# Farewell to the queen: crowds line streets of London and Windsor Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-09-19 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Thousands Gather for Queen Elizabeth's State Funeral in Meta Description: Witness the touching moments as crowds pay their respects during the majestic procession and burial of the beloved monarch. Experience the grandeur and emotion URL: https://financedigest.com/farewell-to-the-queen-crowds-line-streets-of-london-and-windsorhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-09-19t122045z1lynxmpei8i0hhrtroptp4britain-royals-queen-1736815200394-compressed.jpg) By Andrew MacAskill and Humza Jilani LONDON/WINDSOR (Reuters) -Tens of thousands gathered in London and Windsor for Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral fell silent and bowed their heads on Monday as they followed the service in Westminster Abbey and then watched the majestic procession of her coffin toward its final resting place. Some watching in London’s Hyde Park dabbed their eyes and others sobbed during the service https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britain-world-prepare-say-last-farewell-queen-elizabeth-2022-09-18, while later children were hoisted in the air or put on parents’ shoulders to see her coffin pass. Couples hugged, others looked lost in their private thoughts and many pulled out [camera phones](https://www.financedigest.com/snap-happy-79-of-brits-ditch-digital-cameras-in-favour-of-phone-photos.html "Snap Happy: 79% of Brits ditch digital cameras in favour of phone photos") to capture a historic moment, when only the sound of the military band and marching footsteps pierced the stillness. [Crowds followed the funeral](https://www.financedigest.com/huge-crowds-follow-queens-funeral-in-silence-and-awe.html "Huge crowds follow queen’s funeral in silence and awe") service on large television screens or from a radio broadcast on loudspeakers. They then watched the gun carriage bearing the [queen’s coffin](https://www.financedigest.com/34315plane-carrying-coffin-of-queen-elizabeth-lands-in-london.html "Plane carrying coffin of Queen Elizabeth lands in London") pass her Buckingham Palace home and on to Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner. From there, it was [placed on a hearse and driven to Windsor Castle](https://www.financedigest.com/queens-final-resting-place-is-a-small-chapel-in-historic-windsor-castle.html "Queen’s final resting place is a small chapel in historic Windsor Castle"), west of London. Many praised the grand state funeral for the [pageantry and rousing music that captured how they felt for the queen](https://www.financedigest.com/royals-grief-for-queen-shows-through-ceremonial-pageantry-3.html "Royals’ grief for queen shows through ceremonial pageantry"), who died on Sept. 8 aged 96. She had been on the throne for 70 years, meaning most Britons have known no other monarch. “I find it hard to express in words what we just witnessed. This was really special and memorable,” said Camilla Moore, 53, from Nottingham after watching the [funeral service in London](https://www.financedigest.com/london-flight-hotel-fares-surge-ahead-of-queens-funeral.html "London flight, hotel fares surge ahead of Queen’s funeral"). “It was terribly sad. So very, very sad. The [end of an era.”](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-tells-climate-talks-coal-era-ending-as-carbon-emissions-surge.html "Britain tells climate talks coal era ending as carbon emissions surge") As the hearse was [driven](https://www.financedigest.com/tinnitus-management-market-to-top-us-3-2-bn-driven-by-growing-burden-of-hearing-disorders-fmi.html "Tinnitus Management Market to Top US$ 3.2 Bn Driven by Growing Burden of Hearing Disorders: FMI") to Windsor, it was strewn with flowers thrown by well-wishers lining the route. Gurminder Kaur, 50, got up [early to drive from Essex in southeast England](https://www.financedigest.com/early-signs-covid-19-vaccines-may-not-stop-delta-transmission-england-says.html "Early signs COVID-19 vaccines may not stop Delta transmission, England says") to Windsor. The [queen will be buried https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/queens-final-resting-place-is-small-chapel-historic-windsor-castle-2022-09-19 in the King](https://www.financedigest.com/in-loving-and-devoted-memory-king-charles-handwritten-note-to-late-queen.html "‘In loving and devoted memory’: King Charles handwritten note to late queen") George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle. Kaur, a lawyer, had spent more than 14 hours at the weekend, queuing to [see the monarch lying in state in London’s](https://www.financedigest.com/could-london-see-a-spac-boom-in-2022.html "Could London see a SPAC boom in 2022?") Westminster Hall. “The (London) queue had a festival atmosphere, and you just had the adrenaline keeping you going,” Kaur said. But today, at her [final resting place](https://www.financedigest.com/queen-elizabeths-coffin-starts-journey-to-final-resting-place.html "Queen Elizabeth’s coffin starts journey to final resting place") at the castle, the atmosphere is much more sombre. A LOVING AND [CARING PERSON’](https://www.financedigest.com/cosmetic-tubes-market-will-register-4-6-cagr-as-application-grows-in-personal-care-products-packaging.html "Cosmetic Tubes Market will Register 4.6% CAGR as Application Grows in Personal Care Products Packaging") Colin Sanders, 61, a [retired soldier who had come to London](https://www.financedigest.com/athletics-farah-returns-for-london-marathon-before-likely-2023-retirement.html "Athletics-Farah returns for London Marathon before likely 2023 retirement") from North Yorkshire to bid farewell to the queen, struggled to hold back tears listening to the ceremony on the Mall, a grand avenue opposite Buckingham Palace. “It felt like we were there and part of it… it was very moving,” he said. “I knew I’d well up … She’s like your grandma, a loving and [caring person](https://www.financedigest.com/clonic-innovation-based-spasms-to-drive-the-delivery-systems-in-personal-care-market.html "Clonic Innovation-Based Spasms To Drive The Delivery Systems In Personal Care Market"). She said she’d serve the country and that’s what she did.” The crowds of [young and old in London had come from around Britain](https://www.financedigest.com/why-technology-will-free-britains-young-workers-from-presenteeism-in-the-workplace.html "WHY TECHNOLOGY WILL FREE BRITAIN’S YOUNG WORKERS FROM PRESENTEEISM IN THE WORKPLACE") and beyond, many camping out overnight to secure a good spot for watching the country’s first state funeral since 1965, when World War Two leader Winston Churchill was afforded the honour. Chloe Jesson, 59, had travelled south from Manchester and said she found the ceremony emotional, moving and dramatic. “You felt the sadness for the country and her family. At the same time it was a celebration of her life… I occasionally cried, but I was never sad, if that makes any sense,” she said. The best thing was there were [people from all walks of life](https://www.financedigest.com/life-post-brexit-people-must-take-precedent.html "Life post Brexit – people must take precedent"), each race and religion and everyone came here to celebrate. More than an hour before the [funeral service began all viewing areas in central London](https://www.financedigest.com/london-police-say-queens-funeral-poses-biggest-ever-security-test.html "London police say queen’s funeral poses biggest ever security test") were declared full. Authorities had said they expected up to a [million people might travel to the capital to follow](https://www.financedigest.com/10-million-to-be-whipped-into-ice-cream-brand-four-winters-following-acquisition.html " Million To Be Whipped Into Ice Cream Brand Four Winters Following Acquisition ") the funeral. Melanie Odey, 60, a teacher, had camped out in a tent with her two daughters and grandchildren after arriving on Sunday afternoon. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be [part of history](https://www.financedigest.com/51-of-brits-support-teresa-may-and-would-grant-access-to-their-personal-communication-and-internet-browsing-history-as-part-of-the-snoopers-charter.html "51%* of Brits support Teresa May and would grant access to their personal communication and internet browsing history as part of the Snooper’s Charter "), to pay your respects,” she said. The queen “cared so much about this country”. Some in the crowds were silent and sombre, dressed in black. Others wore bright colours and said they wanted to [celebrate the queen’s](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-prince-harry-and-wife-meghan-will-attend-celebrations-for-queen-elizabeth.html "UK’s Prince Harry and wife Meghan will attend celebrations for Queen Elizabeth") life. Anna Kathryn from Richmond, in southwest London, had never met or seen the queen. Yet she said her family felt they had a personal tie with her. “It is like we have had a death in the family, we couldn’t miss this,” she said. She was such a [bright spot in everyone’s lives and now it feels like that light](https://www.financedigest.com/sun-park-offers-a-bright-light-for-homebuyers.html "Sun Park Offers A Bright Light For Homebuyers") has gone out. Towns and cities all over Britain were broadcasting the [state funeral https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britons-gather-squares-parks-say-goodbye-queen-elizabeth-2022-09-19 and the rest of the day’s](https://www.financedigest.com/india-to-hold-one-day-state-mourning-on-passing-away-of-queen-elizabeth.html "India to hold one day state mourning on passing away of Queen Elizabeth") events on big screens. (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill and Stephen Farrell in [London](https://www.financedigest.com/london-reclaims-place-as-preeminent-global-financial-centre-for-the-first-time-since-2013-according-to-global-regulatory-outlook-report-from-duff-phelps.html "London reclaims place as preeminent global financial centre for the first time since 2013, according to Global Regulatory Outlook report from Duff & Phelps") and Humza Jilani in WindsorAdditional reporting by Richa Naidu, Peter Hobson, Natalie Grover in London and Lindsay Dunsmuir in EdinburghWriting by Alexandra HudsonEditing by Janet Lawrence and Frances Kerry) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---