Britain raises a funeral toast to the Queen as they pack out pubs at end of bank holiday
Britons across the country habe raised a toast to the Queen tonight following her sombre state funeral in central London today.
Her Majesty, who died 11 days ago aged 96, was buried alongside Prince Philip at St George’s Chapel following a poignant service at Westminster Abbey.
The historic day of pomp and pageantry saw up to two million people line the streets from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle, while more than four billion people were estimated to have tuned in on TV.
But following a day of public grief, royal fans called on their fellow Brits to host their own unofficial wakes.
‘Just realised we should have planned a massive wake,’ one Twitter user wrote, ‘Essentially, everyone find your local pub, buy a pint and raise a toast to the late Queen Elizabeth II.’
He added: ‘What a day for Britain. I’m emotionally exhausted by eternally proud.’
A woman puts her face in her hands while watching the Queen’s funeral in Hyde Park in central London today
Drinkers in the Sherlock Holmes pub in St James’s, central London, after the Queen’s funeral
Revellers drink a toast to Her Majesty at Halfway to Heaven in Charing Cross, central London
People watch live the funeral service of Queen Elizabeth II, at a pub in London on Monday
Bartenders watching the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II from The Lion pub, Treorchy, Rhondda Valley, Wales
Bartender Xaviar Morgan-Roe, 19, watching the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II from The Lion pub, Treorchy, Rhondda Valley, Wales
Another said: ‘Only right we all go down the pub for the wake and toast a few tequila shots to the Queen.’
One joked: ‘Off to the pub, it’s what she would have wanted’, while another agreed, adding: ‘Have been at the pub for the last two hours.’
Others suggested the pallbearers get down to their locals.
One wrote: ‘Those ten lads carrying the Queen’s coffin now need a few pints… what an act of service!’
Revellers were pictured filling up pubs in Wales and central London today following the historic state funeral – the first since Winston Churchill’s in 1965.
The Queen was finally laid to rest to be with her beloved Prince Philip after her crown, orb and sceptre were removed from her coffin so she could descend into her grave ‘as a simple Christian soul’.
‘Fizz for Liz’: Brits head to the pub to raise a glass for the late Queen, whose state funeral took place on Monday
The Royal Family stood at the end of the short committal service as the Queen was slowly lowered while the Dean of Windsor said: ‘Go forth upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul.’
He also offered the commendation – a prayer in which the deceased is entrusted to God’s mercy.
Charles looked deeply moved as the Queen’s oak coffin descended to the crypt on a day where he appeared tearful on a number of occasions as he said goodbye to his ‘Mama’, the 12th British monarch to be buried at Windsor.
Her Majesty’s long journey to her final resting place – and to be reunited with the Duke of Edinburgh – began in Balmoral on the day of her death 11 days ago and ended with her private interment next to her ‘strength and stay’ Philip this evening when the King scattered earth on his mother’s coffin at 7.30pm at a private family service.