I joined the thousands of tearful mourners on The Mall - and saw why they came to honour The Queen
It was a chance to say a final, emotional farewell to The Queen - and for the tens of thousands of mourners packing on to the streets of London on Monday it was a poignant pilgrimage they felt they simply had to make. Many had camped overnight to get the best spots along The Mall, and many knew the tears would be rolling throughout most of the day.
I joined huge queues of people - young and old - flooding into Green Park next to Buckingham Palace. Already by 6.30am word had spread that certain entrances and tube stations had closed, and so this became the main entry point for many of us keen to get in but I was surprised by how swift my entry was.
For Richard Calladine from Doncaster, it was an emotional and important day, having already spent Wednesday queuing to see The Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall. He said: "I served in the military for over 25 years and in the prison service for the past four years. It's something that's part of me, I need to say a fond farewell to her.
Sisters Alex Winton, 59, and Cindy Webster, 58, had taken the long drive down from Perth in Scotland to be at the State Funeral with family and friends. Dressed in patriotic Union Jack fashions, they said they felt it their duty to be there. "It's just so sad that she suddenly went, but I'm also glad that she didn't suffer, she went the best way and I'm just glad that she's back with Phillip. We have to be grateful for all the things she has done around the world, she has given her life to the Monarchy.Among those who slept overnight on The Mall were Sue McGranaghan from Salford, who journeyed to the capital on Sunday night with husband Jimmy and son Nathan.
Having spent the build up weaving in and out to chat to people, that was certainly to be my experience at the back of the 10-20 man deep crowds outside St James' Palace.
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