Mourners in Belfast, Lisburn and Royal Hillsborough have been reflecting on the life of The Queen and what she meant to them on the day of her funeral.
Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest on Monday, with the state funeral being broadcast on big screens at several locations across the UK.
Millions watched around the world and those who attended public events in Northern Ireland paid their respects.
Read more: The Queen's Funeral: Northern Ireland people come together to watch historic moment
In Lisburn, medals shone on the chests of veterans and parents explained to young children what was happening as the funeral progressed.
"A very, very sad moment, a thing that I never really expected to happen," one man told Belfast Live.
"I'm 77 years of age and all I have known is Queen Elizabeth - she was a remarkable lady and an inspiration to everyone.
"If the younger generation could show the example that she did, this world would be a far better world.
"I think King Charles will fill the role well and today means an awful lot to me and my family."
One veteran, proudly wearing his medals of service, said he had nothing but fond memories of The Queen, whom he said was his "boss for 36 years".
"I remember I was up at Hillsborough Castle one time and she come out and a classroom of kids were there and they says, 'Mister, how do we get The Queen to come over?'," he said.
"And I said the people that shout the loudest, she'll come over to them.
"And they roared their heads off and she came walking over and she had time for all the kids and their teacher said to me 'thanks very much'.
"I said 'I was only kidding, I didn't know!'
"But that was just the way she was, she was very friendly."
A little distance away, one young woman who had brought her children with her said it was a chance for them to experience history.
"The kids have only ever seen a Queen and we're the exact same," she said.
"It's a big difference, but I'm sure King Charles will be fine and it will be interesting to see how different it will be.
"That's why we brought the kids down rather than staying at home, to see everybody in the community and see everyone that's down.
"It's sad but she had a great life and she did an amazing job for the country, so it's nice to remember everything she has done, especially for Northern Ireland."
Meanwhile at Royal Hillsborough, the former Linfield player Alan Fraser was among those taking in the pageantry and tradition as the crowd watched the funeral service on the big screen.
“I remember seeing the Queen coming to the village when I was a wee lad," he said.
“There has always been a great connection between the Queen and Hillsborough.
“It is nice that so many people have come out today to remember the Queen.
“It is a very emotional day after such a great life, but a momentous day for people here in Hillsborough.”
Away from the floral tributes, there were also other displays in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Hillsborough Fort Guard, revived when the village became Royal Hillsborough earlier this year, took part in a remembrance service.
Bugler Andrew Carlisle sounded the call to begin the ceremony, after the guard had marched to the Fort.
“It meant a lot to the villagers to feel they have a special memory to mark the day with," he said.
“It is one of these things you always know is going to happen, there are preparations in place for it.
“But when it does happen it is very surreal.
“The Hillsborough Fort Guard has played its part, there have been a few long nights and long days but we are very pleased to have marked the very sad occasion.”
Among the hundreds of mourners who had gathered in Belfast, there were tears from some as the emotions of an historic day came to the fore.
"I was just saying in my lifetime, this will be the only Queen that we'll ever bury," one woman said.
"It's a sense of tradition, it's a sense of loss, it's a sense of loss for this family regardless of your point of view.
"I suppose the big thing for me was the shaking of hands with Martin McGuinness and going to visit the south of Ireland.
"If there is any way forward, The Queen within her role and the limitations of that role, I feel, did help peace and reconciliation."
For others, they had come because it was simply a chance to say thank you and pay tribute to the long reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
"Well basically, because she's done 70 years service and you'll never see the likes of this again in our lifetime anyway," one man said.
"She served the country well for 70 years, so she's done a lot of work for us," added another.
As the life of Queen Elizabeth II was celebrated and her death mourned, those watching paid particular attention to the new King, Charles III, in anticipation of a new royal chapter beginning.
READ NEXT:
- Queen's Funeral: Queen Elizabeth II remembered by Derry leaders as a 'courageous peacemaker'
- The Queen: Details on how to visit Queen Elizabeth's grave after the funeral
- The Queen's funeral: Belfast streets deserted as shops and restaurants closed for final day of mourning
- In pictures: Queen Elizabeth II's relationship with the people and places of Northern Ireland
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
