Mourners lined the streets near Big Ben in London as a minute's silence was held in memory of Queen Elizabeth II. People across the UK and overseas were invited to observe the silence at 8pm on Sunday, September 18 after the clock tolled. The moment of reflection ended as the bell struck once at 8.01pm, before a round of applause on the streets of Westminster and chants of "hooray" for the Queen.
Prime Minister Liz Truss' spokesperson said the minute's silence was taking place the night before the state funeral to “observe a national moment of reflection to mourn and reflect on the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II”.
Thousands of people have travelled to London this weekend ahead of the funeral on Monday, September 19, including the John family from Swansea who observed the minute's silence next to Big Ben and then joined in the cheers and applause that moved around the crowd.
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Mum Emma, who travelled up to London with husband Phil and 12-year-old son Jac, said: "We just wanted to experience an historic event and to be right under Big Ben for the minute's silence was very moving."
A pre-recorded tribute by Camilla, Queen Consort, was broadcast on the BBC shortly before the silence. She spoke of the Queen’s strength as a “solitary woman” in “a male-dominated world”.
Meanwhile, queues to see the Queen's coffin at Westminster Abbey were stretching around five miles on Sunday night. The late monach is lying in state until just hours before Monday's funeral.
You can read more stories about the Queen's funeral here.
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