World leaders, royal family bid Queen Elizabeth II farewell

The final members of the public pay their respects to the queen early Monday morning. - DW News

The queen's lying-in-state has officially ended as world leaders are set to gather at Westminster Abbey to attend the late monarch's funeral, with members of the royal family also in attendance. 

Thousands of people set up camp on the streets of London ahead of the queen's funeral procession. Some brought along tents and sleeping bags, while others slept in camping chairs covered by blankets, while others simply lay on the ground with just jackets and coats for warmth.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of history, to pay your respects," one mourner told Reuters news agency.

Another mourner who had set off in the early hours of the morning said while she had never met the queen, to her it felt like losing a family member.

"It is like we have had a death in the family, we couldn't miss this," she said.

Thirty six kilometers (22 miles) of barriers have been erected in Central London to secure areas around the Houses of Parliament and other key areas including Buckingham Palace. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line streets of London.

What is expected during the memorial event and who will attend?

The queen's lying-in-state at Westminster Hall ended Monday morning shortly after 6:30 a.m local time. At 10:30 a.m. a bearer party will carry the coffin on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy.

The gun carriage will be drawn by 142 members of the Royal Navy through a route lined by the Royal Navy and Marines. The procession will pass by Parliament Square where members of Britain's navy, army and air force will form a Guard of Honor.

The state funeral will begin at 11:00 am (1000 UTC) at Westminster Abbey, where heads of state and other government representatives will attend. The late queen will then be laid to rest with her late husband, Prince Philip in a private ceremony in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Around 400 foreign heads of state and dignitaries are expected to attend the funeral, along with members of the royal family and celebrities. Over the past five days, tens of thousands of people waited hours in line to pay their final respects.

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako confirmed their attendance to the funeral.  Japan's emperor rarely attends funerals.

Among Europe's royal families, Norway's King Harald, the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander, Sweden's King Carl, Belgium's King Philippe, Spain's King Felipe, Denmark's Queen Margrethe and Monaco's Prince Albert will also attend.

Saudi Arabian crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman was invited to the funeral but will not be attending.

US President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, will attend. The Bidens were also seen paying their respects yesterday at the late queen's lying-in-state.

kb,sdi/wmr (Reuters, AFP) - UNB