Moment that brought crowd to tears at Queen Elizabeth II funeral

For the final time, Brits have waited overnight and stood in the streets for hours for their Queen in a day they will never forget.

Members of the crowd listen during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Picture: Mike Egerton – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Brits have shown their devotion to their Queen in the last week, turning up in droves day after day to lay flowers and queuing overnight to view her coffin.

As expected, the late monarch’s state funeral was no different.

Finding a viewing spot along the procession route required getting up before the crack of dawn.

Only so many people were permitted in the crowd, with temporary green walls shutting out those who were not early enough.

Those near the front of the barriers lining the road had taken no chances, deciding to arrive more than 24 hours before the funeral began.

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People had started gathering at Westminster since the day before Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in anticipation. Picture: Alex McBride/Getty Images

Scott, from Plymouth, and Fiona, from Cornwall, arrived at 10am on Sunday for the 11am funeral on Monday.

However, they said their 25-hour wait was nothing compared to the Queen’s 70 years of service.

“We first started out at Westminster Abbey and then that’s obviously a clinical area so we moved over here,” Fiona, 54, who served in the Royal Air Force, said.

“I used to be in the services and so did Scott so it was very important to us because she was our boss really.”

Scott said he was not only there to farewell the Queen, but show his support for the new King.

“I always knew I would come to the Queen’s funeral, from the time I served in the Royal Marines right through to now. It’s just an honour to be here,” the 55-year-old said.

Both Scott and Fiona said the camaraderie among the crowd had made the wait easy.

With chairs, sleeping bags and blankets they lined the procession route. Picture: Martin Rickett – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Andrew, 50, from Suffolk, was not far behind the couple, arriving at 2.30pm on Sunday.

When asked what supplies he had brought to get him through, he said: “Just a few snacks, a scarf and gloves really. That’s about it. I should have brought a blanket but I didn’t.”

When Andrew arrived about 500 to 600 people were already waiting, lining the route of the procession. He said very little sleep was had overnight.

“Fifteen minutes every now and again, and then I get woken up by someone making a noise or road sweepers,” he said.

A once jovial crowd, cheering for packs of London Metropolitan Police and even men collecting garbage in the street, quickly quietened when it appeared the formalities were getting under way with the arrival of the HM Royal Marines Band.

While those in the crowd could not see the funeral in Westminster Abbey when it got under way, the mood was sombre with sniffles and the wiping of tears. The reality of the moment sunk in for many among the stillness.

They carefully listened to the service in the Abbey broadcast through speakers above.

Members of the crowd listen during the state funeral. Picture: Mike Egerton – WPA Pool/Getty Images

They didn’t need to see the service to become emotional, the atmosphere was enough. Picture: Mike Egerton – WPA Pool/Getty Images

The sea of people stood silent with their heads down during a powerful two-minute silence, which was followed by a collective singing of God Save the King.

But the moment many had waited to witness and would never forget, was the procession after the funeral as Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin was wheeled on a gun carriage through the street in front of them.

Close behind was King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William and Prince Harry.

The moment the crowd was waiting for. Picture: David Davies – WPA Pool/Getty Images

King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Harry pictured following the coffin. Picture: David Davies – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Asking mourners about their most memorable moment, Johnny from London told news.com.au it had to be the Queen’s coffin passing shortly after singing God Save the King.

“It was like a bit of a transition from old to where we’re going to be going forward, so it’s a day in history,” he said.

Johnny had also queued up for 13 hours to attend the Queen’s lying-in-state. The 31-year-old said he had been emotional for days.

“It has impacted me much more than I thought it was going to; I was quite surprised,” he said.

Another Londoner, Vicky, moved through the crowd after the procession with a sleeping bag under one arm and yoga mat under the other.

She said the moment that would always stay with her now was seeing the Queen’s coffin.

“It really hit home. Because you never see her you think life continues, but it really hit home,” she said.

Vicky’s mum added that “it’s not the same when you watch it on television”, which made the effort to sleep there overnight worth it.

Nick from Hampshire said the most special part for him was seeing so many people come out.

“I think that tells a story in its own right,” the 60-year old said.