There were tears at Belfast City Hall yesterday as hundreds signed a book of condolence in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. People, still dazed after her death, left flowers, teddy bears and personal messages for the "Queen of Hearts".
Her appeal was universal and transcended all barriers. Her death united grieving Protestants and Catholics. People stood silently, waiting to sign the book of condolence.
"I can't believe it," said Ms Debbie Wilson, from Dundonald. "I can't take it in. I'm just stunned that she is dead."
Ms Wilson cried: "I wrote, `we have lost the jewel in our crown' and that's what she was. It is all so sad. She had just found happiness and then she died."
Young and old, male and female arrived at Belfast City Hall to pay their respects.
A Belfast man in his 30s, who declined to be named, said: "I came here tonight, not because she was a royal but because she was from my own generation, and in one fell swoop she died. And in one night I was aware of my own mortality, of my own life.
"Over and above that, she was the one royal that people could relate too. She was caring and passionate about people.
"It is really one of these tragedies that Hollywood could have scripted. There was a woman who at last appeared to have found some sort of happiness, and appeared to have shaken off the shackles off the royal family, and got on with her life and found out that she was not going to shake off the media, and decided to enhance the power of the media and set about doing that in such a positive fashion by going about the world and finding positive causes and giving them a profile. And this is what she did."
Mr Stephen Moore (19), from Rathcoole, said: "She was loved for all the work that she did for people throughout the world. I was quite surprised yesterday, but it has sunk in now. She seemed to genuinely care."
His friend, Mr Gavin Stitt (19) said the public took the princess to their hearts, because she was not "born into the royal family, but was one of us".
Their tribute, "Gone, but not forgotten", summed up for many the impact her life and tragic death have had on the people in Northern Ireland.
Ms Lucy Gillen (21), a Catholic from Portstewart, Co Derry said Diana could transcend all barriers and appealed equally to Catholics and Protestants.
"I'm very shocked and stunned, there is an air of disbelief in my office. I'm not a royalist but I can appreciate all the work that she did. She was a caring person. If it had been the queen mother, I don't think I would've been here today.
"She appealed to both Catholics and Protestants because she genuinely cared about people, and supported numerous charities."
Ms Roberta Keery from Belfast said the princess's death was "a great loss to the nation, and will always be remembered. I mean, you will always remember where you were when the news broke. She was the Jackie Onassis of Northern Ireland".
A book of condolence was opened in St Columb's Church of Ireland cathedral in Derry yesterday for the princess. Thousands of people signed the book, among them the city's SDLP Mayor, Councillor Martin Bradley, the Deputy Mayor, DUP Alderman Joe Miller and the city's RUC Divisional Commander, Supt Joseph McKeever. The book will be available to the public in the cathedral until next Friday.