London’s huge show of respect and affection ‘befitted the Queen’s extraordinary reign’

LONDON said goodbye to the Queen “in a manner that befitted her extraordinary reign” as hundreds of thousands lined the streets for her state funeral.

- Ross Lydall, David Bond, Martin Bentham and Anthony France

There was praise today for the way the phenomenal public show of respect and affection for the nation’s longest-serving monarch complemented the splendour and dignity of the ceremony.

At least 200,000 people lined the route through central London, with countless others viewing the funeral cortege travel along the A4 and A30 on its way to Windsor Castle. The funeral is set to be one of the most-watched TV events.

Writing in today’s Standard, Mayor Sadiq Khan, who attended the service at Westminster Abbey, said: “It is important we have been able to come together to celebrate her phenomenal life, to give our heartfelt thanks for her unfailing service and to reflect on her remarkable journey.

“The herculean effort of our police officers, transport workers, armed forces personnel, civil servants, health workers and mass of volunteers has afforded us the chance to say goodbye to our longest-serving monarch in a manner that befitted her extraordinary reign. I know I speak on behalf of our capital, and our nation, when I say thank you to everyone involved. She was the very best of us, and we will forever be in her debt.”

Mr Khan told the Standard: “Moments in our national story that can be considered truly historic are rare, but Her Majesty’s funeral will command a chapter all of its own. Being invited to attend the Queen’s funeral was a supreme privilege and I was proud to pay a final tribute, on behalf of all Londoners, for her remarkable life and seven decades of selfless service.”