The Earl and Countess of Wessex made an emotional visit to Windsor Castle yesterday to thank the public for their support following the death of the Queen Mother.

The Wessexes spoke to well-wishers and read messages on the dozens of bunches of flowers left in the castle grounds.

The couple, who married at the castle three years ago, saw at first hand the floral tributes left on the lawn outside St George's Chapel.

Dressed in dark suits, the couple looked sombre as they walked alongside the chapel.

They spoke to members of the public together for a few minutes before Sophie broke away to look more closely at the flowers, bending down to read some of the messages.

She then joined her husband and talked to castle visitors - both of them managing a smile as stories of the Queen Mother were recounted to them.

Judith Pennell, 46, from Frimley, Surrey, said: ''Sophie said thank you to us for coming. She was lovely and very easy to speak to. I told her how lovely I thought all the flowers were.''

Later, the Earl and Countess travelled from Windsor to St James's Palace to bid their own private farewell to the Queen Mother. They paid their respects at the Queen's Chapel before walking down to the front of the palace to see floral tributes and cards left outside.