Queen Elizabeth's coffin was lowered into a vault at Windsor Castle, her final resting place, just before 4am NZ time after a day of inimitable pageantry that drew world leaders to her funeral and huge crowds to the streets to say farewell to a revered monarch.

Hundreds of thousands of well-wishers lined the route her hearse took from London, throwing flowers, cheering and clapping as it passed from the city to the English countryside that she so loved much.

Many more had crammed into the capital to witness the procession and funeral, in a moving tribute to Britain's longest-serving monarch who won global respect during 70 years on the throne.

Inside the majestic Westminster Abbey where the funeral was held, some 500 presidents, prime ministers, foreign royal family members and dignitaries, including Joe Biden of the United States,

were among the 2000 congregation.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and other guests arrive at St George's Chapel inside Windsor Castle on September 20, 2022, ahead of the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II. Photo: Andy Commins / POOL / AFP

Later the attention switched to St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, where some 800 guests attended a committal service ahead of her burial.

It concluded with the crown, orb and sceptre - symbols of the monarch's power and governance - being removed from the coffin and placed on the altar.

The Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the royal household, then broke his 'Wand of Office', signifying the end of his service to the sovereign, and placed it on the casket before it slowly descended into the royal vault.

As the congregation sang the national anthem, King Charles III appeared to be fighting back tears.

Later in the evening, in a private family service, the coffin of Elizabeth and her husband of more than seven decades, Prince Philip, who died last year aged 99, will be buried together in the same chapel where her parents and sister, Princess Margaret, also rest.

It was in the same vast building that the queen was photographed mourning Philip alone during the pandemic lockdown, reinforcing the sense of a monarch in synch with her people during a testing time.

Carole Middleton (R) and Michael Middleton (2nd R) look at floral wreaths ahead of the Committal Service for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in St George's Chapel, inside Windsor Castle on September 20, 2022. Photo: Adrian Dennis / POOL / AFP

'Abundant life'

At the funeral, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, told those present that the grief felt by so many across Britain and the wider world reflected the late monarch's "abundant life and loving service".

"Her late majesty famously declared on a 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the nation and Commonwealth," he said.

"Rarely has such a promise been so well kept. Few leaders receive the outpouring of love that we have seen."

Music that played at the queen's wedding in 1947 and her coronation six years later again rang out. The coffin entered to lines of scripture set to a score used at every state funeral since the early 18th century

Royal Navy sailors escort the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy to Wellington Arch in London on September 19, 2022, after the State Funeral Service of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Photo: Daniel Leal / POOL / AFP

After the funeral, her flag-draped casket was pulled by sailors through London's streets on a gun carriage in one of the largest military processions seen in Britain, involving thousands of members of the armed forces dressed in ceremonial finery.

They walked in step to funeral music from marching bands, while in the background the city's famous Big Ben tolled each minute. King Charles and other senior royals followed on foot.

The casket was taken from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch and transferred to a hearse to travel to Windsor, where more big crowds waited patiently.

Among those who came from around Britain and beyond, people climbed lampposts and stood on barriers and ladders to catch a glimpse of the royal procession.

Members of the public pay their respects as they attend the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is taken in a procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London on September 19, 2022. Photo: LOIC VENANCE / POOL / AFP

Some wore smart black suits and dresses. Others were dressed in hoodies, leggings and tracksuits. A woman with dyed green hair stood next to a man in morning suit as they waited for the London procession to begin.

Millions more watched on television at home on a public holiday declared for the occasion, the first time the funeral of a British monarch has been televised

"I've been coming to Windsor for 50 years now," said Baldev Bhakar, 72, a jeweller from the nearby town of Slough, speaking outside Windsor Castle.

"I saw her many times over the years; it felt like she was our neighbour and she was just a lovely woman; a beautiful queen. It was good to say one last goodbye to our neighbour."

The State Gun Carriage carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, as it makes its way for the State Funeral at Westminster Abbey, London on September 19, 2022. Photo: AFP / Pool

National mourning was also observed in Brazil, Jordan and Cuba, countries with which she had little direct link.

"People of loving service are rare in any walk of life," Welby said during the funeral. "Leaders of loving service are still rarer. But in all cases, those who serve will be loved and remembered when those who cling to power and privileges are long forgotten."

The tenor bell of the Abbey - the site of coronations, weddings and burials of English and then British kings and queens for almost 1000 years - tolled 96 times.

Among the hymns chosen for the service were "The Lord's my Shepherd", sung at the wedding of the queen and her husband Philip in the Abbey in 1947. In the royal group following the casket into the Abbey was the queen's great-grandson and future king,

Prince George, aged nine.

A Bearer Party of The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, from the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy into Westminster Abbey in London on September 19, 2022, during of the State Funeral Service. Photo: Frank Augstein / POOL / AFP

In addition to dignitaries, the congregation included those awarded Britain's highest military and civilian medals for gallantry, representatives from charities supported by the queen and those who made "extraordinary contributions" to dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Towards the end of the service, the church and much of the nation fell silent for two minutes. Trumpets rang out before the congregation sang "God Save the King". Outside, crowds joined in and broke into applause when the anthem was over.

The queen's piper brought the service to an end with a lament called "Sleep, Dearie, Sleep" that faded to silence.

- Reuters