State funeral for Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey: LIVE COVERAGE

LONDON — Britain and the world stated a remaining goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II at a state funeral Monday that drew presidents and kings, princes and prime ministers — and crowds that massed alongside the streets of London to honor a monarch whose 70-year reign outlined an age.

A day filled with occasions in London and Windsor started early when the doorways of 900-year-old Westminster Corridor had been closed to mourners after a whole lot of hundreds had filed in entrance of her flag-draped coffin. Many had waited for hours in line, together with by way of chilly nights, to see the mendacity in state in an outpouring of collective grief and respect.

Stream dwell protection of the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II within the participant above.

“I felt like I needed to come and pay my remaining respects to our majestic queen. She has completed a lot for us and just a bit thanks actually from the folks,” stated Tracy Dobson, who was among the many final to hitch the road.

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In a rustic identified for pomp and pageantry, the primary state funeral since Winston Churchill’s was stuffed with the spectacular show: 142 Royal Navy sailors drew the gun carriage carrying Elizabeth’s coffin to Westminster Abbey, with King Charles III and his sons Princes William and Harry strolling behind as pipers performed. Pall bearers then carried the coffin into the Abbey, the place round 2,000 folks starting from world leaders to well being care staff and volunteers gathered to mourn her. Forward of the service, one of many Abbey’s bells tolled 96 instances — as soon as a minute for annually of her life.

Monday has been declared a public vacation in honor of Elizabeth, who died Sept. 8 — and a whole lot of hundreds of individuals descended on central London to partake within the historic second. Lengthy earlier than the service started, metropolis authorities stated viewing areas alongside the route of the funeral’s procession had been full.

Tens of millions extra had been anticipated to tune into the funeral dwell on tv, and crowds flocked to parks and public areas throughout the U.Ok. to observe it on screens.

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On the night earlier than, Charles issued a message of because of folks within the U.Ok. and all over the world, saying he and his spouse Camilla, the queen consort, have been “moved past measure” by the massive numbers of people that have turned out to pay their respects to the queen.

“As all of us put together to say our final farewell, I wished merely to take this chance to say thanks to all these numerous individuals who have been such a assist and luxury to my household and myself on this time of grief,” he stated.

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Following the funeral within the medieval abbey the place Elizabeth was married and topped, her coffin — ringed by items of the armed forces in gown uniforms and members of her household — might be introduced by way of the capital’s streets to Wellington Arch close to Hyde Park.

There, will probably be positioned in a hearse to be pushed to Windsor Citadel — the place Elizabeth spent a lot of her time — for an additional procession earlier than a committal service in St. George’s Chapel. She might be laid to relaxation along with her late husband, Prince Philip, at a personal household service.

U.S. President Joe Biden was amongst leaders to pay their respects on the queen’s coffin on Sunday as hundreds of police, a whole lot of British troops and a military of officers made remaining preparations for the funeral.

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Biden known as Queen Elizabeth II “first rate” and “honorable” and “all about service” as he signed the condolence e-book, saying his coronary heart went out to the royal household.

Mourners began arriving to take their seats about three hours forward of the ceremony.

Folks throughout Britain paused for a minute of silence at 8 p.m. Sunday in reminiscence of the one monarch most have ever identified. At Westminster Corridor, the fixed stream of mourners paused for 60 seconds as folks noticed the minute of reflection in deep silence.

In Windsor, rain started to fall as the gang fell silent for the second of reflection. Some camped in a single day exterior the fort with a purpose to reserve one of the best spots to view the queen’s coffin.

Jilly Fitzgerald, who was in Windsor, stated there was a way of neighborhood among the many mourners as they ready to attend hours to see procession carrying the queen’s coffin.

“It is good to be with all of the people who find themselves all feeling the identical. It is like a giant household as a result of everybody feels that … the queen was a part of their household,” she stated.

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Related Press journalists Sylvia Hui, Samya Kullab and David Keyton contributed to this report.