A poster of Queen Elizabeth II near the Palace of Westminster on 15 September, 2022 in London, England. Photo: CAROLINA RAPEZZI
The death of the Queen has subtly transformed some central London iconic shopfronts - with darkened windows, billboard tributes and floral decorations serving as symbols of a city in mourning.
Among the familiar black cabs, red buses and crowds of people, visitor John Toscano said he'd noticed quite a shift.
"You can see it in the stores. They've blackened out the windows, Even the fashion that's in the windows is black."
Department store Fortnum & Mason has opted for matte black window coverings, and also stopped its clock.
The store was the grocer to the Queen and she officially opened its tea salon in 2012.
"She was always gracious to us, and we are proud to have served her throughout a long life so uniquely well lived," the company told RNZ in a statement.
A pedestrian takes a picture of a photograph of late Queen Elizabeth II displayed as a tribute outside Fortnum and Mason shop, in central London. Photo: LOUISA GOULIAMAKI
London's oldest bookstore, Hatchard's, has opted for flowers and a photo of the late monarch.
The shop has supplied literature to Buckingham Palace for over 200 years, and its manager Frances Cleverdon says staff wanted to create a "simple and dignified" tribute.
"It's a gesture of what's happened and a gesture, to a great extent, of how much we admired her, and how much she was very good to us."
Inside, books about the royal family feature prominently on a table near the front of the store.
They are proving particularly popular at the moment.
"Royal books are always split, into the ones which are pictures and the ones that are text. And both of them are going completely wild at the moment, as you can imagine," Cleverdon said.
He said right this moment authors were writing more books to celebrate the late Queen's life.
One of those authors is Canadian John Fraser.
"It's a daunting to think you've got anything to add to it, but I have my own take on it.
"So I'm trying to go around London this week, talking to people who've had some encounter with the Queen," he explained.
Beyond books, little keepsakes are also flying off the shelves.
A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II is placed next to Union Jack flag and Paddington bears among flowers as crowds of people visit a memorial site in Green Park. Photo: WIKTOR SZYMANOWICZ
One souvenir shop visited by RNZ had sold out of Paddington bears.
Behind the counter, Francis Thraya was stocking up on new items inscribed with the Queen's date of birth and date of death.
"Mugs, bobbleheads, crowns, magnets and other things," he said.
On Monday, during the Queen's funeral, many shops in London will be shut.
Supermarket chains Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons will be giving all its staff the day off, along with department stores Harrods, Selfridges, John Lewis and House of Fraser.
In an extremely rare move, McDonald's has also announced all its restaurants across the UK will be closed until 5pm.
Customers told RNZ it was "brilliant" move and a "sign of respect."
"McDonald's is not a necessity so I definitely think that's a good idea," one said.
