People from across the Commonwealth and the world lit candles, waved flags and laid flowers as they watched Britain’s longest-serving monarch laid to rest. Many of those who spoke at the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey this morning acknowledged that this would be an important day for more than just the British. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, told mourners: “The sadness of this day, felt not only by the late Queen’s family but across the nation, the Commonwealth and the world, stems from her abundant life and loving service, which is now gone from us. “She was joyful, present to so many, touching many lives.” In some of the other 14 countries where the Queen was head of state, memorial services and parades were held to mark her 70 years of service. In Calcutta, India, women threw flower petals at a photo of the late Queen Elizabeth II in front of the Victoria Memorial Hall Buddhist monks held a prayer session to mark the funeral of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch in Kathmandu, Nepal Members of the armed forces in Antigua and Barbuda took part in a parade for the late queen, who remained the tiny nation’s head of state after independence in 1981, in the capital St John’s The funeral was broadcast on big screens and in pubs and churches around the world. Pictured: a view of St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney Locals and British expats gathered to watch the service on a big screen at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa Members of the armed forces in Antigua and Barbuda took part in a parade for the late queen, who remained the tiny nation’s head of state after independence in 1981, in the capital St John’s. Earlier, dignitaries, politicians and the military had attended a memorial service at the Cathedral of St. John of God. In Ottawa, Canadian dignitaries gathered at Christ Church Cathedral for an official send-off to Queen Elizabeth, with former prime minister Brian Mulroney speaking of her “very deep love for Canada – its diversity, its geography and its history ». In the Commonwealth country of Malta, where the then-Princess Elizabeth briefly lived with her husband before becoming queen, a 21-gun salute was fired in the capital Valletta. People also gathered to watch the service at The Phenicia Hotel, where Elizabeth and Philip regularly attended balls between 1949 and 1951. In the Commonwealth country of Malta, where the then-Princess Elizabeth briefly lived with her husband before becoming queen, a 21-gun salute was fired in the capital Valletta. Members of the Antigua and Barbuda Armed Forces parade for Queen Elizabeth II in Saint John’s In Ottawa, Canadian dignitaries gathered at Christ Church Cathedral for an official send-off to Queen Elizabeth, with former prime minister Brian Mulroney speaking of her “very deep love for Canada – its diversity, its geography and its history ». People gathered to watch the service at The Phenicia Hotel, where Elizabeth and Philip regularly attended balls between 1949 and 1951 Mourners left floral tributes and held a candlelight vigil as they attended the service outside the British consulate in Hong Kong While some gathered to watch the service in churches and pubs, others managed to catch a glimpse of the elaborate ceremony on their phones. Large screens were also erected in Cape Town, Hong Kong and elsewhere to allow locals and British expatriates to meet and pay their respects. Mourners held a candlelight vigil as they watched the service outside the British consulate in Hong Kong, Buddhist monks hosted a prayer session at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal, and women threw flowers at a photo of the late queen in front of Victoria Memorial Hall in Calcutta, India. In many Commonwealth countries, national landmarks were lit up to pay tribute, with the sails of the Sydney Opera House once again illuminated by a portrait of Queen Elizabeth. While some watched the service on big screens, others tuned in on their mobile phones, like this mourner in Nairobi, Kenya In the Commonwealth country of Malta, a portrait of Queen Elizabeth with British and Maltese flags adorned a balcony in Sliema A woman holds a Union Flag and a candle as she attends a live broadcast of the state funeral outside the British Consulate in Hong Kong And in some places public landmarks were renamed to commemorate the historic day. Paris’ George V metro station under the Champs-Elysees, named after the late queen’s grandfather, was renamed Elizabeth II for the day of the funeral. The world’s media also demonstrated the remarkable impact Queen Elizabeth has managed to have on people around the world. “Few leaders receive such an outpouring of love,” Norway’s public broadcaster NRK said on its front page, while Germany’s Tagesspiegel lamented that “we will never see anything like it again.” Around 500 world leaders crammed into Westminster Abbey for a service likened to a “world who’s who” while two million filled the streets and an estimated 4 billion tuned in from home for what was billed as “the most tracking in history’. ‘. Paris’ George V metro station under the Champs-Elysees, named after the late queen’s grandfather, has been renamed Elizabeth II for the day of the funeral In Antigua and Barbuda dignitaries, politicians and the military had attended a memorial service at the Cathedral of St John of God Families like this one in Nairobi, Kenya gathered to watch the historic funeral together
