Northern Ireland tributes to Queen placed at Hillsborough used to make floral walk

Around 40,000 floral tributes, notes and cards deposited outside Hillsborough Castle in tribute to the late Queen were removed on Tuesday.

It comes a day after the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

The national period of mourning officially ended on the day of the funeral, although the royal family will continue to grieve for a week with no engagements planned.

Flower bouquets and written tributes appeared in many places across Northern Ireland with Royal Hillsborough becoming the focal point for people to pay their respects.

The Northern Ireland Office thanked people who left numerous tributes.

A spokesperson said: "Floral tributes will be placed inside the castle grounds at trees planted by HM Queen Elizabeth II.

"The notes and cards will also be retained by the Northern Ireland Office."

It is thought around 50,000 visitors visited Northern Ireland's royal residence.

Head Gardener Claire Woods told UTV members of the public travelled far and wide to pay their respects to the late Queen:

She said: "Over the last 11 days we've had somewhere in the region of 50,000 visitors here to Hillsborough castle and gardens to leave their tributes which show their huge love and respect for the late Queen.

"Today is really the start of the end for us we're gathering up all the floral tributes and those that've been left recently are being relocated to different areas within the grounds."

"So we've got now a lovely floral walk round by the lake which was supposed to be just round the trees but there were far too many so it's along the walk beside two trees that were planted by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh back in 1991," she added.

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