Mum and daughter scream as they spot ‘Queen-shaped cloud’ moments after death announced

Leanne Bethell captured the photographs in the skies above the A4169, with her daughter Lacey first to point out the glowing figure shortly after the monarch’s death at the age of 96

A cloud that some say looks like the Queen was spotted by a stunned mum and daughter just moments after the monarch’s death was announced.

Leanne Bethell captured the photographs in the skies above the A4169 in Telford, Shropshire.

She says her daughter Lacey was first to point out the glowing figure, shouting: “Oh my God” repeatedly.

Leanne added: “We were driving home not long after the announcement and my 11-year-old daughter was screaming and shouting.

“She then pointed at the sky and said mum, it’s The Queen – so I had to pull over and take some pictures.”

The surreal moment came shortly after the 96-year-old monarch’s death was announced at around 6.30pm last night.

The Queen died at Balmoral near Aberdeen, where she had been for most of the summer.

In a 26-word statement, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”

There were a number of other apparent sightings up in the skies across the UK following news of the monarch’s death.

One, taken by Becky Luetchford, appeared to show the Queen’s profile in glowing clouds.

A 10-year-old girl captured a stunning image of a cloud formation resembling Queen Elizabeth II in Great Wyrley just an hour after news broke of the monarch’s death, as seen below.

Another mourning social media user shared a photo from the roadside of a cloud which appears to show the monarch’s side profile

A period of royal mourning will now be observed from until seven days after the Queen’s funeral.

Buckingham Palace said royal mourning will be observed by members of the royal family, royal household staff and representatives of the royal Household on official duties, together with troops committed to ceremonial duties.

The date of the funeral has yet to be confirmed.

The palace said this morning: “Following the death of Her Majesty the Queen, it is His Majesty the King’s wish that a period of royal mourning be observed from now until seven days after the Queen’s funeral.

“The date of the funeral will be confirmed in due course.”

Royal Salutes will be fired in London on Friday at 1pm in Hyde Park by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company, with one round being fired for each year of the Queen’s life.

Royal residences – including The Queen’s Gallery and the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, and The Queen’s Gallery in Edinburgh – will close until after the Queen’s funeral.

Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House, the Queen’s private estates, will also close for this period.

Hillsborough Castle, the monarch’s official residence in Northern Ireland, will also be closed.

Guidance has been issued to members of the public who wish to leave floral tributes at royal residences.

Mourners at Buckingham Palace will be guided to lay floral tributes at dedicated sites in Green Park or Hyde Park, with flowers left outside the gates of the palace being moved to the Green Park floral tribute garden.

Flags at royal residences were at half mast on Thursday and will remain half-masted until 8am on the morning after the final day of royal mourning.

The palace said the half-masting of flags at royal residences does not apply to the Royal Standard and the Royal Standard in Scotland when the King is in residence, as they are always flown at full mast.

There are no physical books of condolence at the royal residences, but an online book of condolence is available on the royal website.