Wayne Cuddington, Ottawa Citizen Admirers of the Queen Mother have been leaving tributes in her memory at the British High Commission offices in Ottawa.

Canadians travelled to Parliament Hill to express sympathy yesterday and to remember Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, "the heart of the Crown."

Flags on Parliament Hill were flying at half-mast and 14 pairs of Canadian flags and Union Jacks bearing black ribbons rimmed the rotunda of the Centre Block.

A steady stream of visitors entered the rotunda to sign books of condolences provided by the federal government. Adrienne Clarkson, the Governor-General, and John Manley, the Deputy Prime Minister, started the book signing.

About 400 people were estimated to have signed the books from the time they were made available yesterday morning until late afternoon. The books will continue to be on display daily, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Ottawa resident Michael Prince recalled how he "had the honour of dancing the Blue Danube with the Queen Mother" after a dinner at the Canadian Forces Base in Lahr, Germany, during the 1980s.

"When I heard about her death, that hurt," he said.

As a member of the military police in Lahr, Mr. Prince said, "I never thought I'd be able to dance with royalty -- I salute them. But the Queen Mother asked to dance with some men without a powerful rank, so along with the officers, she danced with corporals, sergeants and privates."

When his "sabre nailed her in the ankle," he said, she asked the base commander if the men could remove their swords, which were part of their uniforms, for the dancing; the commander obliged.

"During the Blitz in London, you comforted my grandmother after their house was bombed, your kindness and compassion never forgotten," wrote Jason Roy Banes.

"She will be dearly missed, a monarch like no other, mostly her warmth and royalness," wrote the Seguin family.

"You were an inspiration to all," wrote Henrya Wensink, of Whitehorse.

Ken Agate, owner of the Blethering Place, Victoria, B.C.'s preeminent British tea room, has set up a commemorative table featuring red roses and pictures. The Queen Mother dominated the conversation among the patrons, who are "very old school -- the men like to wear hats and ladies still wear gloves."

"There's talk about what a lovely life she had and what an inspiration she was during the war years. She was like a Churchill in female form, she rallied the troops. The older folks are remembering how she took a forward step when times were tough."

A handful of Canadian soldiers flew to London last night for the funeral procession. They include members of the Canadian Forces Medical Services, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, and the Toronto Scottish Regiment, which received the additional title Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own to mark her 100th birthday.

The Queen Mother was the colonel, honorary colonel or colonel-in-chief of more than a dozen regiments and units, including these three Canadian ones. The Toronto Scottish Regiment is the sole military unit in the world to carry her name.

Major Mike Trayner, the deputy commanding officer of the regiment, who left for London yesterday, said: "I'm honoured to be able to represent my unit and Canada. For us, the Queen Mother is really a beloved person."

Jean Chrétien, the Prime Minister, begins a whirlwind seven-nation tour of Africa tomorrow and may have to interrupt, or cut short, his visit if he decides to attend the Queen Mother's funeral next Tuesday. He is scheduled to be in Mozambique and Ethiopia on the day of the funeral.

"There is no decision yet as to who will be attending the Queen Mother's funeral on behalf of the federal government," said Thoren Hudyma, a spokeswoman in Mr. Chrétien's office.