“Standing In The Crowd To Say Goodbye.” From 36 hours prior to 6 hours, people began camping out and arriving along HM Queen Elizabeth II’s procession route hoping to catch a glimpse of the only Monarch many have ever known. Some even joined after having queued for more than 12 hours prior. “There’s been a sense of unity this week, especially at a time of so much uncertainty in the political arena,” said one gentleman, who called himself a royalist, standing next to me. “[At] 60 years old, she’s the only Monarch I’ve known,” he continued. Another, more than half his age, reaffirmed how important being there was. “Being here, seeing this, standing together, that’s what it’s about,” said one woman who currently lives in London. One fainted, one snickered, and one man refused to remove his charging cable while holding his phone up high, but side by side people many shared snacks, offered each other chairs, and came together for the more than 6 hours all while mostly standing. I was lucky enough to get a spot near Parliament Square and watched HM Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin be escorted from Westminster Hall first, and I made a photo. I took a photo of the 'screen' to send to my parents and friends. Someone next to me saw it, asked me for it, and all of a sudden this photos was being airdropped to 30 people around me. There was a shared journey standing there; waiting, watching, and in some cases comforting others around us as they teared up at the site of the casket. This will be the last Queen. The last woman to hold the position for centuries, and most likely was the last Monarch to have held the throne for more than 70 years. 15 Prime Ministers. 14 Presidents. Over the next few days I’ll continue to share more photos leading up to today’s funeral. — Photo 10: A military veteran rests at a pub near Westminster Abbey after attending HM Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral as the rest of the procession is played on the pub’s television. ** ** © Alexi Rosenfeld 2022 - Contact for Licensing ** ** #onassignment #photojournalism #photojournalist #reportage #reportagespotlight #nikon #nikonphotography #queenelizabeth