Also among the crowds were people with ties and ancestry from other Commonwealth nations.

“Despite my Pakistani roots, I was born here and I feel being part of the Commonwealth at some stage, many years ago now, but still I have that affinity for the royal family,” Rifat Soyfoo said.

“I thought that this is the ultimate occasion to pay my respects,” Soyfoo added. “Everyone keeps saying, ‘The queen god bless her soul worked tirelessly, so selflessly,’ [and talking about] how she brought the nation together no matter what creed, color, community you’re from.”

“She gave us so much,” said Chris Imafidon, a British Nigerian professor. “She was not just a monarch high up there; she was modest. She worked with my charity in the inner city and invited our students to come to the palaces.”