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Mourners have gathered outside his home and national landmarks to dance and sing in his memory Former president passed away home in Johannesburg. He'd spent three months in hospital with lung infection His body has been taken to a military hospital in Pretoria and he will later lie in state for three days The icon will be accorded full state funeral, the like of which has never been seen before in South Africa South African President Jacob Zuma confirmed Mandela�s death before 9pm local time (7pm GMT) in TV address. Said: 'Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves� President Obama paid emotional tribute, saying: 'I cannot fully imagine my life without example Mandela set' David Cameron said a 'great light has gone out in the world. Nelson Mandela was a hero of our time...' He was discharged in September and had been receiving home-based medical attention since then. *** Mourners have today gathered to dance and sing songs of freedom outside the home of Nelson Mandela as the world celebrated the life of the adored statesman who brought peace and equality to South Africa and died last night aged 95. He passed away at home in Johannesburg at 8.50pm yesterday and his body was moved to a military hospital in Pretoria this morning. His beloved country has started eight days of mourning, with flags flying at half mast before 'Madiba' or 'Tata' as he was devotedly called, is taken to lie in state for three days in the capital Pretoria. Imprisoned for 27 years before becoming South Africa's first black president, his courage in the face of persecution made him the most potent symbol of the struggle against apartheid, and an inspiration to millions in his country and billions beyond. Next Saturday a state funeral will be held and he will be buried in the Eastern Cape village of Quino, where he grew up, which is expected to be attended by world leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama. The Queen has said this morning she is 'deeply saddened' to learn of Nelson Mandela's death, saying the former South African president 'worked tirelessly for the good of his country'. Last night Mandela's death was announced in South Africa as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sat down to watch the screening of Long Walk To Freedom, the movie based on his autobiography. They were told in the auditorium in Leicester Square. Nelson Mandela's daughter Zindzi Mandelaalso learnt of her father's death while watching the royal premiere. Screams rang out in the auditorium as the news was broken to her, although the majority of fellow audience members were not informed until after the film. 'The Queen was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Nelson Mandela last night. His legacy is the peaceful South Africa we see today,' Buckingham Palace said this morning. 'Her Majesty remembers with great warmth her meetings with Mr Mandela and sends her sincere condolences to his family and the people of South Africa at this very sad time.' The Prince of Wales also paid tribute to the former South African leader. He said: 'Mr Mandela was the embodiment of courage and reconciliation. He was also a man of great humour and had a real zest for life. 'With his passing, there will be an immense void not only in his family's lives, but also in those of all South Africans and the many others whose lives have been changed through his fight for peace, justice and freedom. 'The world has lost an inspired leader and a great man. My family and I are profoundly saddened and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.' His death was announced in a televised address broadcast as the Mail was going to press, South African president Jacob Zuma said: �Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father. �What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves.� Mr Mandela passed away at home after a long battle against illness. He was 95. Mr Zuma said the former president would be accorded a State funeral and flags throughout South Africa would fly at half-mast until it was over. 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. He was known in South Africa as �Madiba�, his clan name, which means �grandfather�.