A million people have turned out to pay final respects to Britain's late Queen Mother at her funeral and on her final journey to Windsor Castle. In a display of royal pageantry, soldiers and bands escorted the Queen Mother's coffin to medieval Westminster Abbey earlier Tuesday for the funeral ceremony. 

Royalty from some 25 countries, including the monarchs of Spain, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands joined Queen Elizabeth II, and other members of the royal family at the service. Leaders from Australia, Canada and other countries were also present, along with U.S. First Lady Laura Bush. 

The Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, the spiritual head of the Church of England described the late Queen Mother as deeply loved and greatly missed. He said Britain continues to honor and celebrate her gifts of strength, dignity and laughter. 

Tens of thousands of people gathered outside the church, while hundreds of thousands lined the streets as the hearse carrying her body drove to Windsor Castle. The heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, accompanied his grandmother's body on the trip. 

Other family members will gather at the castle later Tuesday for a private religious ceremony in which the Queen Mother will be interred next to her husband, King George VI, who died 50 years ago. The ashes of her daughter Princess Margaret, who died just under two months ago at age 71, will be transferred to the same vault. 

The Queen Mother died March 30th at age 101. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP. 

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