The Royal Family has entered a period of mourning that is to last, says the new King, until seven days after the Queen's funeral.

Members of the Royal Family, their household staff and representatives of the Royal Household on official duties will all now join in marking the loss of Britain's longest reigning monarch for a specified length of time chosen by King Charles III.

While this official period of mourning can sometimes last for a month, it is His Majesty's wish, say the Royal Family, that this will be observed from now until seven days after his mother's funeral - the date of which is yet to be confirmed but is expected to be held on Monday, September 19.

This means flags at Royal Residences will now remain at half mast until 8am on the morning after the final day of Royal Mourning, while further details about flags at other public buildings will be decided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Muffled bells will chime across the country, including at Westminster Abbey, at noon today ahead of Royal Salutes being fired at 1pm this afternoon in Hyde Park by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company. One round will be fired for each year of The Queen's life. Parliament is also meeting this lunchtime to allow MPs to pay their respects before senior ministers attend a service at St Paul's later today.

Closure of Royal Residences

Royal Residences have also now been closed until after the Queen's funeral.

This includes The Queen's Gallery and the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, The Queen's Gallery in Edinburgh, Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House.

Leaving floral tributes

Members of the public are already flocking to The Queen's homes to pay their respects and leave flowers.

At Buckingham Palace the public is being asked to leave their flowers at at dedicated sites in nearby Green Park or Hyde Park while any flowers that have been left outside the gates of Buckingham Palace will be moved to The Green Park Floral Tribute Garden by Royal Parks staff.

At Windsor Castle, floral tributes can be left at Cambridge Gate on the Long Walk, and these flowers will be brought into the Castle every evening and put onto the grass close to St George's Chapel where the Queen's body will be taken after her State Funeral.

The Norwich Gates on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk is welcoming tributes, while the spread of flowers at the main gates of Balmoral Castle are also growing.

Books of Condolence at the Royal Residences

The Royal Family says there are no physical Books of Condolence being opened at the Royal Residences however an online book, for those who wish to leave messages, is available on the Royal website here.

More locally in Kent, books are also being opened across the county where people are also also starting to come out to pay their respects and leave tributes.

Travelling to London

Large crowds, says the government, are expected in London over the coming days as people flock to pay their respects to The Queen with travellers being warned that significant crowding and delays on public transport is expected.

Anyone planning on heading to the capital, says the Cabinet Office, should check their travel route thoroughly and plan ahead while also being prepared for access to some areas to be restricted as contingency planning for the State Funeral begins.

Road closures and diversions, says the government is going to cause delays and anyone who wants to be in the city is being asked to follow any instructions given by stewards and police working to manage the anticipated large crowds.