'She is England': mourners gather for Queen's funeral

STORY: World leaders and royalty from across the globe will be amongst guests who will bid a final farewell to Queen Elizabeth, the last towering figure of her era, at a state funeral of inimitable pageantry on Monday (September 19).

"She’s our Queen, she is the UK", said Carol Joseph, one of thousands of people out in London hours before Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral.

Standing alongside her sister, the 63-year-old from Upminster said she thought the queen was 'magnificent.'

"She’s done such an impeccable reign with such dignity, such respect, she’s never had anything, any scandal against her and she deserves the respect", she told Reuters.