Queen Elizabeth II: Son of The Queen's Buckingham Palace gardener pays tribute to 'kind, honest and loving person'

The son of Her Majesty The Queen’s Buckingham Palace gardener and ‘handyman’ paid tribute to a “kind, honest and loving person”.

William Wilson, 55, spoke of how his late father, Willie Wilson, told him stories about The Queen when he worked for her for over ten years in the 1970s and 1980s.

Willie, who passed away in 2005, worked as a gardener and handyman at her main residence, Buckingham Palace.

"My father always told me stories about her,” William said. “He was a proud man to work for her.

"She used to speak to him a lot and they used to chat together whenever he was in the garden doing the gardening for her.

“He told me the memories he had of her before he passed. He told me stories of how she would walk her corgis through the Buckingham Palace grounds.

"She would always say ‘good morning’ and she always had time for her staff.

"He felt like he was part of the family.”

It comes as crowds of mourners have flocked to London, Windsor and royal sites throughout the UK on the national bank holiday, with the service set to draw millions of TV viewers across the globe.

The royal family, including Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will be among the 2,000 people gathered at Westminster Abbey to remember the late monarch on Monday, before a committal service at Windsor Castle.

William paid his respects to The Queen by writing in the book of condolences at the Town Hall, in Bridge Street.

Since the Queen passed away on September 8, residents have been able to sign books of condolence at the Town Hall and at Central Library in the city.

“I feel so sad,” he said.

"My father told me how she always thought and looked out for others, and always had that beautiful, beautiful smile.

"She was a kind, honest and loving person.

"At Christmas time, when she would make her national speech, she always mentioned God and her faith.

"She had her faith until the end and I hope King Charles III will continue that tradition during his reign.”