Britain's Queen Elizabeth is "deeply saddened" to learn of Nelson Mandela's death.
The 87-year-old monarch paid tribute to the anti-apartheid revolutionary this morning (06.12.13) after he died peacefully last night (05.12.13) at his home in Johannesburg, South Africa, and she praised the "tireless work" the former South African President did for his country.
A statement from Buckingham Palace read: "The queen was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Nelson Mandela last night. He worked tirelessly for the good of his country, and his legacy is the peaceful South Africa we see today.
"Her Majesty remembers with great warmth her meetings with Mr. Mandela and sends her sincere condolences to his family and the people of South Africa at this very sad time."
Elizabeth's son Prince Charles has also paid tribute to Mandela - who was a symbol of hope and freedom for millions after battling to overcome apartheid in South Africa and win equal rights for black people, which saw him jailed between 1962 and 1990 - and praised him for being an "inspired leader and a great man".
He said: "Mr. Mandela was the embodiment of courage and reconciliation. He was also a man of great humour and had a real zest for life.
"With his passing, there will be an immense void not only in his family's lives, but also in those of all South Africans and the many others whose lives have been changed through his fight for peace, justice and freedom.
"The world has lost an inspired leader and a great man. My family and I are profoundly saddened and our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
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