It was a moment to inspire awe.

Thousands of faces stood agog at the spectacle and time seemed to be briefly frozen.

The pomp and ceremony was for that one instant eclipsed by the sense of loss and sorrow as the coffin of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother passed the six-deep crowds lining the procession route.

Behind, strode the Royal Family - as neat and precise as the military bands that had preceded them.

Prince Charles, dressed in full military uniform, had his grief scrawled across his face, while Prince William and Harry in tailcoats walked several steps behind with their heads bowed.

The full sad blow of losing a close relative was shared by one and all.

And that one moment was enough to anchor the memory in the minds of the thousands who made the journey to Westminster on Friday to pay their respects to the Queen Mum.

Swallowed up in the crowd yet sensing solidarity, people chatted freely pointing out the sights in wonder - from the snipers units posted all over the rooftops of Whitehall, to the convoy of cars driving Prime Minister Tony Blair out of Downing Street, to the military precision of guards taking up their positions.

American tourist David Powell, 72, said there is no place in the world like Britain to see this kind of ceremony.

"The pomp and ceremony is beautiful and unique.

The Queen Mum was a symbol of Britain and was loved around the world.

We Americans, still look at the British royalties as a part of us."

By Marie Jackson, for Newsquest