# Huge crowds follow queen’s funeral in silence and awe 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: Queen Elizabeth Funeral: Tributes and Emotions in Central Meta Description: Thousands gather in central London to bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth in a grand state funeral filled with emotions and memories. Read more. URL: https://financedigest.com/huge-crowds-follow-queens-funeral-in-silence-and-awehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-09-19t111106z1lynxmpei8i0elrtroptp4britain-royals-queen-1736815201712-compressed.jpg) By Andrew MacAskill and Stephen Farrell LONDON (Reuters) -The tens of thousands gathered in central London for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth fell silent and bowed their heads on Monday to follow her funeral service in Westminster Abbey and watch the procession of her coffin afterwards through the city. Some watching in Hyde Park dabbed their eyes and others sobbed during the service, while later children were hoisted in the air or put on parents’ shoulders to see her coffin pass. There was also applause among the crowd for a grand state funeral of [pageantry and rousing music that captured how many 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. “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") Crowds [followed the funeral service](https://www.financedigest.com/multilocal-continues-hiring-spree-following-increasing-demand-for-its-services.html "multilocal continues hiring spree following increasing demand for its services") on large television screens or from a radio broadcast on loudspeakers. 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 on the Mall to the ceremony. “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/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"). She said she’d serve the country and that’s what she did.” After the service in Westminster Abbey the [queen’s coffin was being borne on a gun carriage through central London](https://www.financedigest.com/34315plane-carrying-coffin-of-queen-elizabeth-lands-in-london.html "Plane carrying coffin of Queen Elizabeth lands in London"), past her Buckingham Palace home to the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner. From there, it was to be [placed on a hearse to be 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, for a service at St. George’s Chapel. The crowds of [young and old 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. People [climbed lampposts and stood on barriers and ladders](https://www.financedigest.com/the-rfid-in-healthcare-market-to-climb-up-the-ladder-based-on-digitization.html "The Rfid In Healthcare Market to climb up the ladder based on digitization") to catch a glimpse of the royal procession. We wanted to come and see this historic event, to be part of it and to pay our respects to the [queen and thank her for her long life](https://www.financedigest.com/the-life-and-death-of-queen-elizabeth.html "The life and death of Queen Elizabeth") of service,” said Alison Cornish, 66, from Ashford in Kent. FILLING LONDON More than an hour before the [funeral service began all viewing areas in central 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") 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. Ben Vega, 47, a nurse from the Philippines, stood on a stool he had [brought from home in west London](https://www.financedigest.com/london-boroughs-brought-to-life-in-stunning-illustrated-bathroom-designs.html "London Boroughs brought to life in stunning illustrated bathroom designs"). “It’s a sad day for me. I’ve been here 20 years. I saw the queen as my second mum, [England as my second](https://www.financedigest.com/bank-of-england-set-for-second-hefty-rate-rise-in-a-row.html "Bank of England set for second hefty rate rise in a row") home,” he said. 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. Shelly Chugg and Anita Evans, colleagues at Cardiff Council, left Wales at 1:00 a.m. to travel to London. I wouldn’t have missed this,” said Chugg, 51, who recalled seeing the queen as a child in 1977 during the silver jubilee [celebrations of Elizabeth’s 25 years](https://www.financedigest.com/tall-marks-its-25th-year-with-celebration-day.html "TALL Marks its 25th Year with Celebration Day ") on the throne. I was going to wear black, but it’s a celebration of the [queen’s life](https://www.financedigest.com/the-life-of-queen-elizabeth.html "The life of Queen Elizabeth") too, isn’t it? She liked to stand out in the crowd,” added Evans, 50, clad in white and green. 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. Katie Williams, a 43-year-old nurse, arrived in London on Sunday. Clutching flowers in one hand and with tissues up her sleeve, she called the [queen the “granny to the nation”](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-declares-period-of-national-mourning-for-queen-elizabeth.html "UK declares period of national mourning for Queen Elizabeth"). “She was a sort of magnet drawing people from all over the country. We all loved her, we all respected her.” Towns and cities all over Britain were broadcasting the [state funeral 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, Stephen Farrell, Additional reporting by Richa Naidu and Peter Hobson 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. ---