Dame Helen Mirren, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 film The Queen, has led tributes from British cultural figures following the monarch's death. She said she was 'proud to be an Elizabethan' and described the Queen as 'the epitome of nobility'.
Sir Elton John, performing in Toronto on Thursday, called the Queen 'an inspiring presence' and reflected that she had been with him all his life. He performed a rendition of Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me in her honour.
Sir Paul McCartney posted a simple tribute: 'God bless Queen Elizabeth II. May she rest in peace. Long live The King.' Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, who performed at the Platinum Jubilee concert, said the Queen had been 'the constant anchor of not just Britain and her beloved Commonwealth'.
Dame Shirley Bassey noted the Queen's steadfastness and dignity, while Sir Mick Jagger called her the 'much beloved grandmother of the nation'. JK Rowling explained the national grief, saying the Queen had been 'a thread winding through all our lives' for 70 years.
