Britain and the world bid a final farewell to Elizabeth II.
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LONDON (AP) — Britain and the world said a final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II on Monday in a state funeral that drew presidents and monarchs, princes and prime ministers — and crowds who lined the streets of London for a Gathered to pay tribute to the king whose 70-year reign defined an age.
An eventful day in London and Windsor began when the doors of 900-year-old Westminster Hall were closed to mourners as hundreds of thousands gathered in front of his flag-draped coffin. Many people had waited in line for hours, including through cold nights, to attend the lay-in-state in a show of collective grief and respect.
I felt I had to come and pay my last respects to my glorious queen. It's done a lot for us and a little thank you from people, said Tracy Dobson, who was among the last people in line.
In a country known for pomp, the first state funeral since Winston Churchill was full of spectacle: 142 Royal Navy sailors pulled the gun carriage that carried Elizabeth's coffin to Westminster Abbey. , in which King Charles III and his sons Princes William and Harry were walking. Back as bagpipers played. Pallbearers carried the casket into the abbey, where about 2,000 people, from world leaders to health care workers, gathered to mourn him. Before the service, a bell rang 96 times - once a minute for each year of his life.
Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we join the whole nation, the Commonwealth, and the nations of the world, to mourn her loss, to remember her long life of selfless service, and to believe with gather for its determination. For the mercy of God our maker and savior, David Hoyle, dean of the medieval abbey, told the mourners as the funeral began.
It ended with two minutes of silence across the UK.
Monday has been declared a public holiday in honor of Elizabeth, who died on September 8 — and hundreds of thousands of people descended on central London to take part in the historic moment. Long before the service began, city officials said viewing areas along the route of the funeral procession were filled.
Millions more were expected to attend the funeral, which was televised live, and crowds gathered in parks and public spaces across Britain to watch it on screens. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby noted during the funeral that "few leaders receive the outpouring of love we've seen" for Elizabeth.
Earlier in the evening, Charles issued a message of thanks to people in Britain and around the world, saying he and his wife Camilla, the Queen's consort, had been "beyond division" by so many people. "It's done. Pay homage to the queen.
After the funeral, the coffin - escorted by units of the armed forces in dress uniform and by family members - will be carried through the streets of the capital to Wellington Arch near Hyde Park.
There, it will be placed in a hearse to be taken to Windsor Castle — where Elizabeth spent much of her time — for another procession before a committal service at St. George's Chapel. She will be laid to rest alongside her late husband Prince Philip in a private family service.
US President Joe Biden was among the leaders paying their respects at the Queen's casket on Sunday as thousands of police, hundreds of British soldiers and army personnel made final preparations for the funeral.
Biden called Queen Elizabeth II "decent" and "honorable" and "all about service" as he signed a condolence book, saying his heart went out to the royal family.
People across the UK held a minute's silence at 8pm on Sunday in memory of the only monarch they have ever known. In Westminster Hall, the steady stream of mourners stopped for 60 seconds as people observed a minute of reflection in deep silence.
It began to rain in Windsor as the crowd fell silent for a moment of reflection. Some camped outside the fort overnight to secure the best vantage points to view the Queen's casket.
Julie Fitzgerald, who was in Windsor, said there was a sense of community among mourners as they prepared to wait for hours to watch the procession carrying the Queen's coffin.
It's nice to be with people who all feel the same way. It's like a big family because everyone feels that … the Queen was part of their family, he said.
