Queen Elizabeth's Funeral, from Jane Salemson in London, UK.

My thoughts and sharing the experience of a unique event, never to be seen again.

Thursday, September 8th, the announcement was sent out that Queen Elizabeth had passed away in her Balmoral home. It wasn't a great surprise as she had declined a lot since her husband, Prince Philip, passed away. It didn't take long for me to decide that I would go to London and pay my respects. 70 years ago, when I was living in Porthleven in Cornwall with my mother, and getting very excited to see the coronation of the Queen, and all children were being given a special mug, a gold-like miniature coach and a block of chocolate. Unfortunately when jumping with a friend, I fell off the couch and bit my tongue. I had to go to hospital and was given penicillin, which I am allergic to, so that was an extra 3 days of missing the excitement of the coronation and I didn't get the goodies.

Thursday, September 15th, After visiting my family cousins near Salisbury, I went to stay with Louise, who lives in South London. Friends since she was 3 years old and I, at 6 years old, met in a park in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her grandmother Alice, and my mother May, were looking after the children and became good friends for the rest of their lives, even though Alice lived in London and we lived in England and South Africa. I'm glad to say Louise and I are following in the steps of our families.

Friday, September 16th. Watching TV during the day, we saw the Royal Family enter the Hall of the Westminster Palace. The four children of the Queen and Prince Philip, the now King Charles 111, sister Anne, Princess Royal, brothers Prince Andrew and Prince Edward stand guard around the Queen's coffin on the catafalque in the Hall of the Westminster Palace, where we were to walk in the next few hours.

The processional from Buckingham to the Hall of the Westminster Palace.

The eight pallbearers in the Westminster Palace Hall were from the 1st Battalion of the Grenadiers.

The Royal family in the Hall of the Westminster Palace

King Charles the Third

The 4 children of the Queen and Prince Philip - Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward, stood at each corner of the catafalque.

Anne, The Princess Royal.

The catafalque in the middle of the Hall with visitors on either side.

Friday Night, September 16th to Saturday morning, September 17th.

Louise and a new walking friend with us.

Tower Bridge

Big Ben and House of Parliament

Saturday morning, September 17th. We saw the sun rise and saw the Parliament on the other side of the Thames, so we knew we were getting very close. We think we walked for about 12-13 miles or so in 10 hours getting to the entrance of the Palace Hall. Unfortunately we were a little early to meet King Charles who came to talk to walkers outside the Westminster Palace. It was good of him to do that, with all his sadness. Groups were given purple bands to show we were allowed into the Hall to see the catafalque and coffin. No photos allowed of course from the public. So all the photos here are from the TV or photographers who were given permission.

Although it was a short time to be in the Hall, it was a most emotional time, even for those who were not British, but may have known about the Queen and her selflessness in her 70 years of doing her duty. As a 21 year old in South Africa she promised to do her duty for as long as she lived. And she did.

Afterwards, Louise took me to a little cafe nearby she knew about, not far from the Parliament and St. James' Park. It was surprisingly quiet, as down by Parliament there were thousands of people trying to get near the Abbey. We went back to the Westminster underground, glad to be going the opposite way from the hordes. 12+ miles, 10+ hours of walking. We were exhausted, but worth every step.

Louise's great nephew (in both categories) took this screenshot of Louise in the pink jacket, and me to the left behind a bald man in a blue jacket. How that was done I can't believe!

We were sorry Clare was not with us, but she was able to arrive in London in the late afternoon, and got in to the walk. She met some interesting people to walk with. Eventually she went into the Hall to give her respect to the Queen and the Royal Family, and then made it to Louise's in the evening.

Sunday, September 18th. Clare and I had a good breakfast thanks to Louise who always makes sure to have a good start! Clare and I went up to Westminster, walking through parks, until we got to Green Park, where acres of flowers, notes, drawings came from everyone. Louise made a pretty bouquet from her garden to add to the flowers in the park.

After we walked around Green Park, seeing the flowers, letters, paintings and much more, we went along Piccadilly where many shops had photos and decorations of the Queen. Walking around Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, we thought to stop to have afternoon tea at the Ritz, but we were not dressed correctly, plus we had not made a reservation. Really annoying. Anything for a good cup of tea.

In Parliament Square there is a statue of Jan Smuts, Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919-1924 and 1939-1948. I always thought of him as a great man, but don't remember learning about him at school at Redhill in Johannesburg. In other countries where I went to school, no-one knew who he was.

Monday, September 20. We watched the funeral service at Louise's, she has a good -sized screen. It's too difficult to write about the service and the end of an era. After the service in Westminster Abbey, the coffin was taken to Windsor for the Interment in St. George's Chapel.

The Queen had ridden her pony Emma only a few months ago, and now the Head Groom was holding Emma who had the Queen's headscarf on her saddle, as the funeral procession passed on to Windsor Castle and to St. George's Chapel.

Emma alone watching the coffin on the Long Drive up to the Windsor Castle, and on to St. George's Chapel for the Interment.

The eight Grenadier Guards going up the steps to the Chapel.

The Queen's Imperial State Crown, Scepter and Orb, being removed before interring the coffin in the Royal Vault.

The coffin being lowered into the Royal Vault.

This is the final resting grave of the Queen in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, together with her husband Prince Philip, and her parents, King George 6th and Elizabeth.