Journey:
The Flag covered coffin carrying the body of former South African
President Nelson Mandela is taken from his home in Johannesburg, South
Africa, this morning as his beloved country began eight days of mourning
A
world mourns his passing: Nelson Mandela, whose courage in the face of
persecution made him the most potent symbol of the struggle against
apartheid and inspired millions in his own country and around the world,
died last night aged
Mr
Mandela passed away at home after a long battle against illness. He was
95. He is pictured here accompanied by his wife Winnie walking out of
Victor Verster Prison near Cape Town, a free man after 27 years of
imprisonment
Final picture: Nelson Mandela seated next to
current South African president Jacob Zuma at his home in April this
year as he struggled with ill health
Poignant:
Nobel laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu prays for the late
South African president Nelson Mandela in Cape Town, his old friend
Video alleges to show motorcade escorting Nelson Mandela's body
Leader: President Jacob Zuma waves at a group of
mourners and then speaks to the media outside the home where Nelson
Mandela died, and announced that Madiba's funeral on Sunday, December 15
Outpouring
of emotion: People gather to pay their last respects outside former
President Mandela, singing songs of freedom and celebrating the life
that changed the course of their country and inspired change around the
planet
Paying
tribute: Mourners gather to sing and dance around a huge painting of
Nelson Mandela outside the house of the late South African president
Nelson Mandela as the world digests life without Nelson Mandela
A
life that touched so many: A mourner touches a photograph of the late
South African president outside his Johannesburg home this morning
Crowds:
A woman, surrounded by children, outside the house of Nelson Mandela in
Johannesburg sings a song celebrating the life of one of the world's
great leaders
Sad: A mother gathers her children in her arms as they pray for the Nobel Peace Prize winner who died last night
Nation
grieving: After months of illness Mandela passed away on Thursday night
and families moved by what he did for their country have flocked to his
homes and national monuments
First
light: Through the darkness and through the night mourners have
gathered to pay their respects to the statesman by leaving flowers,
flags and lit candles
Grief
and joy: The mood of the vigil outside the former president's home in
Houghton, Johannesburg, turned from quiet grief into an exuberant
celebration of his life
Family: Ndileka Mandela, Nelson Mandela's granddaughter, gestures while on the phone as she visits his house
Mr
Mandela's efforts to heal his country after its long history of
division made him one of the world¿s most loved leaders, viewed by
millions of Africans as a secular saint
Despite being allowed to return home three
months ago, South Africa's first black president has not been able to
move from a bedroom described as being a 'virtual 24 hour intensive care
unit'
Nelson
Mandela whose courage in the face of persecution made him the most
potent symbol of the struggle against apartheid - died last night
Magical
moment: On May 10 1994, in the nation's capital Pretoria, Nelson
Mandela was sworn in as the first democratically elected President and
gave the nation hope
Life of an icon: Nelson Mandela was leader of
the National Congress African, photographed in traditional dress in
1961, was castigated and imprisoned, but after 27 years was released and
rose to become one of the greatest figures of the past century, right
in 1994
Happy couple: Nelson Mandela and his wife and wife Graca Machel, who married in 1998. Both were previously married
Moving:
Prince William paid tribute to Nelson Mandela alongside the Duchess of
Cambridge following last night's film premiere of Mandela: The Long Walk
to Freedom, where the couple were told as they watched it
Outpouring: Monuments to 'Mandiba' in London are
being surrounded by flowers and candles by those inspired by his
example to the world
Crowds: A London statue of Mandela looks on to Westminster Abbey,the Houses of Parliament and dozens there to pay their respects
Piled high: A woman places flowers and reads the notes resting outside the South African embassy near Trafalgar Square
Embrace: A man with a South African scarf comforts a woman as they mourn the death 'Tata' Mandela in London
Father of a nation: Handwritten messages left for Nelson Mandela outside his home in Johannesburg
People wishing to pay their last respects gather outside Nelson Mandela's home in Johannesburg
Crowds at Mandela's home paying their respects
to the former president, who died on Thursday aged 95 and left a nation
in mourning
Mourners outside Mandela's home film the occasion on their mobile phones
Dozens of journalists gathered outside Mandela's home
Tribute: As news of Mandela's death filtered out
late last night, residents of Johannesburg came to the suburb where he
lived to light candles in his honour
Mourners who joined the all-night vigil outside
Mandela's home brought tributes with them - this man brought the front
page of a newspaper commemorating his life
As dawn broke on the leafy suburb where Mandela
died last night, mourners lit candles and laid flowers, flags and soft
toys in a shrine for the former president
A framed portrait of the former president and flowers are placed outside Mandela's home on Friday
The vigil outside Manela's home included groups of people singing and dancing in celebration of his life
Patriotic celebration: The mood of those outside
Mandela's house turned from one of grief to one of joy as mourners
danced and sang songs in his honour
Icon:
Prime Minister David Cameron signs the book of condolence at the South
African Embassy in central London this morning, and called him the 'hero
of our time'
Heartfelt:
David Cameron used the message from Matthew 5:9 - 'Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall be called the Children of God'
Tribute:
The Union and South African flags fly at half mast in Downing Street
today while the Queen has also asked for the same to happen at
Buckingham Palace
Tears: Many of those who came to pay tribute to the man who gave them their freedom brought their children with them
Brought together by grief: South African people hold hands outside Mandela's house after learning of his death at the age of 95
Tribute for our brother: People gather on
Vilakazi Street in the black township of Soweto, where Mandela lived
during the 1940s and 1950s
The Nobel Peace Prize winner was 95 when he passed away
People
read a newspaper on Vilakazi Street in Soweto, where Mandela once lived
- mourners marched around the block chanting his name
Two
women console each other on Vilakazi Street in Soweto - police officers
watched as mourners sang songs, held hands and swayed outside Mandela's
early home
In
the village of Qunu, where Mandela grew up, soldiers with armoured
vehicles guarded his childhood home, but again the feeling was one of
peaceful remembrance
A makeshift memorial at South Africa House in London
Members
of the First AME Church Freedom Mass Choir pray in honour of the late
anti-apartheid leader, whose image appears on the left, during choir
rehearsal on Thursday in Los Angeles, California
Far-reaching
grief: Lungi Morrison, the granddaughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
sings after lighting a candle for Nelson Mandela outside the South
African High Commission in London
Taking
to the streets: South Africans stand outside the Mandela family home
after the death of Nelson Mandela. Citizens of the African nation took
to the streets after their revered leader's death
Mementos:
Flowers, candles and tributes are left in memory of Nelson Mandela
outside the South African High Commission across from Trafalgar Square
in London, including a poster from the film about the leader that
premiered in the UK the night of his death
Grateful
nation: People sit behind burning candles for former president Nelson
Mandela on hearing of his passing outside his Johannesburg home
Sad
but celebratory: While many people looked sombre and visibly emotional
following news of Mandela's death, others celebrated his achievements by
dancing and singing
Rapt:
People listen to a radio outside Mr Mandela's house as news of his
death was announced by South African president Jacob Zuma
A world indebted: Press gather outside Mandela's
home. World leaders across the globe learned the somber news from South
Africa's President Zuma. Many of them, notably US President Barack
Obama, expressed their indebtedness to the late freedom fighter
A nation mourns: South African president Jacob
Zuma tells the world of Mandela's passing in this screen grab of his
Thursday address
'I
cannot fully imagine my life without the example that Nelson Mandela
set,' said President Obama at a news conference. The White House said
the US president will travel to South Africa to attend Mandela's fuenral
Just
before his death: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they arrived
Thursday night to the UK premier of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom just
before the film's inspiration and subject died at 95
The Duke and Duchess were in high spirits upon
their arrival (left) to the Nelson Mandela film, unaware the great
freedom fighter had died just hours before. They were discreetly told of
his passing near the end of the film and left in a somber mood
Ominous
timing: Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, greets Zindzi
Mandela, right, and her sister Zenani, the daughters of former Nelson
Mandela at the UK premier. The sisters reportedly only learned of their
father's death as they watched the movie about his life
Press:
A selection of UK newspapers react to the death of Nelson Mandela.
South Africa's first black president died at the age of 95 at home in
Johannesburg
Mandela
in London. South Africans took to the streets of Johannesburg in their
droves to mourn former president Nelson Mandela after news of his death
broke
The South African government has never disclosed
the full extent of his illness, but reputable news sources revealed
that his liver and kidneys were functioning at just 50 percent. South
Africans took to the streets of Johannesburg in their droves to mourn
former president Nelson Mandela after news of his death broke
Here
UK Prime Minister David Cameron, meets with Mandela in 2006 in
Johannesburg. Cameron led the UK tributes to the South African leader
Thursday. 'Nelson Mandela showed us the true meaning of courage, hope,
and reconciliation,' said the PM
In
this 2011 meeting, the first daughters Malia (left) and Sasha (right)
join their mother Michelle Obama for a sit down with Mandela
Unforgettable
pose: Prime Minister David Cameron meets with Mandela in 2008, as the
South African leader shoots his famously endearing grin
Nelson
Mandela is pictured during a visit by former U.S. president Bill
Clinton on July 17, 2012 at his home in Qunu, Eastern Cape, on the eve
of his 94th birthday
Pope
John Paul II with Mandela in 1995. The former lawyer spent 27 years in
apartheid prisons for his political beliefs before becoming South
Africa's first black president
Mandela and Princess Diana speak with the press after meeting in the Mandela's home, Genadendal, in Cape Town, South Africa
Late singer Whitney Houston cuddles up to Pres Nelson Mandela at the Union Buildings in Pretoria
Upcoming
release: A still from The Weinstein Company shows Idris Elba as Nelson
Mandela in the upcoming film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
