People on Winchester High Street and Bakers Arms pub react to the death of Her Majesty The Queen

On Thursday, September 8 Buckingham Palace announced The Queen had died after 70 years and 214 days on the throne.

The Prince of Wales is now King. Buckingham Palace released a statement from His Majesty The King, from at the time of the Queen’s death.

The statement reads: “The death of my beloved Mother. Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.

“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.

“During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen so widely held.”

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Following the evening announcement, the Chronicle took to Winchester’s High Street to hear the public’s reaction. The news left businesses such as pubs unsure of whether they would remain open in the coming days.

Steve Robinson, landlord of The Bakers Arms in Winchester High Street, said: “I think we’re all devastated actually, it’s really really sad. I know it’s kind of been coming because since her husband passed away, she’s been very fragile.

“We’ve got a lot of retired people who frequent the pub and a lot of ex-military so I think they’ll be very respectful and full of mourning.

“It’s too early to say whether we’ll close. I think whatever is the correct thing to do. It’s not happened to any of us, has it?”

Mr Robinson was happy to remain open at the time with many of the pub's regulars drinking in The Queen's honour.

An ex-military person drinking at the pub, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I don't know what to say really. When the news was initially released, it brought back memories of me completing my oath when I was in the army. It's very sad."

Dan Lally, a student from Southampton said: “Deep sadness and grief. I think the nation needs a period of mourning now.”

Dan Lally (Image: Adele Bouchard)

The Chronicle broke the news of the Queen’s death to a surprised mother and daughter, from St Cross, on Winchester High Street. Fran Ward said: “Really? I’m in utter shock. I was never a big fan of the royals but the Queen she’s always been good, she’s been on the throne a long time and changed a lot.”

Emma Ward added: “She’s been a good Queen. I can’t believe it.”

Dan Stamper, from Winchester, said: “I think it’s really sad. 70 years. She’s nearly 100, she’s done well. It’s a bit heart breaking really. Good day for it though, it’s raining so we’re all in doors but it’s just sad really- it really is.”

Dan’s friend, Amy Russel from Winchester added: “I just think big changes lay ahead with the PM changing and everything and now a new king to arrive. In my lifetime it has always been her but it’s a big change and sad times.”

Design workers Tim Bird and Izzy Power, who are currently on the job with colleagues from Winchester, were discussing what the Queen’s death would mean when the Chronicle broke the news to them.

Tim, from Chertsey, said: “We were just saying given the Queen was of quite an advanced age and seemed to have not been in fantastic health recently it’s not completely surprising. It’s obviously very sad for the family but I suppose it got us thinking about what’s going on with the monarchy."

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Izzy, from South London, said: “She’s been Queen since before my mother was born so it feels like something we have taken for granted and considered to be a neutral state and that’s now at an end.

“I’m sure it will be a big opportunity for reckoning in terms of what the role of the royal family is. I feel like Charles has been wired in a few controversies, certainly over my lifetime.

"She seemed like a very stabilising influence, and I wonder whether without her force of personality things might start to change. Certainly, I’m very sad for her and her family. As a human and a figure of stoicism she was very admirable and did her best in incredibly turbulent times."

Tim added: “Turbulent times but also, she’s the longest reigning British monarch, she saw through so much change. She came to the throne not long after the end of the second world war and has just been here through decades and decades of enormous change for the world. What a remarkable life to have lived and what have a remarkable set of things to have seen.

“I feel somewhat boggled."