Americans united to commemorate Britain’s darkest day with continuous coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
Despite the five-hour time difference, plenty of people gathered in Times Square as early as 5 a.m. on Monday to watch the buildup to Her Majesty’s service across the pond.
Numerous sites in the United States provided live streams of the Royals paying their final respects to the Queen.
President Joe Biden and his wife Jill attended the funeral service to offer their respects, with many congregants arriving as early as three hours in advance.
Thousands lined the streets to pay their respects, as millions around the world tuned in to watch Her Majesty’s farewell voyage.
The Washington Post led the coverage of the procession from within Westminster Abbey, while the New York Post and Los Angeles Times also provided footage of the occasion.
CNN, ABC, Fox News, and NBC suspended their regular programming to cover the entire parade, with royal commentators covering the event’s buildup.
CNN’s coverage of the Queen’s funeral was deemed the best in the United States by DailyMail columnist Jaci Stephens, and the network aired nonstop live coverage of her demise.
The Wall Street Journal was one of the American websites that provided a live feed of the whole burial service.
ABC began a live stream in Times Square at 5 a.m., with many passersby stopping to watch.
From the Abbey to Wellington Arch, the entire event was easily followed in the United States, with numerous broadcasters covering the full procession.
CBS, CNBC, Spectrum News, and MSNBC all had special guests throughout the morning to commemorate the occasion.
It is the first time that cameras have been permitted inside the funeral of a monarch, and BBC’s worldwide coverage is available on television and online.
People magazine also covered the event, saying that Princess Charlotte, seven years old, honored her great-grandmother.
The New York Times also streamed the event live after getting a massive response for publishing many articles criticizing the funeral’s costs.
This week, the newspaper reported with evident amazement that it would be up to British taxpayers to pay for the burial on Monday.
Its assessment described the ceremony as having a “hefty price tag” for taxpayers in the midst of soaring inflation and a crisis in the UK’s cost of living.
The newspaper calculated that the state funeral would cost approximately £6 million, arguing that the price would exacerbate the present financial difficulties of British families.
The Los Angeles Times chose to commemorate the occasion with a moving image of the Queen’s exit from the Abbey with her family following behind a coffin draped in the Royal Standard.
The Washington Post likewise allowed its readers to follow the coverage in real time, using a black design to commemorate the Queen’s passing.
The New York Times also provided a live feed of the event after receiving a massive criticism for multiple articles criticizing the funeral’s costs.
Additionally, NBC news documented the entire affair, following the Navy and guards throughout her journey.
However, it was recently found that the real cost per family in the United Kingdom will be only five pence.
The New York Times was forced to acknowledge its error and publish an immediate correction to its piece, indicating that inflation was not as severe as it had previously stated.
Other outlets continued to report on the’special relationship’ between the two countries as thousands of world leaders and hundreds of members of the public began flowing into the Abbey and billions of people will witness the state funeral of Her Majesty.
The majority of the VIPs arrived by coach and gathered at the Royal Hospital Chelsea before being transported to Central London by bus.
Past and present British politicians, including Nadham Zahawi, Ben Wallace, and Jacob Rees-Mogg, were among the first guests. However, US Vice President Joe Biden arrived at the Abbey in The Beast, his bomb-resistant vehicle.
Michael and Carole Middleton, the parents of Kate, Princess of Wales, came for the service two hours early, followed by Tom Parker Bowles, the son of Queen Consort Camilla.
Fox News also covered the event, paying particular attention to the Royals as they escorted their mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother to Buckingham Palace.
In addition to the ongoing coverage of the funeral, other news continued to be broadcast in Times Square.
USA Today also broadcast live images of the transfer of Queen Elizabeth II’s casket to Wellington Arch.
Despite their strong ties to the Royal Family, they were also on a bus together. TV personality Bear Grylls is among the notable attendees at the funeral.
According to royal custom, myrtle was included in the Queen’s wedding bouquet, which was among the funeral flowers at the abbey.
The enormous displays of white and green flowers featured asiatic lilies, gladioli, alstroemeria, eustoma and the foliage of English oak, weeping birch, and myrtle sprigs.
The four towering yellow candles that traditionally surround the grave of the unknown warrior at the entrance of the medieval cathedral will be placed around the coffin.
Outside, fans of all ages set up tents, deck chairs, and even a makeshift minibar in order to secure primo seats for the event, which is expected to draw 2 million people to the city.
By 8.30 a.m., the public was informed that the procession route was filled, and they were directed to Hyde Park to view the event on large screens.
Thomas Doherty, a media and cultural historian from Brandeis University, told CNN that the final send-off and eulogies will attract a large audience because to the drama, pomp, and ritual – a worldwide shared experience upon which television thrives.