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Melton Town centre is very quiet this morning as the funeral of Her Majesty The Queen approaches.
Many shops and businesses are closed as millions are expected to tune in to watch the events unfold at Westminster Abbey.
The last member of the public to view Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin as it lay in state at the Houses of Parliament was Chrissy Heerey, a serving member of the Royal Air Force originally from Melton Mowbray.
Melton Town Centre on Monday morning, the day of The Queen's funeral. Photo: NEMM
Speaking to PA she said: “It felt like a real privilege to do that.”
She said Monday she went through Westminster Hall twice — the first time in the early hours of the morning and then again just before its doors
closed to mourners at 6:30 a.m. (0530GMT).
Chrissy Heerey Pays her respects at Westminster Hall. Photo: BBC Studios
She says the experience was, “one of the highlights of my life and I feel very privileged to be here.”
As the end of more than four days of the queen’s lying-in-state drew to a close, the stream of mourners slowed to a trickle. After Heerey bowed her head toward the coffin and moved away, parliamentary officials paid their last respects before leaving the queen’s coffin in the 900-year-old hall ringed by four candles and military guards in ceremonial uniforms.