The music world has been paying tribute to singer Amy Winehouse, 27, who has been found dead at her London home.

A press release from Metropolitan Police does not specify Winehouse by name, but reads: “Police were called by London Ambulance Service to an address in Camden Square NW1 shortly before 16.05 hours today, Saturday 23 July, following reports of a woman found deceased. On arrival officers found the body of a 27-year-old female who was pronounced dead at the scene. Inquiries continue into the circumstances of death. At this early stage it is being treated as unexplained.”

Her former producer Mark Ronson said: “She was my musical soulmate and like a sister to me. This is one of the saddest days of my life.”

Comedian and actor Russell Brand posted a statement on his website, saying: “We have lost a beautiful and talented woman.”

Police said the cause of Winehouse’s death was as yet unexplained.

The Brit and Grammy award-winner had struggled with drink and drug addiction and had recently spent time in rehab.

A statement from the Winehouse family said: “Our family has been left bereft by the loss of Amy, a wonderful daughter, sister, niece.

“She leaves a gaping hole in our lives. We are coming together to remember her and we would appreciate some privacy and space at this terrible time.”

Brand, who has also struggled with drug addiction in the past, described one of the first times he saw her perform.

“Entering the space I saw Amy on stage with [Paul] Weller and his band; and then the awe. The awe that envelops when witnessing a genius,” he said.

At the time he met Winehouse, Brand had not yet completely dropped taking drugs and he said the pair of them “shared an affliction, the disease of addiction”.

Winehouse canceled her European tour last month, and has long struggled with substance abuse. The singer danced with Bromfield and encouraged the audience to buy her album in the impromptu appearance.

On Saturday night Bromfield took to the stage at a festival in Pontypridd in Wales, just two hours after news broke of the singer’s death.

It had been reported that Winehouse died of a drugs overdose but police spokesman Superintendent Raj Kohli said “it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of death.”

He added: “My sympathy extends not just to her immediate family but clearly to the thousands and millions of fans across the world.”

In the hours following her death, Winehouse’s American record label, Universal Republic, said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist and performer. Our prayers go out to Amy’s family, friends and fans at this difficult time.”

The Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress, designed by Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton, is to go on display at Buckingham Palace on Saturday.

The dress will be in the palace’s ballroom from 23 July to 3 October during its annual summer opening.

Curator Caroline de Guitaut said it was “very fitting” the exhibition was where the royal wedding reception took place.

Ms Burton said Kate had wanted a dress with “presence and of historical importance” with a contemporary feel.

The designer, whose identity was a closely guarded secret until the duchess’s marriage to Prince William on 29 April, has rarely spoken about the dress.

The duchess’s bridal gown featured lace applique floral detail – which was hand-made by embroiderers at the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace – and was made of ivory and white satin gazar.

The dress has a series of lace motifs including a rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock to represent England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Each motif, some as small as a five pence piece, was applied with minute stitches every two to three millimetres.

The duchess’s veil, tiara, Alexander McQueen bridal shoes and diamond earrings will also form part of the display.

Her veil, which was made of layers of soft, ivory silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers, was also embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework.

The 1936 Cartier “halo” tiara was lent to the bride by the Queen, while Kate’s diamond earrings were commissioned by the Middleton family as a personal gift to the bride from her parents.

William and Kate’s multi-tiered wedding cake, created by cake designer Fiona Cairns, will be recreated and shown in the state dining room to complement the wedding dress exhibition.

Ms Cairns said the cake, which was covered in cream and white icing and decorated with up to 900 delicate sugar-paste flowers, was a “very rich, dark traditional fruitcake”.

Meanwhile it has emerged that the royal couple kept the top two tiers of their eight-tiered wedding cake – a tradition usually undertaken by couples who plan to serve the cake at the christening of their first born.

Ms Burton joined Alexander McQueen’s studio in 1996 as an intern, working alongside him on his collections for 12 years, before he took his own life in February 2010.

She was named creative director of the Alexander McQueen label the following May.