Floral tributes have been left for the Queen at Dartford War Memorial ahead of her funeral next week.

Tanya Aldam was at the monument with her mum Serena Gardener to lay a bouquet of pink roses on Monday afternoon.

The keen royalist said: "We have come down because we wanted to pay our respects locally. I hope to go up to Buckingham Palace this week too.

"She was wonderful and it feels personal to me. It feels like a personal loss. We will miss her.

"We just thought she would go on forever. We really are royalists, it will be a shame if things change now she is gone.

"It is all I have ever known. We had a massive Jubilee party this year and I am glad we celebrated when we did. We will not regret that."

Her mum Serena – who lives in Dartford – added: "I was five when the coronation took place but I cannot really remember it other than I watched it on TV.

"I do not remember the King, only the Queen. I think King Charles will do well. It is sad for us all."

Sue D'agviar was out on her lunch break. She said she wanted to come and see the tributes left for the Queen who died last Thursday.

She said: "I did not think people would do this here, so it is nice to see. I think everyone is still in shock.

"Being from London, I feel more of a connection with the Royal Family so it is lovely to see all the flowers in Dartford."

Dartford man Robert Paling was reading the messages left and said it was nice to have a local place to pay your respects.

He added: "She has been a great lady, we will miss her."

Floral tributes, cards and pictures of the Queen have been left at the memorial in Market Street.

One message read: "Thank you for all your years of duty and service. You will be greatly missed."

Another said: "A remarkable lady who served our country with grace until her very last days, we thank you. Our condolences go out to our King, the Royal Family and anyone affected by the devastating loss."

A card left by borough councillors Cllr Chris Shippam and Cllr Richard Wells said: "Thank you for your life of service and dedication to our country, the Commonwealth and the wide world."
A message from the leader of Dartford council, Cllr Jeremy Kite read: "Your huge burden was carried flawlessly for decades. Rest now. We will never forget you. Thank you Ma'am for everything."

Local businesses have also paid their own tributes to the late monarch. Florist Jane Green from Priory Flowers has put up a sign outside the shop.

She said: "We put it up for our mark of respect. It lets our customers know how we are feeling. It is a lovely touch we think.

"We have had lots of people here buying flowers on Friday for the park and to take with them into London. I was quite shocked really.

"A local nursery has been in with the children who each picked out a flower to place. It was nice to see them getting involved."

Books of condolence are open at the Civic Centre and at Dartford Museum for people to add their messages. They will close at 5pm the day after the funeral service.

Last Sunday, the borough also held a formal proclamation welcoming the new King at the Memorial Gardens at 3pm.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson posted online following the Queen's death. It read: "This is such an incredibly sad time for our town and our country. We have all dreaded this news coming for some time.

"Quite simply, Her Majesty the Queen was the most respected and admired person on the planet. She was a constant source of stability throughout our lives and devoted everything she had to us. In so many ways she summed up all that is best about this country.

"I think it will take a long time to come to terms with no longer having her as our Queen. We will all miss her enormously. God save the King."