The Queen Mother died peacefully in her sleep at the Royal Lodge, Windsor, on Saturday afternoon. She was 101.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother had become increasingly frail in recent weeks following her bad cough and chest infection over Christmas.

"Her condition deteriorated this morning and her doctors were called. Queen Elizabeth died peacefully in her sleep at 3.15 this afternoon at Royal Lodge."

The Queen was at her mother's bedside.

It is the second bereavement she has suffered in as many months - her sister Princess Margaret died on February 9 aged 71.

The Queen Mother's coffin is expected to be moved to the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park on Sunday morning.

The Queen Mother had strong connections with Sussex and made many friends during her visits to the county.

She was involved with charities and community organisations from Rye to Chichester and up to Crawley.

She visited Chailey Heritage special school, near Haywards Heath, a number of times and was president of Gifford House, the home for ex-servicemen in Worthing.

In 1982 she laid the foundation stone for St Catherine's Hospice in Crawley.

She was born Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon on August 4 1900 to Lord and Lady Glamis.

She married Prince Albert, who later became King George VI, in 1923 after the abdication of his brother Edward VIII.

The couple achieved enduring popularity in the Second World War, staying in London during the German Blitz.

George VI died in 1952 and their daughter became Queen Elizabeth II.

The Queen Mother remained popular ever since, even when the House of Windsor hit troubled times.

The Prince of Wales, Prince William and Prince Harry were said to be "completely devastated" after being informed of her death on their skiing holiday.

Charles was the first to be told after returning from the slopes at Klosters to his hotel at 4.30pm.

William and Harry found out later as they had skied to the last lift of the day.

They were told by their father who ushered them into his bedroom at the Walserhof.

Prime Minister Tony Blair led the tributes to the Queen Mother, saying she had been a symbol of Britain's "decency and courage".