Queen's funeral: 'I went to screening to be with people'

Marilyn Ball (left) and Patricia Dare said the late Queen had been part of their lives

People have been coming together to watch the Queen's state funeral at community screenings.

Marilyn Ball, who watched at Malvern's St Matthias Church, said she wanted to remember the Queen with others.

"Seventy years of service is pretty amazing and it's such a momentous occasion really that I felt I couldn't miss it," she said.

"And coming to be with people rather than sit alone at home makes it all the more memorable."

Patricia Dare, who was also at the church, said the Queen had been a big part of her life and she felt emotional ahead of the service.

Mrs Dare's late husband had been in the Army for 23 years and they had attended many formal events and ceremonies.

"She was my husband's commander and he swore allegiance to her until the day he died," she said.

Worcester Cathedral is among venues displaying photographs of the Queen

Mrs Dare said she felt "at home" at the Worcestershire church where she had been baptised and married. Family events there had also included her granddaughter's christening.

She said she "absolutely" wanted to watch the service with others "rather than be sat at home with a box of tissues".

Meanwhile, about 200 people gathered at Worcester's Cathedral Square to watch a large screen and take part in the two-minute silence, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The usually bustling Worcester High Street was nearly deserted with only a handful of shops and restaurants open.

Portraits of the late monarch adorned advertising boards, shop windows and bus shelters.

The city's Alma Tavern was among pubs that screened the funeral, holding a special event in its function room.

Jon Dean, one of the managers, said those attending were "dignified in their showing of their respects to the longest-serving monarch".

He said a lot of Tavern customers were "of an age where they remember the Queen coming to the throne over 70 years ago".

"And a lot of our customers are single people who live alone, perhaps widowed and things like that, so we wanted to offer a place for those people to come and offer their collective memories and share their memories of the Queen in an atmosphere that was supportive, sombre and reflective," Mr Dean added.

People are writing tributes to the late Queen at Hereford Cathedral

Some younger customers also wanted to share the occasion with others.

Zoe Newey told the BBC: "I wanted to be here because this pub is part of the community and I didn't want to sit on my own so I've come here with my two boys to watch it with other people and just be part of the day and be part of history."

She said the atmosphere had been "quiet and also friendly", and she had liked the service.

"I thought it was moving. I enjoyed the tradition of it and seeing all the family together," she said.

Another customer described it as "an absolutely beautiful service".

"It was so respectful, the pub was quiet. We were all just watching it," he said.

Books of condolence remain open at local sites, including Worcester and Hereford cathedrals.

A complete guide to the Queen's funeral

Today, the door swings shut on the Elizabethan era

Obituary: A long life marked by a sense of duty