ONE anonymous tribute written on a card left on the green near Buckingham Palace said it all: "Our nation lost its grandmother today."

The Queen Mother had touched the hearts of the young and old, the rich and poor, the famous and not so famous.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "During her long and extraordinary life, her grace, her sense of duty and her remarkable zest for life made her loved and admired by people of all ages and backgrounds, revered within our borders and beyond."

The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, said: "Personally, I remember her as someone of great faith, of sharp mind, an amazing memory for detail, immense dedication to her country, with a keen interest in others, and always with a sparkling and cheerful humour which endeared her so readily to so many people."

Royal watcher Laura Sommer-Skrzynski, 36, of Tooting, south London, said: "She was the last of the Edwardians. She was a genuine lady."

Florist Margaret Astley, 57, of Camden, north London, had travelled to Clarence House to pay her respects.

"When Buckingham Palace got bombed during the war, the Queen Mother said 'Good, at least I'll be able to look the East End in the eye'.

"The people of London have never forgotten that. She took us to her heart, and we took her to ours."

The Chief Rabbi, Dr Jonathan Sacks, said: "She showed how to be regal without being remote, dignified without being distant, and she had the loveliest smile in the world."

Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith said: "The Queen Mother radiated warmth and charm with a sense of fun that captivated everyone who met her."

Former prime minister John Major said: "Our country is the richer for her life and the poorer at her death."

London mayor Ken Livingstone said: "The Queen Mother held a special place in the hearts of many Londoners who remember her decision to stay in London during the Blitz."

Builder Shaun Bidwell, 34, from Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire, said: "I quite liked the Queen Mum, actually. I thought she was all right."

She was also regarded with great warmth by people from overseas.

German president Johannes Rau said: "We remember the Queen Mother as a great woman who, during her long life, set an example for many people, not just in Great Britain. She treated people in a friendly way, with sympathy and interest."

French president Jacques Chirac said: "The kindness of her smile created one of the most loved faces of our times.

"The French learned to love her during the sombre and trying times when our two countries were fighting side by side for freedom."

South African president Thabo Mbeki said the Queen Mother had been an "example in public life of steadfastness and commitment".

Canadian prime minister Jean Chretien praised the Queen Mother as a symbol of determination in the battle against Nazi Germany.

He said: "She will be remembered for her matchless and galvanising devotion to duty during the darkest hours of World War Two, when Britain, Canada and the Commonwealth stood alone against a seemingly invincible tyranny."

Australian tourist Grant Flowers, 26, from Cairns, said: "She charmed the world with her smile. She made the world a better place.