2022 in photos: How Britain said farewell to Queen Elizabeth II

When Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, the United Kingdom came to a standstill. The British people adored their Queen and did not hesitate to travel to Buckingham Palace to bid her farewell. Thousands of people crowded around the palace to say an initial farewell to the monarch.

Many of the citizens who gathered at Buckingham Palace, did so with flowers to lay in her honour. The flowers were placed on the flag, on the fences of the palace, around a fountain, and accumulated on the ground. Piles of flowers continued to grow - showing the affection and respect the people had for their monarch.

One of the palace gates became a meeting point and refuge for those who wanted to pray for the late queen.

Applause, cheers, and moments of pensiveness dominated the surroundings of Buckingham Palace, where the anthem was also sung in honour of the queen. Interestingly, there were people of all ages, families, and citizens alone, showing that the Queen had won the affection of generation after generation.

Some citizens brought commemorative merchandising with them.

A large number of citizens could not hold back their tears. Queen Elizabeth II was a symbol of an entire country, the only Queen most have ever known and someone many considered part of the family.

It is interesting to note that, despite the thousands of people who crowded the surroundings of Buckingham Palace, few phones were in the air. It seems the respect given to the death of the Queen's passing was such that most people kept their mobiles tucked away.

When the announcement of the death was posted at the entrance of Buckingham Palace, the silence that presided over the moment was overwhelming. Many of those present confessed on social networks that they had a lump in their throat.

A particular tribute was paid to Elizabeth II by the owners of black cabs in London. Hundreds of taxis lined the roads around Buckingham Palace and stood in silence to pay their last farewell. In May, to celebrate the Queen's 70th anniversary on the throne, they had offered free rides to their customers.

Hundreds of cards, letters, and messages, mostly of thanks and affection, adorned the gates and pavement among the flowers on the outskirts of Buckingham Palace.

Obviously, candles gave light and gravity to all the people who approached Buckingham Palace, where respectful silence was the general tone. Incredible to see such a low tone was maintained with so many people crowded in one place.

Minutes before the Royal Household officially announced the death of Elizabeth II, a rainbow appeared in the sky. It provided a poignant backdrop to the lowering of the flag to half-mast. Many do not believe in coincidence.

The face of Queen Elizabeth II was projected on many of the screens around the city of London. Many stopped to pause as they passed.

Even on street billboards, paid advertisements were replaced by the solemn image of the monarch.

On the Thursday of her death, at Old Trafford, Manchester United and Real Sociedad offered a solemn minute's silence in honor of the Queen. They were about to play their UEFA Europa League game. Those present at the stadium said they had never experienced a more solemn moment. The silence was melancholic.

Thousands of miles away - more specifically at the British Embassy in the United States, located in Washington - they also said goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II, surrounding the British flag with flowers. Messages poured in from all corners of the globe.

All the British media and many of the world's media devoted their front pages to bidding farewell to Queen Elizabeth II. She is now contemporary history.