Key moments from Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral

LONDON (AP) — The United Kingdom and the world bade farewell to Queen Elizabeth II on Monday with a state funeral that drew presidents and kings, princes and prime ministers — and crowds in the streets of London and at Windsor Castle — to honor a monarch whose 70-year reign defined an age.

WATCH: Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral

In a country known for pomp and pageantry, the first state funeral since Winston Churchill’s was filled with spectacle: Before the service, a bell tolled 96 times — once a minute for each year of Elizabeth’s life. Then, 142 Royal Navy sailors used ropes to draw the gun carriage carrying her flag-draped coffin to Westminster Abbey, where pallbearers bore it inside and about 2,000 people ranging from world leaders to health care workers gathered to mourn.

Members of the Household Cavalry during The State Funeral Of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Photo by Clive Rose/Pool via REUTERS

The Princess of Wales (right), Prince George (center) the Queen Consort follows the State Gun Carriage carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign’s orb and sceptre, in the Ceremonial Procession following her State Funeral at Westminster Abbey, London. Photo by Mike Egerton/Pool via REUTERS

The trappings of state and monarchy abounded: The coffin was draped with the Royal Standard and atop it sat the Imperial State Crown, sparkling with almost 3,000 diamonds, and the sovereign’s orb and scepter.

But the personal was also present: The coffin was followed into the church by generations of Elizabeth’s descendants, including King Charles III, heir to the throne Prince William and 9-year-old George, who is second in line. On a wreath atop the coffin, a handwritten note read, “In loving and devoted memory,” and was signed Charles R — for Rex, or king.

READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth II is mourned with silence in the busy heart of London

“Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from across the nation, from the Commonwealth, and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service, and in sure confidence to commit her to the mercy of God our maker and redeemer,” the dean of the medieval abbey, David Hoyle, told the mourners.

Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince George of Wales arrive at Windsor Castle for The Committal Service For Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022 in Windsor, England. Photo by Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERS

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, rests on the State Gun Carriage as the funeral procession proceeds from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London, Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. Photo by Stephane de Sakutin/Pool via REUTERS

The service ended with two minutes of silence observed across the United Kingdom, after which the attendees sang the national anthem, now titled “God Save the King.”

The day began early when the doors of Parliament’s 900-year-old Westminster Hall were closed to mourners after hundreds of thousands had filed in front of her coffin.

Monday was declared a public holiday in honor of Elizabeth, who died Sept. 8 — and hundreds of thousands of people descended on central London to witness history. They jammed sidewalks to watch the coffin wend its way through the streets of the capital after the service. As the procession passed Buckingham Palace, the queen’s official residence in the city, staff stood outside, some bowing and curtseying.

Britain’s King Charles, Britain’s Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Britain’s William, Prince of Wales, and Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, follow the hearse carrying the coffin on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, at Windsor Castle in Windsor, Britain, September 19, 2022. Photo by Henry Nicholls/Pool

Britain’s King Charles, Britain’s Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Britain’s William, Prince of Wales, and Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, attend the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, at Windsor Castle in Windsor, Britain, September 19, 2022. Photo by Henry Nicholls/Pool/REUTERS

A royal guard marches on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, in Windsor, Britain, September 19, 2022. Photo by Carl Recine/REUTERS

Mark Elliott, 53, who traveled from the Lake District in northern England with his wife and two children to watch the procession, got up at 1:30 a.m. to stake out a good viewing location near the palace.

“I know we don’t know the queen, but she’s been our head of state for 70 years, you feel as though you know her, you feel as though she’s part of the family. It is kind of moving,” he said.

READ MORE: What to know about calls for reparations for Britain’s legacy of slavery in the Caribbean

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said in his sermon at Westminster Abbey that “few leaders receive the outpouring of love we have seen” for the queen.

More people lined the route the hearse took from the capital to Windsor Castle, and many tossed flowers at the cortege as it passed. Millions more tuned into the funeral live, and crowds flocked to parks and public spaces across the U.K. to watch it on screens. Even the Google doodle turned a respectful black for the day.

The Royal State Hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022 in Windsor, England. The committal service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, took place following the state funeral at Westminster Abbey. A private burial in The King George VI Memorial Chapel followed. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. Photo by Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERS

A King’s guard crosses The Mall in London on September 19, 2022, during the State Funeral Service of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/Pool via REUTERS

As the coffin arrived at the castle, there were poignant reminders of her love of animals: A groom stood at the roadside with one of her ponies, Emma, and another member of staff held the leashes of two of her beloved corgis, Sandy and Muick.

During the committal ceremony in St. George’s Chapel on the castle grounds, Dean of Windsor David Conner praised Elizabeth for her “life of unstinting service” to the nation but also her “kindness, concern and reassuring care for her family and friends and neighbors.”

WATCH: Royal family holds vigil for Queen Elizabeth II

Then the crown and the orb and scepter were removed from atop the coffin and placed on the altar — separating them from the queen for the last time. Her coffin was lowered into the royal vault through an opening in the chapel’s floor. Charles looked weary and emotional as mourners sang the national anthem.

The queen will be laid to rest later with her husband, Prince Philip, at a private family service.

The mourners at Westminster Abbey included U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, all of the living former British prime ministers and European royalty.

U.S. President Joe Biden takes his seat with wife Jill Biden, other heads of state and dignitaries, including French President Emmanuel Macron at the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey, London. Picture date: Monday September 19, 2022. Photo by Dominic Lipinski/Pool via REUTERS

Fromer British Prime Minister Tony Blair (2ndL) and his wife Cherie Blair (L) arrive at St George’s Chapel inside Windsor Castle on September 19, 2022, ahead of the Committal Service for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. – Monday’s committal service is expected to be attended by at least 800 people, most of whom will not have been at the earlier State Funeral at Westminster Abbey. Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/Pool via REUTERS

In Japan, whose Emperor Naruhito also attended, several people sipped beer and watched the service at The Aldgate British pub in Tokyo’s fashionable Shibuya district.

“The queen had an especially long history in a country that boasts a long history, and so she deserves deep respect,” said dentist Tomotaka Hosokawa.

The global outpouring of sympathy touched the king, who on the eve of the funeral, issued a message of thanks to people in the U.K. and around the world, saying he and his wife, Camilla, the queen consort, have been “moved beyond measure” by the large numbers of people who have turned out to pay their respects.

(front row) The Prince of Wales, Prince George, the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, (second row) Jack Brooksbank , Princess Eugenie, Sarah, Duchess of York, the Earl of Snowdon and Viscount Linkley, and (third row) the Duke of Kent, the Earl and Countess of St Andrews, Edward Windsor Lord Downpatrick, and Lady Amelia Windsor, (fourth row) Lady Helen Taylor, Timothy Taylor, Estella Taylor and Eloise Taylor during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at the Abbey in London. Picture date: Monday September 19, 2022. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via REUTERS

The State Hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre, at the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, Berkshire. Photo by Kirsty O’Connor/Pool via REUTERS

Jilly Fitzgerald, who was in Windsor, said there was a sense of community among the mourners as they prepared to wait hours to see procession carrying the queen’s coffin.

“It’s good to be with all the people who are all feeling the same. It’s like a big family because everyone feels that … the queen was part of their family,” she said.

Kullab reported from Windsor, England. Associated Press journalists Sylvia Hui and Jill Lawless in London and David Keyton in Windsor contributed.