‘An example to the world of how humans should be’: Tears and celebrations for Mandela

• LIVEBLOG: Mandela tributes and memorial

Around the world, politicians and public alike paid their tributes to South Africa’s first black president. Impromptu shrines were created as flowers were placed by the many statues honouring Mr Mandela.

The Queen said she was “deeply saddened” to learn of his death, saying he “worked tirelessly for the good of his country”.

The anti-apartheid hero, held in the highest esteem across the world for leading his nation’s transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s after 27 years in prison, died yesterday. He had been receiving medical care for a lung infection at his home.

Mr Mandela spent his final months surrounded by family after being released from hospital following a three-month stay and died peacefully, President Jacob Zuma announced in a televised address last night.

The Prince of Wales said Mr Mandela was “the embodiment of courage and reconciliation”.

He said: “He was also a man of great humour and had a real zest for life.”

The world learnt of his death as royalty, celebrities and fans were watching the royal premiere of a film chronicling his incredible life.

In a twist of fate, it was during the screening in London’s Leicester Square that Mr Mandela’s daughter Zindzi Mandela was informed her 95-year-old father had died peacefully at home.

Gasps were audible in the auditorium at the film premiere as the news was broken to Ms Mandela, although fellow audience members were not informed of the death until after the screening of the film Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.

The Duke of Cambridge, with Kate beside him, gave a sombre tribute after leaving the cinema.

“It was extremely sad and tragic news,” he said.

“We were just reminded of what an extraordinary and inspiring man Nelson Mandela was and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family right now.”

Damian McCarthy, 45, who was at the screening, said: “I’ve never felt an atmosphere like that. It was unbelievable. It went from being quite a high-spirited occasion to absolute silence - stunned silence.

“It’s one of those moments where people say ‘Do you remember where you were?’. It’s definitely put a bit of a bizarre twist on the premiere.”

After the film, Idris Elba, who plays Mr Mandela, took to the stage with producer Harvey Weinstein to hold a moment’s silence to honour the great man.

A law student turned freedom fighter, Mr Mandela’s battle to end the system of apartheid that tore apart his nation led to his incarceration in a tiny cell in the infamous Robben Island jail.

He was released from prison in 1990, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and was elected South Africa’s first black president the following year.

Flowers and a framed picture of Mr Mandela were laid at the base of his statue in London’s Parliament Square in the early hours.

One tribute on a card read: ‘’Thank you for the sacrifices you made for all of us.’’

A second read: ‘’May God shine light on your homecoming in heaven. Rest in Peace Mr Mandela.’’

Westminster Abbey will hold a national service of thanksgiving for the life of Mr Mandela after the state funeral in South Africa. A book of condolence was also opened at St Margaret’s Church at the Abbey.

David Cameron hailed Mr Mandela’s “extraordinary generosity of spirit” and “extraordinary forgiveness”, describing him as an “inspiration for the future”.

He was the first to sign a book of condolence at South Africa House in London.

In a message, he said Mr Mandela “will inspire generations to come”.

He wrote: “Your cause of fighting for freedom and against discrimination, your struggle for justice, your triumph against adversity - these things will inspire generations to come.

“And through all of this, your generosity, compassion and profound sense of forgiveness have given us all lessons to learn and live by.”

He ended his message with a quote: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.”

After signing the book, Mr Cameron said his thoughts were of “extraordinary sadness at the passing of such a heroic figure”.

“He lived this extraordinary life of belief in this simple principle - fighting discrimination,” he said.

Recalling his own personal memories of Mr Mandela, he said he remembers a man “who had a wonderful sense of humour”.

He said his abiding memory of Mr Mandela is seeing him in Johannesburg and hearing him talk about what he had suffered, and yet his “complete forgiveness, his total lack of malice towards those who’d done this to him”.

Mr Cameron said he was also struck by the fact that after leaving power Mr Mandela still cared so deeply about the issues - such as Aids and HIV - that were affecting his country.

He said Mr Mandela had a sense of forgiveness, which he said is something we all need to learn and try to live by.

When asked about the Conservative Party’s attitude to Mr Mandela and the ANC in the past, Mr Cameron said he had written and spoken about that before.

“I think today is a day to focus on his legacy, on his life, on his work.

“And above all the inspiration that he will give to millions of people across the world.”

People have been leaving flowers outside South Africa House since the news of Mr Mandela’s death broke.

Dozens of bouquets were the centrepiece as crowds came to pay their respects and take photographs.

People were singing and dancing while a growing number of press watched.

As the candles and flowers multiplied, a group of people with South African scarves and flags cried out “Long live the spirit of Nelson Mandela” and “Viva Mandela”.

Joan Foster, 51, from London, left a bunch of flowers and said she could “be here all day” explaining why she felt like she had to do so.

She said: “It’s amazing how one person made so much change. How many people could say they made a nation change the way they think?”

Ms Foster said she remembered watching his release from prison on television.

“The excitement was killing me,” she said.

Hugh Sinclair, 54, from Germany, broke down in tears as he spoke about Mr Mandela after leaving flowers.

He said he was an example to the world of how “humans should be”.

“There’s so much war and hatred in the world,” he said.

Recalling the day Mr Mandela was released, he said tearfully: “I felt very, very emotional because I’d been to Zimbabwe and I’d been to South Africa when it was under apartheid and I remember how the non-whites suffered.

“It was an enormous relief for so many people.”

Mr Sinclair added: “He is one of the truly great leaders, and I feel very thankful that we have him.”

While the House of Commons is not sitting today, peers gathered in the House of Lords to hear debates on Private Members’ Bills.

Before the debates began, Lord Speaker Baroness D’Souza said a book of condolences would be open in the Palace of Westminster’s Royal Gallery.

In a short statement, she said: “Your lordships may wish to know that at the news of the death of Nelson Mandela a book of condolences has been placed in the Royal Gallery for any member who may wish to sign it.

“Your lordships may also wish to know that I will be writing to the Speakers of the South African Parliament to express our sympathies on behalf of the House.”

Roger Poole, an activist in the anti-apartheid movement and former chairman of the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland, laid flowers at the site in Trafalgar Square.

He praised Mr Mandela for showing that reconciliation is possible.

Recalling his days as an activist, he said: “I used to spend hours out here on this pavement demanding Madiba’s release.

“He brought us all freedom. Black and white.”

Mr Poole, who worked with different sides of the community in Northern Ireland, said Mr Mandela’s life should teach today’s politicians to “not question the ability to reconcile people”.

It is understood that Mr Cameron is likely to fly out to South Africa early next week to take part in a formal memorial service.

Details of how tributes will be paid to Mr Mandela in the House of Commons on Monday are expected later today.

As crowds formed a queue outside South Africa House to write in the book of condolence, signed first by Mr Cameron this morning, they all had their own memories of Mr Mandela and his place in their lives.

At the front of the queue, Lorna Soar, originally from South Africa, moved to the UK in 1965 “not expecting to ever go back”.

Her daughter Katy was born on the day Mr Mandela was released, and the pair met him over 10 years ago in London.

“My father was in the ANC as well alongside Nelson Mandela,” she said.

“It’s just a very emotional time really.”

With tears running down her cheeks, she added: “At least he’s at peace now.”

Ms Soar said she is trying to track down the photo of her daughter meeting Mr Mandela.

Recalling her conversation with him, she said: “He just said it was an incredible struggle.”

Ms Soar travelled to London from her home in Essex to pay tribute.

Also queueing to sign the book was Mark Robinson, twice a Tory MP who met Mr Mandela on two occasions.

Mr Robinson said his mother was born in South Africa so he felt his connections go back a long way.

“We’re talking about someone who had a tremendous influence on history,” he said.

Commenting on the Conservative Party’s previous attitudes to the ANC and Mr Mandela, he said he thought it was “an inevitable political reaction”, saying: “It isn’t that the Tory party were united on that.”

He added: “But Margaret Thatcher had strong views.”

Mr Robinson said there would have been a split in attitudes “under the surface”, adding: “Attitudes should have changed much quicker.”

He said that due to his mother’s roots, and also his work with the United Nations secretary general and Commonwealth secretary general, he “came at it from a very different angle”.

London Mayor Boris Johnson visited the shrine at South Africa House to pay his respects “on behalf of Londoners”.

He said the “idea of a latter-day saint is much abused” but added that there was no doubt in his mind that the outpouring of admiration and praise for Mr Mandela is wholly appropriate.

When asked about the Conservative Party’s attitudes to Mr Mandela and the ANC in the past, he said he disagreed with it but was “not politically operational” then, adding: “I never in my life deviated from the position of fervent, fervent admiration for Nelson Mandela.”

The queue for the book of condolence grew steadily as lunchtime approached, snaking around the building and down Duncannon Street.

Ed Miliband arrived and went in through a side door.

As the press presence grew, reporters from around the world could be heard speaking various languages, and a number of TV satellite trucks were parked in front of the National Gallery.

• LIVEBLOG: Mandela tributes and memorial