'Few Leaders Have Received Such An Outpouring Of Love'

Second Elizabethan age ends with three generations of royals in Westminster Abbey before a moving ceremony at Windsor

- Andrew Woodcock

After 70 years, the final curtain was brought down yesterday on the second Elizabethan age as the Queen was laid to rest alongside husband Philip in her favourite home, Windsor Castle.

An astonishing day of pageantry and processions saw grieving King Charles III joined by monarchs and presidents from around the world as well as the upper echelons of British society in a heartfelt farewell to the UK's longest-reigning sovereign.

Three generations of royals were united in sorrow as they honoured the service of a queen and remembered the love of a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother known to the youngest in her family as "Gan-gan".

Westminster Abbey witnessed a gathering perhaps unique in world history, with a congregation of more than 2,000 including Liz Truss and every living former prime minister, US president Joe Biden and scores of world leaders for a televised state funeral watched by hundreds of millions worldwide.

In an atmosphere of deep solemnity and barely suppressed emotion, the Queen's nine-year-old great-grandson Prince George, now second in line to the throne, could be seen wiping away a tear.

And later, the coffin of Elizabeth II was brought home to Windsor for a more intimate committal service of around 800 close family, friends and retainers in St George's Chapel.

Finally, a private burial service in the castle's King George VI Memorial Chapel was reserved for the King and members of the royal family, finally alone with their memories away from the public and TV cameras.

Earlier, King Charles and siblings Anne, Andrew and Edward had paid very public tribute to their mother, walking slowly behind her coffin through the streets of her capital, followed by the princes William and Harry.