Glaswegians decided to watch the Queen’s funeral from the comfort of their own homes this morning. With no public screenings in the city, the centre was almost deserted as events took place in London.
The Vue cinema in the St Enoch Centre, where the ceremony was being shown, was very quiet with just a trickle of customers using the tickets they had booked in advance.
Monterey Jack's, in the Merchant City, was showing the funeral on a big screen but there were no customers. Apart from the security guard and the staff the only people around were a confused Canadian couple, from Quebec.
They sat on the wooden benches in Merchant Square where the procession was shown on a large screen.
Other tourists and people heading to Queen Street station stopped to look at the floral tributes outside the City Chambers in George Square.
David Neill, 50, had cycled into town from Uddingston to see if there was anything happening. “This is really nice,” he said, pointing to the wreaths and bouquets. I didn’t expect this. It’s a really sad day."
Alison Hay, 53, had watched the funeral in her hotel room before heading back to Baillieston. She said: “It was lovely to see Princess Charlotte walking in the procession. She looked sad, she kept looking up at her mum for reassurance.”
Glancing at the sunflowers, roses and Paddington bears, she said: “It’s been very moving. It ties in with our own bereavements. My mum and gran used to tell me stories about the Queen Mother and the bombings. It ties in with those memories.
“A lot has happened over the last couple of years and she has been a focus for that. Not to take anything away from her - she’s done a grand job.”
Foreign visitors and students were keen to join in the national mourning.
Bostonian Mackenzie Webb, 25, is studying in Scotland for a year. She said: “I came out to see what’s going on - I’m surprised how quiet it is. It’s very mellow and sombre.”
Amy Jenkins, 34, was in Glasgow as part of a European trip. The Arizona resident said: “It’s cool to be here on the day that everything shut down.”
Dutch student Julia De Krijger, 21, is here for six months. She and her friends took pictures of the flowers and cards and said: “We wanted to come and look. It’s beautiful that so many people have paid tribute to the Queen.”
Two friends from Gloucester were in Glasgow as part of a 10-day bus tour of Scotland. Maria O’Loughlin, 66, said: “It’s hard to take that she’s gone. It’s all we’ve ever known." Helen Ball, 61, added: “It will take a long time to get used to.”
Before the ceremony began, other mourners made their way to the city chambers to view the tributes on display.
Australian Alan Clark, 78, who's currently on holiday in Scotland, said: "She was a lady that served her whole life for all the people, she was excellent.
"Today will be poignant but it is important to remember her as the Queen that served with dignity and with full commitment.
"I don't think we will see a 70-year reign again, she dedicated her whole life to her role. In her wake, I think the new King will do a good job."
Meanwhile, Juday Diep, 25, from Vietnam, studies in Glasgow and said: "She gave great service to the UK and devoted her whole life to serving the British people.
"I am so sorry for Britain's loss of a wonderful woman, there was great admiration and respect for her.
"I have signed the book of condolences at Glasgow City Chambers and I will watch her funeral today and think about her lifelong service to Britain."
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