The British stars led the dance.

Actress Helen Mirren, who played the sovereign in the film "The Queen" (2006), said she was "proud to be an + Elizabethan +".

"We mourn a woman who, with or without a crown, was the epitome of nobility."

Elton John, who owns a lavish home a stone's throw from Windsor Castle, said he was "deeply saddened" by the Queen's passing.

"She was an inspiration and led the country through some of its darkest times with grace, morality and real, caring warmth," he wrote on Instagram.

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"Queen Elizabeth has been a very important part of my life since childhood, and I will miss her dearly."

The singer was knighted by the Queen in 1998, months after performing his hit "Candle in the wind" at Princess Diana's funeral.

"God bless Elizabeth II. May she rest in peace. Long live the king," soberly declared Paul McCartney, former member of the Beatles also ennobled.

Mick Jagger, leader of their eternal rival, the Rolling Stones, hailed the memory of a queen who had been a constant presence "during all (her) life".

"As a child, I remember watching the highlights of her marriage on television. I remember her as a beautiful young woman, who became the nation's beloved grandmother."

Former Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne, nicknamed the "Prince of Darkness", said he regretted the death of "our greatest queen".

"With a heavy heart I say the mere thought of an England without Queen Elizabeth II is devastating."

Daniel Craig, star of the 'James Bond' saga, stressed that the queen would be "deeply missed".

The actor had participated in a video clip in which Elizabeth II had agreed to appear, on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the London Olympics.

"Full of Grace"

Former Spice Girls "Posh Spice" Victoria Beckham claimed on Twitter that it was a sad day "for the whole world".

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved Queen, Her Majesty The Queen. We will remember her for her unwavering loyalty and devotion."

International Grandmaster of Musicals Andrew Lloyd Webber said she was "a constant pillar, not only to the United Kingdom but also to her beloved Commonwealth".

'Harry Potter' author JK Rowling says Elizabeth II has 'deserved her rest'.

"She did her duty to the country until her last hours, and became a constant and positive symbol of Britain around the world," she tweeted.

On the American side, jet-setter Paris Hilton hailed "one of the greatest sources of inspiration".

Other reality queens, like the Kardashian family, have praised the sovereign's qualities.

"Having the Queen as a constant presence has always brought me a sense of comfort and peace," Khloé Kardashian said.

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"Full of grace, dedicated, elegant, unforgettable. Today, and forever, we remember her as one of the finest leaders our world has ever known," said her mother, Kris Jenner.

Even fictional characters joined in the rain of tributes.

The Twitter account of Paddington Bear, an icon of British children's literature who had shared the screen with Elizabeth II in a video for the 70th anniversary of her reign, posted this message: "Madam, thank you for everything".

© 2022 AFP