As the eyes of the world fell on London's Westminster Abbey as Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest on Monday, Britons living thousands of miles from home paid their final respects from afar.
There were few more fitting venues from where people could watch the funeral service of a monarch who led her nation like few others than the Queen Elizabeth 2 former ocean liner. This was once the pride of the British shipping company the Cunard Line and is now a floating hotel in Dubai's Port Rashid. It was retired from active service in 2008 and opened to visitors in its current home four years ago.
Britons mixed with other people of other nationalities from all walks of life to bid farewell to the queen.
It was standing room only at The Golden Lion pub as the funeral service got under way.
“I can’t think of another venue outside of the UK that was more appropriate to remember the queen than this,” said Ferghal Purcell, general manager of the QE2.
“It has been so hard to judge what the interest would be but, as it has progressed, we knew we would need to plan for this.
“Every television that can get a signal is on showing the funeral, in the Golden Lion, the Queen’s Grill and the Lido."
More than 3,000 people signed a book of condolence at the QE2. Meanwhile, hundreds of flowers, teddies and messages of remembrance were left close to a bust of the queen first unveiled in 1969, the year the grand old lady of the seas made her first trans-Atlantic voyage.
Venue honours Queen Elizabeth II
"Every seat is booked, and we have a special afternoon tea," said Mr Purcell, from Ireland.
"Families and friends wanted to come together to pay their respects in a special venue, as this is.
“There is a lot of emotional pride in what the queen stood for and achieved in her lifetime.
"When the funeral began, the bar went silent ― it was a special moment.
"The QE2 is part of the queen’s legacy and it has been a wonderful opportunity to show that."
British ambassador to the UAE Patrick Moody spoke at a service to remember the queen at St Andrew’s Church in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
The church also opened a book of condolence.
The commemoration requiem was attended by members of the British embassy, Emiratis and UAE residents such as Lucy Davis, from London.
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King Charles III in Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. PA -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried into St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle for the committal service. PA -
The hearse arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service. Getty Images -
Flowers are seen on the hearse as it arrives at Windsor Castle. AP -
King Charles and Prince William join the procession in the Quadrangle inside Windsor Castle. AFP -
The procession, led by the dismounted detachment of the Household Cavalry, followed by massed Pipes and Drums of Scottish and Irish regiments, the Brigade of Gurkhas, the Royal Air Force and the Band of the Grenadier Guards, arrives at Windsor Castle. Getty Images -
The hearse travels along the Long Walk as it makes its way to Windsor Castle. Reuters -
The ceremonial procession travels down the Long Walk in Windsor. PA -
The hearse travels to Windsor. Reuters -
The royal corgis await the cortege at Windsor Castle. Reuters -
A member of the Coldstream Guards walks past flowers at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. AP -
A mourner throws a flower towards Queen Elizabeth's hearse as it is driven to Windsor from London. Reuters -
Members of the royal family pay their respects as the hearse carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth in London. Reuters -
The state gun carriage carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth arrives at Wellington Arch during the ceremonial procession following her state funeral. PA -
The funeral procession marches down The Mall following the service at Westminster Abbey. AP -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried from her state funeral at Westminster Abbey. PA -
King Charles walks with Princess Anne, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as it is pulled on a gun carriage through the streets of London following her funeral service. AP -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Queen Consort Camilla, Prince George, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, stand outside Westminster Abbey after the funeral. PA -
Buckingham Palace household staff pay their respects. AFP -
Mourners pause for two minutes' silence during the funeral service in London. Reuters -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth, draped in a Royal Standard and adorned with the Imperial State Crown and the sovereign's orb and sceptre, arrives in Westminster Abbey. AP -
Prince William, his wife Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive at Westminster Abbey. AP -
Members of the public watch the funeral from Horse Guards Road in London. PA -
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby speaking during the funeral. PA -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried into Westminster Abbey, followed by King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla for the state funeral in London. PA -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried by the Bearer Party into Westminster Abbey. Getty -
King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward arrive at Westminster Abbey. AFP -
Prince William and Prince Harry make their way to Westminster Abbey. PA -
The State Gun Carriage carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth through central London. PA -
Members of the public on the Mall become emotional during the funeral. PA -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is placed on a gun carriage for her state funeral service in central London. AP -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth leaves Westminster Hall. AP -
The Yeoman of the Guard arrive in Westminster Abbey. AP -
Guests take their seats inside Westminster Abbey in London for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth. AFP -
The Royal Marines band marches to Westminster Abbey. Getty Images -
US President Joe Biden arrives for the funeral. PA -
French President Emanuel Macron and wife Brigitte walk into Westminster Abbey. PA -
Metropolitan Police Officers walk in formation down The Mall in preparation for the state funeral Of Queen Elizabeth II. Getty -
A Pearly king and queen, who raise money for charity, on the procession route in London. AFP -
People line the funeral procession route. Getty -
Mourners take a moment to rest on The Mall in London. Reuters -
At 6.28am on the day of her funeral, the final members of the public pay their respects at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth at the Palace of Westminster, London. PA -
London's Westminster Abbey on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Reuters -
Black Rod, the House of Lords' senior figure, walks through Westminster Hall at 6.30am after paying her respects on the final day of the lying in state at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in London. PA -
Police on patrol in Whitehall before Queen Elizabeth II's funeral at Westminster Abbey in London. EPA -
People in London camp during the night before the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Reuters -
Vehicles in the motorcade of US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II in London. Getty Images -
US President Joe Biden accompanied by the First Lady Jill Biden signs a book of condolence at Lancaster House in London. PA -
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro signs a book of condolence at Lancaster House in London, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Reuters -
The first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska (R) views the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall in London. Getty Images -
Oman's Sultan Haitham arrives for a reception hosted by Britain's King Charles III for heads of state and official overseas guests, at Buckingham Palace in London, the night before the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. AP -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, arrives for a reception hosted by Britain's King Charles III for heads of state and official overseas guests, at Buckingham Palace in London, before the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. AP -
Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati and his wife May sign a book of condolence at Lancaster House in London, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. PA
'A moment in history'
Ms Davis, an interior designer who has been in the UAE for 13 years, travelled from Abu Dhabi with her six-year-old daughter to watch the funeral service at the Queen’s Grill on the QE2 on Monday.
“It was quite a long way to come, but with everything that had happened over the past few days, I felt very far from home,” she said.
“I wanted to mark the occasion with something that my oldest daughter would remember, rather than just watch the service at home on the sofa.
“It has been a special day, a real moment in history that will not happen again.
"The QE2 is a fantastic ship, and a part of [the queen's] legacy, so it seemed fitting we should be here today.
“It is such a multicultural community in the UAE, but the outpouring of grief has been universal.
“We are all touched by this loss, It is like the world has lost its granny.”
Many visitors dressed in black, or wore full mourning attire to watch the service on the many screens dotted around the several decks of the QE2.
There was a sombre and respectful atmosphere, but also one of celebration of the queen’s life amid the pomp and ceremony that unfolded throughout the afternoon.
Briton Kieron Clinton, 50, moved to Dubai only five months ago and wanted to pay his respects to the queen on board the QE2 with his wife Nancy and her mother.
“It was a bit of a last-minute decision and we thought we would have to book,” said Mr Clinton, who works in real estate.
“The Golden Lion was packed, so we could not get in there, but we managed to get a table in the Lido restaurant, which was great.
“I’m not sure I would have had the time to queue to see the queen lying in state If I was back in London, so this has been the next best thing."
Mr Clinton said the queen's death felt like "the end of an era", as the monarch had been "the one constant in my life".
“No other country does pageantry quite like the British and it fills you with pride," he said.
“When we talk in the future about where we all were for the queen’s funeral, I will be proud to say I was on board the QE2 in Dubai.”
