Large crowds bid farewell to the Queen of Britain in London and Windsor

Crowds gathered in London and Windsor for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth watched the solemn funeral procession in silence and mourning on Monday, as some wept, others buckled each other and some lifted their children up to witness a historic event.

In central London, where the funeral began, tens of thousands lined the streets near Westminster Abbey, on the Mall Road to Buckingham Palace and at Hyde Park.

Many of the mourners had camped last night or had come in the very cold early hours of the morning.

The crowds fell silent as the first appearance of the coffin carried to Westminster and they watched the funeral service on large television screens or over loudspeaker radio broadcasts.

Many said they were overwhelmed by the size and opulence of the funeral and that the funeral was befitting the farewell to the Queen, who died on the 8th of September.

Elizabeth ascended the British throne for 70 years, and most Britons have known no other royal ruler.

"It's hard to put into words what we just saw," Camilla Moore, 53, from Nottingham, said after watching the funerals in London. "It was really special and unforgettable... It was very sad. It is very sad. The end of an era."

Chloe Jason, 59, traveled south from Manchester and said the funeral was very emotional.

"One feels sad for the country and for her family," she said. "At the same time, it was a tribute to her life's career...I cried sometimes, but I never felt sad, if you will."

"The best thing was that people of all stripes, of every race and religion came here to participate," she added.

Following the Mass at Westminster Abbey, the Queen's coffin was carried on a cannon cart through central London, past Buckingham Palace's official residence to Wellington Arch in Hyde Park Corner, where King Charles and members of the royal family followed him back on foot to Windsor Castle in west London.

The Queen will be buried in the castle at the King George VI Memorial Chapel.

Hundreds of thousands of mourners lined the road, throwing flowers, cheering and clapping as the funeral procession passed from the city to the English countryside, which the Queen loved so much.

John Ellis, 56, an Army veteran, came from Portsmouth to Windsor and watched the ceremony from Long Walk, a three-mile street that stretches to Windsor Castle through Great Windsor Park.

"It was a moving day," he said.

"My feelings were mixed, high and low... The most poignant moment I think was when the procession passed in front of me, the silence really struck me. Especially with all the bands that were there I thought there would be a lot of music and noise, and there was none of that. There is just silence."

As the funeral procession approached the castle, even the queen's horse and dogs were taken out to watch.

Colin Sanders, 61, a retired soldier who came to London from North Yorkshire to bid farewell to the Queen, was unable to hold back tears as he listened to the funeral service on Mall Road.

"It felt like we were there and participating," he said. "It was so touching... She's like a grandmother, someone who gives love and care. She said she would serve the country, and she delivered."

This is the first state funeral in Britain since 1965, when a state funeral was held for former Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

More than an hour before the funeral service began, it was announced that all areas of central London where the procession could be seen were full.

The authorities said they expected that the number of people who flocked to the capital to follow the funeral reached one million.

Teacher Melanie Ode, 60, camped last night in front of the barriers erected along the mall outside Buckingham Palace with her two daughters and grandchildren after arriving at the scene on Sunday afternoon.

"Being a part of history is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and to offer our condolences... The atmosphere is very unique. I should have attended. It is definitely worth it," she said.

She added that it was the least she could do to honor the late queen.

"She was always a big part of my life. She was always there to lead us. I cared a lot about this country."

She went on to say that the people in line were friendly and shared stories until around 11 pm when some tried to sleep.

People continued to flock through the night by taxi or by additional trains designated to transport the crowds.

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