Tens of thousands gathered in London and Windsor for Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral fell silent and bowed their heads as they followed the service in Westminster Abbey and then watched the majestic procession of her coffin toward its final resting place.

Some watching in London’s Hyde Park dabbed their eyes and others sobbed during the service, while later children were hoisted in the air or put on parents’ shoulders to see her coffin pass.

Couples hugged, others looked lost in their private thoughts and many pulled out camera phones to capture a historic moment, when only the sound of the military band and marching footsteps pierced the stillness.

Crowds followed the funeral service on large television screens or from a radio broadcast on loudspeakers.

They then watched the gun carriage bearing the queen’s coffin pass her Buckingham Palace home and on to Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner. From there, it was placed on a hearse and driven to Windsor Castle, west of London.

Many praised the grand state funeral for the pageantry and rousing music that captured how they felt for the queen, who died on 9 September aged 96. She had been on the throne for 70 years, meaning most Britons have known no other monarch.

"I find it hard to express in words what we just witnessed. This was really special and memorable," said Camilla Moore, 53, from Nottingham after watching the funeral service in London. "It was terribly sad. So very, very sad. The end of an era."

As the hearse was driven to Windsor, it was strewn with flowers thrown by well-wishers lining the route.

Gurminder Kaur, 50, got up early to drive from Essex in southeast England to Windsor. The queen will be buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Kaur, a lawyer, had spent more than 14 hours at the weekend, queuing to see the monarch lying in state in London’s Westminster Hall.

"The (London) queue had a festival atmosphere, and you just had the adrenaline keeping you going," Kaur said.

"But today, at her final resting place at the castle, the atmosphere is much more sombre."

Queen lowered into royal vault
The Queen was slowly lowered into the royal vault ahead of her burial later in a private family service.

The Dean read a psalm and the commendation.

The Garter King of Arms then pronounces the Queen’s styles and titles - the different names by which she was known during her reign.

The Queen’s piper played a lament to mark the solemn moment as the coffin is lowered.

The performance by the piper at Windsor was something the Queen had personally requested, Buckingham Palace said.

AE News