West Midlands mourners brave rain to pay final respects to Queen Elizabeth II.

Public screenings of the state funeral have been taking place around the region

Author: Claire HawthornPublished 19th Sep 2022
Last updated 19th Sep 2022

People across the West Midlands have come out to watch the funeral of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II together, at public screenings in towns and cities across the region.

Some 2,000 people are attending Monday's service at Westminster Abbey, with world leaders, UK prime ministers past and present and key figures from public life joining members of the royal family.

But many have decided to mark the occasion closer to home. In Birmingham's Centenary Square the rain didn't put people up to 500 people off, who braved a downpour to watch the service.

There was a hushed silence throughout the service, broadcast from Westminster Abbey, save for the occasional pointing out of a brief observation or explanation of a detail, from a parent to a child.

Some wiped away tears, while others simply hugged one another through shared grief.

In Wolverhampton locals brought their own chairs as advised and set up to share in the experience together.

The region has also taken part in the national 2 minutes silence, including emergency services as well as those at public screenings.

Dozens of other cities across the country have also been displaying the Queen's state funeral on big screens and, in central London where the funeral is taking place, thousands of people gathered in nearby Hyde Park.

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