Tens of thousands of mourners have thronged to the capital to say goodbye to the Queen on the day she is laid to rest after 70 years as monarch.

King Charles III is leading the nation in paying its last respects to his mother, who fulfilled her pledge, made as a young woman, to devote her life to the service of others when she became head of state

Her great-grandchildren, future king Prince George and his sister Princess Charlotte, have joined their parents at the state funeral where world leaders and national figures from UK life have gathered.

The Queen was carried from Westminster Hall where a continuous stream of public have flowed past her coffin after waiting many hours.

Heads of state, prime ministers and presidents, members of European royal families and key figures from public life gathered at the abbey.

Afterwards, the coffin will be taken in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch and then travel to Windsor.

The hearse will then travel in procession to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle via the Long Walk, after which a televised committal service will take place in St George’s Chapel at 4pm.

The gun carriage was towed by 98 Royal Navy sailors in a tradition dating back to the funeral of Queen Victoria, while 40 sailors marched behind to act as a brake.