While some businesses closed their doors today, others decided to stay open to allow mourners to support each other as they watched Queen Elizabeth II be laid to rest. Billions of people said their final goodbyes to the longest-serving monarch from the streets of London to their living rooms at home, as well as in cinemas and pubs across the nation.
To mark the historic moment, we joined the many Brits who didn't want to be alone on such a sombre day, by watching the funeral in the pub. The Queen's Head in Bristol is usually shut on a Monday, but today it opened for a few hours so a small group of regular punters - or non-biological family as they called themselves - could grieve together and commemorate the day.
Elsewhere, people gathered at The Royal British Legion in Healing, Grimsby, to watch the historic moment while surrounded by ex-servicemen, their families and other mourners. Only serving soft drinks - such as cups of tea and coffee - until the service came to an end, the Legion honoured the late Queen with a toast of port before opening the bar to celebrate her life with alcoholic drinks and chat about her fruitful reign.
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The Queen's Head in Bristol
As I watch the Queen's coffin being carried through Westminster Abbey on a small television, I'm surrounded by men and women in military uniforms, HRH flags on the ceiling, and black and white photographs and regimental plaques on the walls.
The snug, as it's known, is the corner of The Queen's Head pub in Hanham dedicated to ex-military personnel and pubgoers who have served in the Armed Forces.
Pub landlord Allen Williams, 49, who is an ex-solider and served as a Rifleman, points at a framed picture on the wall, telling me: "This is mine, the Royal Green Jackets. It's like a little bit of history."
Allen has owned the pub for three years and previously worked as a teacher down the road.
"She was one of our own," he says, sharing how the news of the Queen's death affected him.
"She was the Colonel-in-Chief of my regiment, so hearing the news was a shock. Not everyone lives forever and she was of elderly age, her health was declining, but it's quite surreal that she's gone.
"It feels like it hasn't really happened. I've never known any different in my lifetime. I'm still trying to process it."
The pub has never been so quiet as the funeral service begins. Every person has a pint in hand, some silently sob and others keep their emotions in, all not taking their eyes off the screen.
Sergeant Mark Burrett, 61, from Hanham, stands in the same corner of the pub he resides in every week, wearing his uniform and medals - which Allen has requested ex-military to wear.
"She was our boss and she will be thoroughly missed. Any ex-service member will tell you it means a lot to the Armed Forces," Mark tells me.
Pointing at his plaque on the wall, Sergeant Burrett explains how Allen has created a place for veterans to come together, and says it "feels like home" and "we're all a family here".
On the outside of the pub, there is a graffiti wall reading 'Lest We Forget', and a sign of the Queen of Hearts - which will soon be changed to a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
"We used to have a picture of the Queen, but we had to change it because a reigning monarch isn't allowed on the front of the pub. Now, I've asked the brewery if we can put the old picture up to honour the late monarch," Allen tells me.
Briony Worgan-Pearce, 18, is the barmaid and youngest person in the pub, stood behind the bar watching the funeral while serving punters.
She is currently training in the Army Cadets, following the footsteps of her mum and her grandfather, who was also in the Army.
"I was really sad. A lot of my family are in the military and they were absolutely devastated. The Queen was extraordinary and it felt like she was part of the family," Briony explains.
As the ceremony comes to an end, everyone in the pub says, "Long live the Queen, God Save the King" together, and we 'cheers' a shot of port - though not the Queen's favourite Dubonnet, as it was sold out in every supermarket nearby, Allen tells me.
Mark talks the group through his military badges and we share our hopes for King Charles' reign, as the Queen's coffin is carried out of Westminster Abbey.
The day of the Queen's funeral will be remembered by everyone in Britain, and my memory is a very special one, having spent it with welcoming and respectful mourners who were strangers hours ago, but who I think I can now call friends.
The Royal British Legion in Grimsby
It is a sombre day in Britain as we bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth II following her remarkable 70-year reign over the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms.
While many mourners watch the televised funeral from the comfort of their own homes, others turned out to the pub to join their community on this unforgettable day.
I watched the Queen's state funeral at The Royal British Legion, in Healing, Grimsby, alongside about 40 to 50 members and non-members alike.
The first Royal British Legion (RBL) opened its doors in May 1921 after being founded by Tom Lister as a place where veterans, who served their country under the Queen's name, could go to access support and make new friends.
Since then, 2,500 branches have opened across the UK and overseas - and today the RBL in Healing, as well as others up and down the country, have opened their doors to welcome in anybody wishing to honour the late monarch.
Assistant manager Becky Callanan said: "We were requested to open the Royal British Legion by a lot of servicemen who wanted to come down to watch it together.
"Her 70 years was a fantastic thing to achieve - and to be working right up until two days before [her death] is remarkable.
"I have been sat watching it on TV every day. It is amazing how we still do processions after all these years - there's no other country who does it like us."
Many mourners arrived at the RBL between 10am and 10.30am before the Queen's coffin was carried by gun carriage from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey.
As soon as the procession started, silence fell across the room.
Everyone's attention moved away from their private conversations to the televisions hung next to photographs of ex-servicemen, certificates and images of the Queen.
The room, which is usually filled with laughter, was struck with sadness.
As the Queen's coffin was moved into the Abbey, tears began to stream down a couple of mourner's faces as they watched the historic moment unfold.
But between the silence, some turned to those sat next to them to share their thoughts on the service and recall their favourite moments throughout her reign - such as her heartwarming speech during the Covid-19 pandemic.
President of Healing's RBL, Tim Butler, who served in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) from 1988 to 1999, said: "It's a sad day but hopefully, after the funeral, we will open the bar and celebrate the Queen's life.
"I believe King Charles will do a great job. His speech was amazing and he has been taking the time to meet people."
Neil Atkins, who served as a royal engineer for 12 years, recalled the moment he got to see the Queen at a gymnastics event during his service.
Sadly, however, he did not get the chance to speak to her.
After the service came to an end, he said: "I had chills - all my arm hairs stood on end."
Neil and his wife, Ievgeniia, opened their home up to a Ukrainian family for six months following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He says the family had a fondness towards the British ways and have decorated their home in Kyiv with pictures of the Queen, red telephone boxes and London busses.
Shortly after the two-minutes silence, we all joined together to sing the National Anthem and toast to the Queen, thanking her for her service and the sacrifices she made for her country.
Holding up a shot glass of Cockburn's port, we celebrated her life and wished King Charles III all the best as he takes over from his late mother.
You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here.
