Queen's funeral: Welsh mourners 'feel the love' watching funeral

People around Wales have gathered in homes, churches, cinemas and pubs to watch the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

About 50 people gathered at St John the Evangelist's Church in Cardiff watching the funeral service on a big screen.

People joined together to sing hymns, with one saying: "No-one wants to mourn alone. We need to be together".

Ron Treherne, 75, who watched the funeral at a neighbour's home, said they could "feel the love around us".

The funeral was at London's Westminster Abbey and the Queen's coffin has been taken to St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for a committal service.

It was broadcast in cinemas, churches and community centres, schools and businesses closed, with others reducing opening hours, after Monday was declared a bank holiday.

Emma Parsons-Reid, 55 from, Cardiff, invited family, friends and neighbours to her home to watch the funeral

Other people joined together at St Michael's in Aberystwyth.

The funeral was shown on cinema screens at Theatr Colwyn in Colwyn Bay, and the Magic Lantern Cinema in Tywyn, with cinemas in Swansea, Merthyr Tydfil, Cardiff, Cwmbran, Carmarthen and Rhyl also showing the event.

Penparcau community hub in Ceredigion also opened for older people.

Mourners also turned out at a pub in Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Some people visited pubs to watch the funeral service

Landlord Adrian Emmett said he opened because even if nobody had turned up at The Lion, he wanted to offer a space for people to come together.

"It's about being here for community, not just through the good times but the times they want to come together as well," he said.

"Today is a real footnote in history, 70 years on the throne and I think that's why it's important that community spaces like the pub that's at the heart of the community, should be open today where people can come to talk about today, remember what's gone on and if they don't want to be alone in the house they can come together as a community."

About 55 people went to Theatr Colwyn in Colwyn Bay to watch the funeral on the cinema screen

He said the pub was visited in July by the new king when he was Prince of Wales.

"When Prince Charles came here, he and Camilla just seemed so normal and they had so much time for everyone - they affected people's lives for the better," he said.

"So our thoughts are with them today."

Mia Ingram, 19, said: "It's such a generational thing as well, you've got your grandmothers who have known different events with the Royal Family right down through the younger children who've celebrated weddings and things".

About 40 people were at St Michael’s Church in Aberystwyth to watch the service

Emma Parsons-Reid, 55, invited people to her home in Ely, Cardiff, to watch the occasion, just as her mother did for the Queen's coronation.

"I feel it was more of a celebration of her life then a mourning of her death," she said.

"But when the lone bagpiper played, I was gone. For the first time, it felt real."

Neighbour, Ron Treherne, 75, said he was keen to share the moment with friends.

Emergency workers based in Wrexham were among those participating in the two-minute silence

"Sometimes you want to grieve on your own, but then you realise how much better it is when you grieve with friends. You can hold each other's hands."

"You can feel the love around us now."

Caroline Duddridge, 63, thought it was "just a wonderful funeral" which "exceeded all expectations".

"I wouldn't have been anywhere else. I wanted to be here for my sister Emma."

Residents at a care home in Aberavon, Neath Port Talbot, gathered to watch proceedings

Residents at Sŵn y Mor care home in Aberavon were able to watch the funeral on a big screen.

Margaret Pullan said she was pleased to get the chance to see it.

"She deserved it from us that we watch the funeral," she said. "She was so loyal and she made a vow which we all remember and she kept it. We are grateful for that.

"When she passed it was very sad but I had a feeling she was ill."

Albert Evan James watched the service at the care home he resides at

Albert Evan James MBE, 98, was watching one of those watching the funeral at the home.

"It's absolutely fabulous to see, it'll never be seen again.

"I couldn't believe it when she went, it was unexpected. I think she knew her time was close.

"I had an MBE for my services to the Royal Air Force. I was all set to go into Buckingham Palace to receive it from the Queen. But she had to have an operation so Prince Charles awarded it to me in Cardiff."

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