THE deafening roar of guns echoed across York as crowds flocked to pay tribute to the late Queen Mother.

The 41-gun salute - the first since the death of her husband, King George VI, 50 years ago - took place in the daffodil-filled Museum Gardens at noon yesterday.

A subdued crowd of tourists from all over Britain and the world gathered with locals to pay their respects at one of 12 salutes taking place around the country and in Gibraltar.

The four artillery pieces, operated by The Lowland Gunners, of the Royal Artillery, fired one round a minute for 40 minutes.

Corporal Lowe, a military policeman based at Catterick, said he was "gutted" at the Queen Mother's death, yet relieved she died peacefully in her sleep.

"She meant so much to this country," he said. "To many people, her memory will last longer than Diana's.

"She always supported our troops and helped keep up morale whenever we were at war."

Julia Everett, a mother from Essex on holiday with her family in York, said she was greatly saddened. "The Queen Mother represented England. She was well respected around the world."

Morris Peacock, aged 84, from Middlesbrough, said: "I will always remember her smile. It will be a lasting memory to me."

But the salute, which started slightly late and with one cannon out of action after a round misfired, left him slightly disappointed. "There should have been music, there was only one piper playing."

Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales has paid a moving tribute to his "darling grandmother".

In a passionate address from his Highgrove home, Charles said she had an "utterly irresistible mischievousness of spirit" and her death was a moment he had dreaded.

"Somehow I never thought it would come," he said. "She seemed gloriously unstoppable and ever since I was a child I adored her."

The prince's eyes filled up as he recalled how he used to laugh and laugh with the Queen Mother.

"She was quite simply the most magical grandmother you could possibly have and I was utterly devoted to her. Her departure has left an irreplaceable chasm in countless lives but, thank God, we are all the richer for the sheer joy of her presence and everything she stood for."

The prince described the Queen Mother as an "institution in her own right" and "somehow timeless", and paid tribute to her "infectious optimism". He said she meant everything to him and countless others.

"Above all, she understood the British character and her heart belonged to this ancient land and its equally indomitable and humorous inhabitants, whom she served with panache, style and unswerving dignity for very nearly 80 years," he said.

The prince, wearing a dark suit and black tie, was seated in the Orchard Room in an outbuilding of his Gloucestershire residence, with two framed photographs of the Queen Mother on a table behind him.

At the bottom of one portrait of her, smiling in a blue feathered hat and pearl necklace, was written in faded black ink: "With much love Granny 1976."

Books of condolence were opening today across North Yorkshire.

The Archbishops of York and Canterbury, Dr David Hope and Dr George Carey, have issued special prayers to help individuals and churches mourn the Queen Mother.

Among the prayers on Church of England website www.cofe.anglican.org are:

"Father in heaven, we praise your name

"for all who have finished this life loving and trusting you,

"for the example of their lives,

"the grace you gave them,

"and the peace in which they rest.

"We praise you today for your servant Elizabeth the Queen Mother

"and for all that you did through her.

"Meet us in our sadness

"and fill our hearts with praise and thanksgiving,

"for the sake or our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.

Amen."

Updated: 11:39 Tuesday, April 02, 2002