiday for two weeks to the UK.
‘We specifically came here, we’d been up the Empire State Building and we checked the BBC when we got out and decided to come to a British bar.
‘It’s something we’ll be glued to when we’re back, the coronation and the funeral.
‘It’s the end of an era, no one has known anything but Elizabeth.
‘Charles has a lot of good ideas with the environment but I think it’s time for a change in the monarchy, they should make changes after this.’
A portrait of Queen Elizabeth as a younger woman was adorned with a union flag at the Churchill Pub in Manhattan to mark her death
Neither commented on what changes they’d like to see.
‘It is very sad, we were very upset when we heard the news,’ they added.
‘We were at the last garden party she had, it was wonderful to meet her and see her.
‘She is the Queen, and it’ll be strange to say the King.
‘I want to keep all the pomp and glamour but other things should change.’
Henry Bishop, 21, from London said he’d met the Queen as a member of a choir in Windsor, the site of one of her primary residences.
He explained: ‘It’s obviously very sad, we came straight here as soon as we found out because we wanted to be closer to her.
‘It’s what Liz would have wanted, for us to come here. And we wanted to raise a drink to her.
‘Personally I would want William to take the reins, but that isn’t up to me.
‘I saw her when I sang from time to time, we went to the school close by.
‘I spoke to her, just to say hello nothing in depth but it was nice.
‘For me I have never known anything other than her, and it will be a strange change.’
One man sitting at the bar appeared to be reading a satirical story about the royals, featuring new monarch King Charles III
Meanwhile, 22 year-old Will Harris from Melbourne said he foresaw the end of formal ties between the royals and the Australian government.
Harris said: ‘I did walk here specifically to see the coverage, to find a British bar.
‘I think for us it marks a change, we were going to have a referendum on changed anyway and this should bring it forward.
‘The change from the Queen to Charles is a marked change for us, there should be changes made now.
‘It obviously is the end of an era, but there are things that this marks for the Commonwealth.
‘She was unproblematic herself but there are still other issues within the monarchy and surrounding it that need to be addressed.’
Nicky Perry – owner of a British fish and chip shop A Salt and Battery and tea room Tea & Sympathy in Manhattan – said she cried on hearing the news.
She said: ‘It feels like a family member of mine has died. That’s how it feels.
‘She was an amazing woman, I cried when she died. I’ve had grown men coming here and shedding a tear, she touched so many hearts.
‘We just wanted to mark our respects, we’ve done it all since I opened in 1981.
‘Everything has been so hard. People have been saying how sorry they are and laying flowers. It’s beautiful.’
Emma Bergyl, who is from England but lives in America came to Perry’s businesses to lay a bouquet.
She explained: ‘We wanted to leave flowers, but we don’t have anywhere here, there is no Buckingham Palace.
‘We came here to pay our respects and this is the best way to do that that we know.
‘This is the most English place, she was a wonderful woman and Queen.’