Queen's State Funeral: Greater Manchester remembers the life of Her Majesty

Three big screens displayed proceedings in Manchester city centre on Monday

Author: Dan DaviesPublished 19th Sep 2022
Last updated 19th Sep 2022

People across Greater Manchester have been finding their own ways to commemorate the life of Queen Elizabeth II, on the day of her State Funeral in London.

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 Manchester, three big screens have been erected in the city centre for members of the public to watch the state funeral free of charge - two of them are at the Cathedral, and the third in Exchange Square.

Visitors at Manchester Cathedral were welcomed to offer prayers, light a candle and observe the two-minute silence at 11am before the start of the funeral on Monday.

Each site was open to the public without the need for a ticket, on a first-come first-served basis.

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “This Monday will be an historic occasion as Queen Elizabeth II is honoured with a state funeral.

“We recognise that many people will take comfort in gathering together to share the moment as they pay tribute to the late Queen and reflect on her long and momentous reign. We are pleased to be able to support this communal remembrance through a public screening of the event."

Hundreds of people gathered in Manchester's Exchange Square to watch the State Funeral

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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