I joined the thousands of tearful mourners on The Mall - and saw why they came to honour The Queen

It was a chance to say a final, emotional farewell to The Queen - and for the tens of thousands of mourners packing on to the streets of London on Monday it was a poignant pilgrimage they felt they simply had to make. Many had camped overnight to get the best spots along The Mall, and many knew the tears would be rolling throughout most of the day.

An estimated four billion people tuned in to watch the grand ceremony of the State Funeral on live feeds across the globe on Monday. But for the thousands heading to the capital, it was hugely significant to be right there, right on the front line, as The Queen made her final journey before their eyes.

They threw flowers as her coffin weaved its slow procession down The Mall, and they waved their Union Jacks with fervour. They dabbed away the tears and stood on tip toes to get a better view, while the more adventurous leapt onto bollards and railings.

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All to be a part of UK history in the making. And to get a glimpse of The Queen's coffin, and see King Charles and the Royal Family take their slow, purposeful march behind the monarch.

I was among the thousands who had packed onto trains from Manchester, Crewe, Stoke, Birmingham and indeed from all across the UK at the weekend with the hope of getting a plum place on The Mall to see the historic State Funeral unfold on Monday. I had seen that many had been camping to get the best spots as early as Saturday night, but decided to take my chances with a 6am start on Monday.

I joined huge queues of people - young and old - flooding into Green Park next to Buckingham Palace. Already by 6.30am word had spread that certain entrances