Queen's funeral: NI political leaders at Westminster Abbey service

Politicians from Northern Ireland sat with cabinet members and the leaders of other political parties

Leaders from Northern Ireland's five main political parties have attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London.

Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey was also at Westminster Abbey, in his role as Stormont Speaker.

Schools, banks, council services and leisure centres were among those closed as a mark of respect for the funeral of the UK's longest-serving monarch.

The Queen died on 8 September, aged 96 prompting 10 days of mourning.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Doug Beattie and Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Colum Eastwood were at the service with the Speaker.

The service lasted about an hour and was shown on big screens at six locations in Northern Ireland.

King Charles III approved a bank holiday across the UK.

GP surgeries in Northern Ireland were shut and some hospital services and community pharmacies were also affected.

Many shops, pubs and restaurants operated at a reduced capacity or closed for the day.

On Sunday, the cranes at Belfast Port were lowered as a mark of respect to remember the Queen's life and service prior to her funeral.

The funeral service is being broadcast on a big screen in St Columb's Cathedral in Londonderry

Senior figures from Ireland's four largest churches - Catholic Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh John McDowell, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, the Right Reverend John Kirkpatrick and President of the Methodist Church the Reverend David Nixon - also attended the funeral.

Afterwards, Archbishop Eamon Martin told BBC Radio Foyle he felt "privileged, humbled and honoured" to have been there.

"The entire abbey was filed with so many people who are leading their country in one way or another. I found myself praying for all of us to, really, try to do what we can, to lead humbly and as servants, which I think Queen Elizabeth wanted to do herself," he added.

The Archbishop of Armagh said the Queen had been "deeply concerned" about political progress in Northern Ireland and leaves a legacy of reconciliation.

"She, herself, would want others to continue in that legacy and work for peace and reconciliation. If we are not careful we could let that progress slip away if we take our eye off it. Peace is fragile, something that needs handled with care."

Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina, pictured arriving at Westminster Abbey for the state funeral

Chief Constable Simon Byrne, who attended the funeral, tweeted that it had been a "moving and historic experience".

"Thanks to my Police Service of Northern Ireland colleagues from various ranks who are supporting the Metropolitan Police's biggest ever public safety/security operation," he added.

Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina, also attended the funeral - the first time an Irish president had been at the funeral of a British monarch.

On Sunday, they paid their respects to the Queen as they passed her coffin with the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin.

The tricolour has been flying at half mast at the Irish presidential residence, Áras an Uachtaráin, to mark the death of the Queen.

Members of the public look at flowers and wreaths left in remembrance to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle on Monday morning

Earlier, former chief nursing officer for Northern Ireland Prof Martin Bradley took part in the funeral procession, representing the health service.

He said that the invitation was one of "surprise and great honour".

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme, he said: "I'm feeling quite emotional because it's going to be a day when a lot of people will be reflecting on the Queen's death.

"It'll also be a day of thanksgiving for a life well lived."

Helen Setterfield, chairperson of OGCancerNI, was recently recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours and was also invited to the funeral.

"There are so many heroes - it's not just one person," she told the programme.

"The charity I represent is supporting people who have been affected by oesophageal and stomach cancer and there are lots of people out there who have helped me along the way."

June Cairns MBE, a ward manager at Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn, was also in London for the funeral, with her husband, daughter and two grandchildren.

For her, the Queen was "just always there, and part of life, really", she said, recalling that for her grandmother, who was born the same year as Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother had been a "style icon".

Being honoured for her work, was "a complete shock", she said.

"I only ever have done my job."

Coverage of the services

Crowds of people gathered at Belfast City Hall to watch the Queen's funeral on a big screen

The BBC has been providing full coverage of the state funeral across TV, radio, iPlayer, BBC Sounds, and the BBC News website.

Coverage on BBC One and Two has been led by Huw Edwards, Kirsty Young, Fergal Keane, David Dimbleby and Sophie Raworth.

A special programme is on air until 17:00 BST on BBC One and BBC Two.

There is coverage of both services across BBC Radio Ulster.

Evening Extra with Richard Morgan and Declan Harvey begins at the earlier time of 15:00 ahead of the committal service at 16:00.

Sgt Bugler Andrew Carlisle with the Hillsborough Fort Guard during a remembrance service for Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Fort on Monday

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Last week, the King visited Northern Ireland.

Speaking at Hillsborough Castle, King Charles said his mother "never ceased to pray for the best of times for this place and its people".

"My mother felt deeply, I know, the significance of the role she herself played in bringing together those who history had separated and extending a hand to make possible the healing of long-held hurts," he added.

The then Princess Elizabeth waving as she arrived at Dungannon High School for Girls in County Tyrone in March 1946

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