World bids final goodbye to UK queen

LONDON－Britain and the world said a final goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II at a state funeral on Monday that saw crowds massed along the streets of London to honor a monarch whose 70-year reign defined an age.

A day packed with events in London and Windsor began early when the doors of the 900-year-old Westminster Hall closed to mourners after hundreds of thousands had filed in front of her flag-draped coffin.

"I felt like I had to come and pay my final respects to our majestic queen. She has done so much for us and just a little thank you really from the people," said Tracy Dobson, who was among the last to join the line.

In a country known for pomp and pageantry, the first state funeral since Winston Churchill's was filled with spectacle－142 Royal Navy sailors drew the gun carriage carrying the queen's coffin to Westminster Abbey, with King Charles III and his sons William and Harry walking behind as bagpipers played.

"Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from across the nation, from the Commonwealth, and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service, and in sure confidence to commit her to the mercy of God, our maker and redeemer," David Hoyle, dean of the medieval abbey, told the mourners.

Monday has been declared a public holiday in honor of the queen, who died on Sept 8, with hundreds of thousands of people descending on central London to partake in the historic moment.

Millions more were expected to tune into the funeral live on television, and crowds flocked to parks and public spaces across the United Kingdom to watch it on screens. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said in his sermon that "few leaders receive the outpouring of love we have seen" for the queen.

King Charles III issued a message of thanks to people in the UK and around the world the evening before, saying he and his wife Camilla, the queen consort, have been "moved beyond measure" by the large numbers of people who have turned out to pay their respects to the queen.

People across Britain paused for a minute of silence at 8 pm on Sunday in memory of the only monarch most have ever known. At Westminster Hall, the constant stream of mourners paused for 60 seconds as people observed the minute of reflection in deep silence.

In Windsor, some camped overnight outside the castle in order to reserve the best spots to view the queen's coffin.

Jilly Fitzgerald, who was in Windsor, said there was a sense of community among the mourners as they prepared to wait hours to see procession carrying the queen's coffin.

"It's good to be with all the people who are all feeling the same," she said.

Agencies Via Xinhua