open at westminster abbey ahead of today's state funeral. the service will be the emotional crescendo of ten official days of mourning. just an hour and a half ago, the final mourners left westminster hall. the queen's lying in state ending with a ceremonial change of the guard. an extraordinary moment for those who were in that room for those final minutes. sky news spoke with just a few of them afterward, including one who is an american. >> it is an honor. i'm currently serving with the royal air force, so, to be able to do that on behalf of the royal air force and a female,, and an amazing lady that will never be replaced, it was an honor. >> it was incredible to be able to come and be here, and to just pay my respects. i've -- since i was a little girl. i call this place home, and she made me feel like i was at home here, and safe. always have, always looked up to her. >> for roughly 110 hours, hundreds of thousands ordinary britons, celebrities, world leaders all filed past the queens coffin. some of the mourners spent as long as 24 hours in line, all for just a few brief moments to honor their monarch. again, right now, the doors of historic westminster abbey are opening for the roughly 2000 people who are invited to attend the state funeral. that includes 500 leaders of nearly 200 countries and territories. president biden and doctor jill biden will be among them. before the service, just over two and a half hours from now, the queen's coffin will leave westminster hall for the final time. the king, princes william and harry, and other members of the royal family will follow behind the coffin as a gun carriage takes it on a short journey to westminster abby. and two of prince william's children, nine-year-old prince george and seven year old princess charlotte will join the procession once it joins the church. with us to start off our coverage this hour, nbc senior correspondent -- outside westminster abby, nbc can -- nbc british historian andrew roberts, jon sopel, former north america editor for bbc news. thanks to all of you for being with us on this historic morning. here, talk about how we expect things to look, how they'll play out over the next few hours. >> chris, a sense of quiet contemplation here outside the abbey. among the police, the media, all of those preparing to cover this procession not seen the century. and the queen, now lying in state for the last few hours in that historic westminster hall. as you say, she will be carried on that royal navy gun carriage. from that storied hall, to westminster abby behind me here. that procession proceeds on her left will be kings and queens of history, and where the confessor, henry the eight on her right. world leaders, he ran like, and churchill statues of gandee, mandela. this will be a historic day. and every moment of it will be history happening. and as you mentioned there, of course, this whole huge public interest, hundreds of millions, perhaps billions around the world are watching as the queen is carried into the entrance of westminster abbey behind me there. there will also be these very private moments, with her closest family, her children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren inside the abbey they're walking behind the coffin. and as you mentioned, prince george air to the throne, nine years old, will walk behind the coffin with his sister. that must have been an incredibly difficult decision for william and kate. william, with those memories of walking behind his mom diana's coffin, 25 years ago. >> and keir, we talk a lot about, just anytime you lose somebody you love, the stages of grief. and i've noticed, and i'm curious about your observations over these past nine days, there has been a mood change. it was very small in the first few days as people began to gather. it was also a celebration of the queen's life. it was a connection that people were looking for. but again, as you point out, and certainly where i am where huge crowds are gathered around buckingham palace, a quiet has come over the country once again. the solemnity of this moment has really touched everyone it seems, keir. >> i think that's right. i think at the same time, through the process of the day, if you like, a day of goodbyes, you will see a slow progression. so, here in the abbey inevitably it will be very somber, very moving. but at the same time, of course, the queen was head of state. she was also set of the church. and the ceremony behind me will be part of the church and faith leaders saying their goodbyes. she was the commander in chief of the military. throughout this whole day, we will see the military pay their respects. but then, as she reaches you, because i think those crowds, they will be quiet. but they will also be chairs of god save the king, and tears. and many people celebrating as well as morning in the late queen. and then she will be driven all the way to windsor castle, her beloved windsor castle where that next ceremony will take place at st. georges. no one can forget her sitting solitary on her own at the funeral of her husband, prince philip. now, her last hours her final act will be there. that will be closer family. and right at the end, chris, the cameras will be switched off our very close family as she is laid to rest. a queen who gave so much service just in those last moments, her family allowed to have some private time. >> keir simmons, thank you very much. so john, obviously we know that she has an extraordinary place, queen elizabeth ii and the history of this country. but what does this funeral mean in contemporary historical terms? what does it mean for a country that has been in very public mourning in a way that we do not often see here for the past week and a half since the queen 's death? >> what we've seen over the past ten days is the extraordinary pageantry that says almost britain's unchanged over 1000 years. all these extraordinary costumes, the gold, great discarded tunics. the silver breastplates and the like. but i think that's misleading to think that things have not change. the success of this monarchy, and particularly, the reign of queen elizabeth ii, is to adapt, is to change, and it's continually evolving. and i think that you know, the queen came to the throne in a post imperial age after the second world war. and has seen it into the 21st century, the digital age, with a whole set of new problems. and i think that king charles, and his early moves, and that was to be seen very much among the people, not reigning over us but living alongside us, i think those were symbolic first steps that will try to make the monarchy feel more relevant to people's lives in 2022 then was the case in 1952 and maybe there was a greater age of deference. i think that is really important for king charles to continue the work of his mother. he seems intent on that. not to say, there are not going to be huge challenges ahead in terms of the commonwealth, in terms of the united kingdom, which could very easily become disunited. scotland wants independents. there's certain demands for that. the same could happen in ireland, northern ireland. so i think that for king charles, to keep the kingdom together, and keep as much of the common altogether, it is his great challenge. and that happens by adapting and making the monarchy seem more relevant to the modern-day. >> andrew, there is no doubt that there has been an extraordinary coming together walking into green park at 5:00, 5:30 local time, once again crowds are absolutely streaming in. just as they stood in line for these past four and a half days. as theyjust as they brought fls left notes in many places across london and elsewhere. now they want to come together and watch the funeral something clearly that they will talk about many years for now. talk a little if you will about the importance in what you've observed in terms of dealing with this collective loss this collective grief. >> well it has seen an extraordinary amount of national unity. we can be quite a polarized nation, at times. but over the last ten days, we've come together. you look at that queue it was incredibly diverse, of every person you could imagine was in that queue. so, when today you see the full panoply of the british state at the funeral service, the army, and navy, and air force, royal family, church and so on, the government of course, the house of commons, and the house of lords, what they are doing is representing the people. representing the millions of us who cannot be in the abbey, but who are feeling the exact same thing about our late queen. >> daisy, what do we know as we look ahead to the funeral today about how much of a role the queen played it what we're going to see today? and what we've seen in fact over the course of this entire morning period? >> the queen will have been over every detail, not just of today, chris, but of the whole ten-day period with a fine tooth comb. a bit of the service today, the hands chosen the salters and things chosen, everything will have been chosen by her majesty the queen. it's a funny thing with the queen. they are not remotely squeamish about discussing their death, their funeral, and so on. they know that is part and parcel of their duties and responsibilities. because as been said before, the succession and the popularity of the royal family, making sure that remains relevant making sure that everything goes very well on the big state of a day like today's crucial to the longevity of the royal family. so, again, all of the details, as keir was just saying a moment ago, we only found out just in the last few hours that prince george and princess charlotte will be part of that procession behind her majesty's coffin. that will have been done partly because, as their parents william and kate will have decided, that it was the right thing to do. but also, there's a broader picture there. it's to reassure the british public that the succession of the monarchy is in good stand. because of course, prince george's now the second in line to the throne. so, there's a lot of things for the family and those around them to consider at times like this. and of course, there is the scale of the operation today. it is vast. something we have not seen for many, many years. bigger than the queen's own father 70 years ago. 10,000 police, 6000 military, 2700 military in the possession, 200 musicians, the list goes on and on. and all that organization will have been overseen by the queen herself. and by prince philip, he will of had had a big say in these details as well. >> so, do you think, daisy, that includes, when you talk of the queen's attention to detail going over, again with a fine tooth comb all of the people who are invited here? we're looking inside of westminster abby as the crowds began, not maybe the most recognizable people, but obviously there had to be a lot of choices made about who would and would not be allowed to go to the state funeral. >> absolutely, that will have been a decision made by the royal family, and those in london. but also in conjunction with the government. because there are diplomatic relationships to consider here we know that a certain countries, that this country does not have diplomatic relations with. their heads of state were not invited. and that of course is a partly political decision. but, we have to services today, as keir manchin. we've got the one in st george's chapel later today, which will be much more personal. the people on the invitation list for that -- who looked after her, and others who looked after her and other residences as. well so, i think even expect more friends to be there then this much more formal. grand service -- >> but andrew, what an extraordinary stanley, and the -- we're seeing already of gorgeous westminster abby. set the scene for what is going to be, i am sure, quite a moment. but i am also struck by the fact that the royal family seems genuinely touched by the outpouring that they've seen. william said he thought his grandmother would be surprised by the crowds. king charles released a written statement thanking everybody for the support they've seen. tradition, ceremony, it seems to me that mean as much the family as a country, do you think? >> certainly, yes, the royal family has tradition, they understand it and enjoy it. of course, they westminster abbey is the place where the queen herself was crowned and also coordinated as you say and also was married and so it is tremendously important space for her. it is 1000 years old it is been an abbey since before i think it is 975 80 of course it is just steeped in history every brick of it. we are going to see a family -- say goodbye to somebody who was the most important place on two of the most important occasions. now sadly the third. >> i want to thank all of our guests, shawn, we will see again in our next hour, daisy mccann join and yermak roberts do not go too far because we have much more coverage of queen's funeral ahead, live from london, as we wait for world leaders to arrive for today service. next, the once in a generation coalition of global mourning and global diplomacy happening in london right now, and just a more political role possible fortune king charles iii, i had the issues where we could see -- political power stay with us. h us your projects done right . with angi, you can connect with and see ratings and reviews. and when you book and pay throug you're covered by our happiness check out angi.com today. angi... and done. snoring? because quality sleep is vital, the sleep number 360 smart bed can gently raise your partner's head to help. ah...that's better. and when you book and pay throug you're covered by our happiness our smart sleepers get 28 minutes more restful sleep per night. don't miss our weekend special. save 30% on the sleep number 360 and we are back live in london special edition smart bed. ends monday. where the doors have opened at westminster abbey, 500 leaders from nearly 200 countries and territories will be assembled just a few hours from now for the queen's funeral. it will be no doubt a moving and fascinating site, the likes of which most people alive have never seen. president biden and first lady joe biden arrived in the uk over the weekend, and they paid their respects to the green westminster hall. the president's highly anticipated -- during the un's general assembly but there will be more opportunities for leaders to speak with the aids or note takers today. joining me now, david roe executive director for -- msnbc contributor also with me san roman at royal expert and trustee of the royal society of st. george. already, sandro, just seeing what is happening inside westminster abby it is incredible to watch this play out and then soon there will be so many world leaders in the same room. explain the significance of today in modern history? >> no figure in world history has been able to gather so many world leaders in one place one time but then there has never been anybody quite like queen elizabeth the second. these heads of states and politicians, they have power for a few years, she range for 70. she did it with dignity, with race, but also did it with decisive decision making that is something all the other world leaders admire they all look up to her and they are all here to see her on a final journey and that is so significant of her influence, not just on britain, but the whole world. >> and, david, this is also a fascinating coalition of mourning and potentially i think international diplomacy world leaders with just a few exceptions including president biden will be riding a bus they have come here to the funeral no room for aids what do you think those conversations might be like will they be purely social memories of the queen or maybe something more? >> we'll definitely be social world leaders tend to be social people as all politicians are but i think there will be this opportunity for very informal conversations as you mentioned there will not be translators not be aids i don't think during the funeral service itself but i think the receptions afterwards will naturally people will gravitate to each other and there could be a strengthening of some personal bonds that would happen i don't see any major breakthroughs i think the cancellation of the meeting between biden and prime minister trust is to sort of avoid any sort of sign of disrespect of the queen or any sense that the relationship is off to a rocky start. i think in private, things can happen human contact we saw the beginning of the pandemic face to face human contact is something different and something special. >> so you understand, david, why they would not want to be overtly political because this is supposed to be a day and time and rightfully so for emphasis on the queen but do you think in some ways they are looking forward to this because they are in their everyday lives so tightly scheduled and so tightly scripted and surrounded by people all the time you are making no to whatever goes on that they will actually look forward to this opportunity to have some time where it is not quite like that? >> yes they might on the bus i think they will feel like they are under a microscope and other events such as the service itself and where there is a camera informally this is an opportunity for them to mix in a way they do not get to. they will have time, they are all insanely busy on a tight schedule so they will actually have time to interact and discuss the tremendous issues in the world the queen's reign was extraordinary but it is extraordinarily tumultuous time from climate change to the invasion of ukraine to rising food prices around the world to the threat against democracy so there is an enormous amount that needs to be done internationally and in private today is an opportunity for personal bonds to be strengthened that could help address these many crises. >> and, sandro, the snow has to be one of the most complex protocol events ever. reportedly there were an incredible range of requests from world leaders and most of them apparently had to be denied but what can you tell us about just how extraordinary that must be, and i took note of the fact that you talked about the queen being so decisive this would be a time in the world of protocol where decisiveness would be called for. >> well, yes, and luckily the queen anticipated all of this requirement for diplomacy made all these decisions to every detail in the bus this is the detail that fascinates me nobody wants to be in the bus they want to get their own private car but of course it is britain who's running the security it is the respect of the royal family and it is just a fascinating thing you know. it is almost a great equalizer we are seeing here today. let's make the queen the star, and quite rightly so. and everyone else there is ready to pay their respects and maybe sort of drop these demands but behind the scenes while some furious diplomacy has gone on but it is i think what we are going to get in the end is something somber, spectacular, and let's hope safe. because really, this is the biggest security challenge that britain has ever seen. >> it is indeed. with members of royal family's sitting up front ahead of world leaders who normally would be expected to be in those first rose, sensual mini, david roe, thank you so much, great conversation. we have much more royal coverage ahead live from london. ten days of national mourning come to a conclusion in the united kingdom today, as the queen is officially laid to rest, marking an end of an era for the british public. >> i am 75 now, and i can't remember anybody except the queen being there. queen being there. our smart sleepers get 28 minutes more restful sleep per night. don't miss our weekend special. save 30% on the sleep number 360 we are life of buckingham special edition smart bed. ends monday. palace where today as we have seen over the past ten days, the crowds are gathering. just a few hours from, now this is top ten days of mourning in the uk will come to a close. the state funeral for queen elizabeth has been decades in the planning hundreds of thousands of people are already beginning to line the streets of london. they are waiting to watch her coffin passed one final time, millions more expected to watch on television all around the world. it underscores the undeniable fascination with the most recognizable woman in the world. nbc's matt bradley joins me now for more, matt, i think this is going to be both a grand but also deeply solemn day. what are people you are talking to today telling you? >> well solemn on some level we are seeing a lot of people coming out with hats, elderly gentlemen wearing medals, this is people paying tribute not just to their queen, but also to people involved in service. these are people who see their roles and service to the state, you see the queen, or did see the queen as their ultimate supervisor, as the -- especially in the military, the police, working for the nhs, the national health service. for a lot of people here, that's resonate so deeply. for the people i've been speaking to here, for the people speaking to these past ten days, they have expressed this team to come out and stand vigil. for many, it is really that they have not seen a monarch in a long time. that is the one thing we keep hearing time and time again from people coming out here and trying to pay tribute, not just people out here today, people who waited in line for as long as 12 hours they are waiting in line overnight, in bad weather, paul to catch a glimpse, to just pass by the coffin of the queen. -- the queen made a possession from buckingham palace, all the way down to -- traverse this way with the family and hire royal family in tow. now headed in the opposite direction, towards pass working and palace where the queen's coffin after the funeral will be chance or to her funeral cortege. the hurst will travel out to a windsor castle and that is where there will be two more ceremonies, to more services of funeral. then, she will be entered alongside her husband, that could take hours. this is a big day, and folks here are just willing to sit and watch as they are for the past ten days. it is a tribute and mirror of the queen service to her country. >> thank you so much. for more i'm joined by -- elizabeth norton. daisy, elizabeth was viewed as more than a queen frankly too many, some people told me they considered her their anti, their grandma she was like a mother to me, what was it about her it clearly was just not her longevity but that is impressive. it has drawn these hundreds of thousands of people over the course of this morning period. >> you are right, it wasn't just longevity, although it does mean there's practically no one alive in the uk at the moment who could remember a time before the queen was on the throne. but, also, many ways have been used over the past week, she was the glue that held us together, she was the rock that formed the foundation, she represented stability and continuity hard work, decency and servitude. so many words have been -- but i think one of the main things people have come to realize, now that she has gone, is that we on the whole were incredibly proud to have her as our head of state. that might sound like a bit -- having a head of state that you're not proud of is something that does affect a nation. so now that she has gone, we always say that familiarity, breeds respect or affection, but i think the moment where we all heard that she had died was a moment of self reflection, wondering in a way where does that leave us, who are we now, is charles the king going to be enough for us? lots of navel gazing anyway which i think is one of the way people have really liked to have come together in the last few days, those huge crowds we are seeing not just queuing to see the queen lying in state, but the crowds at buckingham palace, the crowds at windsor, the spontaneous walkabouts that the royal family particularly king charles and prince william have done are all part of that sense of community in a country wanting to come together, not online, but in the real world. and, share thoughts and just have a moment of reflection, so i think it has been quite an extraordinary time for every generation here. >> and in fact, the queen consort camilla paid a special tribute to queen elizabeth, i want to take a listen to just a bit of that. >> she has been part of our lives forever, i am 75 now, and i can't remember anybody except the queen being there. it must feel so difficult for her being a woman, and -- presidents was here and i think she -- she made a rule that she had to have her private time, and private passions, and that her public role, and i think that is very important. >> elizabeth so many of the people i have spoken to in these past nine days have been surprised frankly by how this has hit them how ingrained in their lives she actually was. is this reaction, or anything you have seen over these past and is surprising to you? >> i think the skill of peoples upset is quite surprising because of course we know she was 96 and we knew that she hadn't been in good health for the past year or so. but i think everyone did find it very unexpected of course it was not the -- i think it was unexpected, and people are shocked by their grief. i think absolutely people have started to really reflect on what they have lost in that she had always been there and i think that is her greatest legacy is her stability in a time a very great change. i think it is only now that people are coming to appreciate just what an important legacy that was and now we have lost her and we are into an uncertain future as we have a new king, a new monarch, which nobody can really remember a time before the queen. so i think it is interesting, and i think the weight of public grief has been quite surprising. >> and, these, e i was also surprised by the number of people who were here who are not from the uk, some will happen to be here on vacation and seemed not upset by the fact that their vacations or disrupted in some way or another, they can't go to places today that they might have otherwise, but are happy to be here to honor her and have a couple last night from the united states who came here specifically they wanted to be in hyde park and experience this communal grief as people watch the funeral. i think part of it maybe internationally her impact on pop culture, it spans decades. her likeness has appeared on everything from movies, netflix show the crown obviously, so let me ask you this, how different do you think the real queen was from what many people have as their main impression of her which is pop culture? >> i think the difference to between the public queen and the private queen was a very marked. at the beginning of her reign, those were the days when public figures, members of the royal family did not let a lot be known about what they were like behind the scenes because that has changed because in those days it was all about difference, the mystique of the royal family, all about being quite aloof, never talking about your own family, your own emotions, never wearing your motions on your sleeve. now of course society has moved, on and the royal family has also moved on, specifically if we look at king charles now, he is a very different proposition when he talks about emotions then the queen was. the queen also did change over the years, and did realize that she did not have to always have a -- if you looked at her christmas messages which on christmas day the monarch always writes and delivers a speech which is broadcast at 3:00, if you look at those christmas messages they got more and more personal as the u.s. went on. >> it is so interesting you should bring up the christmas messages, because the america couple who i met last night who came here to honor the queen, he said he saw her when he was a young child given christmas message, and he had not missed one since elizabeth norton, thank, you will be back in our next hour and daisy mcandrews, you are staying with us because we have more whale coverage ahead live from london, including proclamations, and a foundering course of trump. it's in a world where institutions are facing unprecedented new pressures on a variety of fronts, what rituals like these may indeed be a welcome even comforting site for the uk, and for the world. do not go far. doot n go far. >> the 2000 invited guests continue to come into westminster abby at this hour, it building that was started in ten 65, the last major piece of it finished in 1745 and today another piece of history with a burial, with the final service before the burial for queen elizabeth the second, and where i am outside of buckingham palace, the crowds are gathering as well. they started here at 3:00 in the morning, all of this marking the culmination of plants that have been decades in the making. when it comes to the monarchy, the state funeral is the most solemn of rituals, but queen elizabeth's death left money with new questions about the monarchy, and beyond that, questions about the identity of the united kingdom. they come at a time of instability, and deep economic turmoil for britain. joining me now suzannah -- andrew hill financial times senior business writer. thank you both for being here with us. suzannah, it seems everyone is in agreement about the importance of this moment, they respect for the queen's long reign, these rituals we are seeing though in some ways people might have thought -- anachronistic and modern society, but in other ways, again as they watch, the number of people who came out literally in the middle of the night, the number of world leaders who canceled their schedules and are now beginning to assemble in westminster abbey will it bring a new respect for the monarchy that some maybe we're seeing as lost, and even security for the future of the monarchy? what is the impact? >> well, it certainly is going to be one of the biggest days in history it is going to be the largest state funeral watched by the most people. we are told maybe even four billion people around the world are going to watch this. whilst it may seem slightly -- what the british do around the world's history and we don't change everything to something that is modern, sometimes old rituals work best. i think that the impact is going to be a great feeling of love for the late queen, and we are going to see that in the crowds that turn out. but, we have yet to see what that means in the coming days, i feel like at the moment, the tide is with the king, king charles. we need to see things develop in the coming weeks, to see what sort of monarchy becomes. >> andrew, your colleague at the financial times gideon said the monarchy is a a political symbol of unity and britain's long history and deep stability. is that we have witnessed over the last ten days? >> partly, yes, i agree with louisiana and gideon's take on the ritual and symbolism. i think what the last few days have also shown in the area that i have written about which is the wealth of the royal family, and some questions being asked, and not being an urgent severe division exactly, but i think as suzannah has said, the new king will have to address some of these questions about transparency, of the royal family, the future of financing of the royal family, questions that his mother and queen addressed in her lifetime as well. with the sort of gradualist approach to developing and evolving the monarchy. so i think obviously in the last ten days, they are coming together some unification of thinking about the symbolism and ritual around the symbolism and ritual, but some questions already being posed on social media and elsewhere by people asking about putting a crudely, the value for money of the monarchy going forward how much do you think, suzannah, that that is going to be the feeling especially as people come back to the reality of their everyday lives? >> i think we do see a bit of division in the way people are thinking about this, on the one hand i think there absolutely is quite a minority on social media who are raising questions about the future of the monarchy, and some important questions we know the back in june when he was prince, speaking to the commonwealth leaders charles spoke about his the personal sorrow, the history of slavery, and i think things like, that the legacy of the british empire, the financing of the royal family, questions that need to be addressed but i do also think that what we have seen is that people who are not on social media are often the people who are turning up to q for that line and state who are turning up now to line the streets to make sure they see the professions today so, there is still a huge number of people in this country and abroad who are, have their hearts with the royal family and who are not perhaps asking those questions immediately >> you know, there can sometimes you know this as well be a disconnect between, what the reality is in the world and how people feel and it can be impacted by major events and there was something that was written about in the financial times as we watch all these people lining up, called nissan cost theory. which suggests that if you are in line for example for an hour, well at that point you say i might as well stay the next 12 because i have already invested an hour into it. but having walked those lines, having talked to those people, i'm not sure that that was that play, and i'm not sure at least at this moment how much those kinds of things are real. what is your thought about that? and, maybe time will have to show us whether the warmth towards the monarchy that we are clearly seeing on display here carries over. >> yeah, i think i walked the queue, and i was fascinated by the phenomenon and spoken about there were many motives are being in that line arranging from -- two great respect for the queen, lots of ex service men and that you wanting to pay their respects and i think there is a complex series of different things in play and in that particular phenomenon as people go home and as you said in your introduction different periods with the cost of living crisis energy cost more in europe all of these realities and the new government and prime minister in place and people will take a step back and say how much of that phenomenon of coming together can we transfer into dealing with these much more acute short term challenges and the royal family has to play a part in that by probably not being vocally involved in those kinds of areas saying keeping the council that the queen did and a sort of symbol rather than -- has already said that he's going to continue that tradition of being a great -- >> andrew, hill thank, you suzannah, you're staying with us. we have much more royal coverage as we watch the united kingdom and to that new era today. how will king charles iii differentiate himself from a 70-year reign, and will involve stepping into the political spotlight? spotlight? >> after today's services and, and it will be king charles the third, it will be his time to move forward in the world, showing the world the kind of monarchy aims to be, but what exactly will that look like. back with me, nbc news british a story and andrew roberts, nbc news royal contributor suzannah. andrew, queen elizabeth -- one sit-down interview that i know of in her 70-year reign, to the bbc, more than 20 years to convince her to do it. charles says obviously given several as prince, what do you expect will be different about how he interacts with the public in this very modern, very televised and social media world. how will he be as monarch much different? >> i think he will learn the lessons from his mother. he will try and be like her, he will try to emulate her. he has a very different job being king from being prince of wales, it is a much harder job. there is much more work involved. he is going to be -- himself into. it we have already been seen the way he has been the 14 gummies in france melodies the way he is about to undergo a grueling schedule is something that will be testing for him and challenging. he has been ready for this job now for half a century. he has been practicing, he knows what it consists of, and he is ready for it. >> do you only, suzannah, had to watch british television over the course of last ten days to know how many people the queen touched personally, how many people met her, how many times very suddenly and surprisingly she took someone who is up balmoral on a ride in her car, there was a very funny story about a woman saying she was so proud of her new car, and the gps started talking to her and she was getting very frustrated because she couldn't figure out how to turn it off. yet, for all of, that there was so much mystery for charles, how do you do that, how do you bestow public and yet is there a role for mystery and i guess, a quiet and almost secretiveness in keeping interest in the royal family? >> such an interesting question, because of course, the queen had her public face, her public role, and people encountered her in that very compassionate way. but, she also very much had a private side, we know that she used to laugh a law and -- she was great fun to be with anyone who worked with her said that. yet, much of that of course we did not see. we do know so much more about the king's thoughts and perspectives on things than we ever knew about the queen, because he has had such a long period of time as the prince of wales. while i absolutely agree with andrew, that he's not going to transgressed his constitutional role, already in this last week when he went to with he raised his concerns about the cost of living crisis and how it would impact people in wales. i think in the age of social media we are likely nevertheless to grab some of those details that we would have never have heard from the queen. >> suzannah, andrew, to close out our first hour of coverage, thank you so much for being with us. we do have much more ahead in our next hour of coverage. world leaders arriving for queen elizabeth's funeral among other things, stay with us. , stay with us have you seen my new phone yet? it like, folds in half. i would never switch to samsung, i love my phone. what??? ♪♪ (...it folds in half.) you see i love my phone. i would never switch to samsuuu... (gasping) ♪♪ ♪ ♪ wow, we're crunching tons of polygons here! what's going on? where's regina? hi, i'm ladonna. i invest in invesco qqq, a fund that gives me access to the nasdaq-100 innovations, like real time cgi. okay... yeah... oh. don't worry i got it! become an agent of innovation with invesco qqq it's good to being be with you. the final preparations are being made for the fun ravel queen elizabeth ii. the final good-bye to this iconic monarch who serve ford 70 years. what you're going to watch unfold in the coming hours has literally been decades in the making. countless hours of planning, including by the queen. preparation that included many hours of rehearsal officials many years. all of it culminating in this moment. right now members of the royal family along with other world leaders and dignitaries from around the globe are getting ready to arrive at westminster abbey. where the doors are now open. ahead of the state funeral which will begin at 11:00 a.m. local time, 6:00 a.m. eastern. i can tell you that at 3:00 a.m., people were already gathering in public space as cross london wanting to watch together and witness and feel this historic day. all morning we will bring you live updates and coverage of this historic event here on msnbc. joining us with the latest, keir simmons. also with us, royal correspondent at "newsweek" and co-host of the royal report podcast and daisy mcandrew. keir, what you have watched for and what you have seen in at the last hour and what will we see in the next snowshower. >> in the next hour? >> we're watching leaders of british politics arrive by the north door. not the door behind me. slightly over to my right. the side entrance, if you like. of course, the great west door which is the entrance that the royal family and the queen's casket will make -- she will be carried in across the time of the unknown soldier for this service under the towering arching of westminster abbey. it goes back 1,000 years in royal history. and throughout the streets behind me, soldiers, sailors, aviators, members of the british military will carry out funeral pomp and ceremony as the bells of big ben ring and guns fire. as she enters the abbey, the boll will toll for 96 years for 96 years of her life. all of that will be watched by hundreds of millions, perhaps billions around the world. so far it's a many he sure. an audience that size, a global audience. but after all, we're talking about the funeral of the most famous woman in the world. so many people will be watching for so many reasons. it will be a day of so many good-byes. as she leaves the abbey, she will retrace that route she made from buckingham palace again with her son, king, her sons and her daughter as well as her grandchildren william and harry walking behind her and other members of the royal family across royal london and then carried away to windsor castle where at st. george's there, there will be a committal service which will be smaller group of folks. and then the cameras will be switched off for her being laid to rest. privately by her family. we saw her a year ago at the funeral of her late husband a year ago. she will be laid to rest it looks like. >> keir simmons, thank you for your reporting all across the ten days. daisy, the former archbishop of york said the queen did not want some long boring service. so what are you expecting to see today? >> the queen and prince philip let it be known in the past. they disapproved of long, boring services. they thought church services as deep as they both had which they did should be short and to the point. it was fascinating that she did have a very, very strong faith. as king charles also does. she would often invite members of the clergy, bishops, priests to come back to wherever she was in residence and discuss the sermons that they had given at various church services. she was a real student of the bible. she studied it. we knew she could recite many psalms. they were impress how'd she knew her bible reading. she was choosing the services today, both the one in windsor and this much bigger formal one happening in a couple of hours from now. she's chosen the hymns and the readings. the new prime minister liz truss will be reciting one of those readings today. but as you said, this will not be a very long, boring service. thafr is something the royal family disapproved of. >> the queen has four children as we know and we've seen them all over the course of the last ten days. eight grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren. what is the role of the family in today's services and the importance of seeing them all across the time for the people of the uk? >> king charles is a symbol of the monarchy. the monarchy never dies. as soon as queen passes away, it leads to charles. he will lead them to a procession after the funeral service. but what is really striking to day is we have george and charlotte are going to be in the procession as it enters west minister as well, 9 and 7 this is a really big moment for them. it will remind people of william and harry from 25 years ago after her death. there will, of course, be three differences. it be much shorter than three miles for george and charlotte. it will enable them to take part in this vent that celebrates somebody so close to them. william and harry just left their mother. the queen is their great grandmother. she was very important figure in their life. but that probably gives them much greater degree of emotional stability than william and harry had at that time. this will be a period when the royals in the full glare of public attention for a very long time. you know, they've got the service. they've got an hour procession to westminster gate in the park and then on to windsor castle. >> it must be very difficult. they lost the monarch but she lost their grandmother. she was important to many of the grandchildren who speak of the time they spent with her so lovingly. as someone who does a royal podcast. what has been your most surprising take way as you watch the way the family has been. >> there is so much tension. there has been simmering tension below the last 10, 11 days. so far they have been improved in a lot of stuff that happened. that unity is the big story. it's not a simple, complete perfect unity. clearly there are intentions for the service. and we'll see how long it lasts. >> in sign of how many major leaders are coming to day, there is concern that private aircraft traffic would overwhelm the airports here. they actually asked major leaders when they could fly commercial. and we noted that most of them already riding the shuttle buses that we started to see. what about handling all of the people that are used to being the center of attention in their country and more to the point of what this day is supposed to be about? what does it say about the queen that all of these folks just dropped all of whatever they had planned and decided to come here? i think there is a sign also there that fact that many of them were encouraged if not requested, no the to fly in private jets, to take part and go on the buses. of the new king's environmental predentials. we know he's passionate advocate for the environment, about climate change. i think there is an element of. that he wants this to be as far as possible a green event. so very, very interesting. they were willing to go along with it. i think that event we saw last night at buckingham palace, the biggest collection of heads of state have been seen. no the just here in the uk, but anywhere in the world over the last few decades. again, that was a sign that this woman, the queen, really did hold the most respect around the world. diplomatic relations are not on going so that was the situation. >> as you look at this gathering, tim, on what is, of course, last day of official mourning for the united kingdom, millions lining up to pay their respects to the queen or the aleast hundreds of thousands in the last week. >> i would risk saying this is possibly the biggest vent on one day that london has witnessed. they're talking about the million people on the street, unprecedented operation. we've seen big, big crowds in my time covering the royals, weddings, charles and diana, william and kate. but you don't think anything like this. and it's not only in london. it's all across the country. towns and cities have put up giant screens in the main square so people can watch it and pretty much life on hold in this country. life is going to be put on hold in this country for the next few hours. not everywhere. there are concerns, for example, about hospitals not treating out patients to day which is a big issue in our health service. but generally, i think the nation will stand and watch these events wherever it can today. so it is really a momentous day. remembering a reign that began in the time of winston churchill 15 prime ministers ago. as one historian i was listening to of the many i've been on air here this is end, the last full stop on britain's post war era. >> it is so difficult in a world often consumed by phones and social media and choices for entertainment that it will stop for potentially billions of people. we'll check in with you throughout this morning. and we've got more live from london. still ahead, london's metropolitan police say the queen's funeral is the single largest security operation they have ever undertaken. but first, the queen's service today will be a rare state funeral. we'll talk about the symbolism on display for this historic event next. isplay for this histc event next good luck. td ameritrade, this is anna. hi anna, this position is all over the place, help! hey professor, subscriptions are down but that's only an estimated 15% of their valuation. do you think the market is overreacting? how'd you know that? the company profile tool, in thinkorswim®. yes, i love you!! please ignore that. td ameritrade. award-winning customer service that has your back. next hour, we'll see the presession that will carry the queen's coffin from westminster hall to westminster abbey where the united kingdom will have the largest state funeral in 50 years. state funerals are a rare vent in the uk. traditionally left for the monarchs or those royal citizens that made a lasting impact. people like sir isaac newton and former prime minister, sir winston churchill. our guests are back us with. elizabeth, since we mentioned churchill, apparently one of queen elizabeth's favorite people, probably her favorite prime minister. talk about her relationships over the years with world leaders. it is fascinating for an apolitical monarch, the impact she seemed to have on so many people around the world in very high places. >> she did, yet. winston churchill was her first prime minister. it was a very mute aol relationship. he was worried about the queen succeeding the throne. she was very young. she wooz quite shy. she was inexperienced. but he very quickly became her biggest supporter. he thought she was wonderful. she learned a great deal from winston churchill. of course, he was the elder statesman of british politics, world politics. but she had very close relationships with a number of world leaders. of course, from harry truman to joe biden, she met every president xens johnson. she was always very good at not showing her politics. that is, of course, the role of the constitutional monarch. she is there to entertain, to foster good relations with world leaders. and she does. she had state visits. she would go to the white house. she would invite the u.s. presidents back to buckingham palace and other world leaders. she was really the best ambassador you could possibly have for britain on the world stage. i think actually she made world leaders feel very, very welcome when she came to visit her. >> i do think though, tim, one of the xrart things when we talk about the fact she remain apolitical is how little we know how she felt truly about this extraordinary lineup of historic figures that she was able to meet and spend time with over the last 70 years. churchill being one of the few we seem to have real indications about her deep affection. what do we know if anything about how she felt about world leaders, about that kind of travel she did and about welcoming world leaders to places like buckingham palace and balmoral castle? >> i think if she wrote a book on that, it would have been an instant best seller. she got on with some prime minister. the prime minister in the 1970s, harold wilson. john major got on with her well. he talked a lot since her about how easy it was to have conversations with her and how humorous she was and how well informed she was. the margaret thatcher, we are told, didn't get along with her well. but that is an easy story to write. margaret thatcher was a very controversial figure. the queen wasn't political but she could influence the way people felt about her. the most telling of that was her visits to ireland, to dublin, for example, where she laid a wreath at the guard and of remembrance which is there to honor those who fought and died fighting the british crown. now that was an extraordinary moment for reconciliation. and then later, shaking the hand of martin mcginn is, an ira commander, a silent moment. we were not allowed to rod any sound of that meeting. it lasted for seven or eight seconds. but no politician could have pulled that off number politician could carry the kind of influence that she had without being political. i think that is really what she achieved so much on the world stage over so many years. >> elizabeth, i think tim just answered a question that we asked a lot in the first few days after her death. on occasion of this great good-bye, let me ask you as well. >> i think she provided such an enormous contribution to britain and the world stage. her biggest legacy has got to be the stability that she provided. and she's always there, a stabilizing force. elizabeth i famously said the motto which is always the same. i think to a large extent the queen embodied that. she was always at prime minister's come and go. there were 15 during her reign. but she was very much a force of stability and continuity. i that i is absolutely her legacy. and it's one that i think is going to find difficult to live up to. >> elizabeth norton, tim thank you both. we'll have much more from london as westminster abbey slowly begins to fill. what this moment means in the uk and far beyond. that's next. in the uk and far beyond that's next. we're back with live coverage of the fine recall fall roar queen elizabeth. you're looking inside westminster abbey, among the dignitaries that we're waiting for, dr. bide and dr. jill biden. there are american ties to this historic abbey. memorial places have taken place for several americans including presidents grant, harding, and commemoration for president kennedy. president cleveland's daughter was married at the abbey in 1918 and between 1942 and '44, thanksgiving day services were held for u.s. force there's. but today, of course, the funeral of queen elizabeth ii. joining me now, matt bradley. he is here in london. how does today feel and what are you hearing from people lining the streets there? >> today is like what we've seen in the past couple days, a lot of folks very dedicated to the queen standing around. you remember the queue. that just ended this morning. a couple hours ago. there could have been hundreds of thousands of british people waiting in line standing all night queueing up a very british activity. now that's kind of what we're seeing right now. folks standing, waiting. some of them could be sitting. they're standing at attention. this is the tribute that we're seeing here. it is almost an echo of the queen's life. standing, waiting. why have you come out? why you are standing in line all night? the answer i keep getting over and over again is that she has been our queen our entire lives. it's the sense that even if as the beatles said, you know, her majesty is a pretty nice girl but she doesn't have a lot to say. this is something she just there. she was always there for them. always there for this country. that's why we're seeing people doing the same. being there. being there and waiting for her majesty to roll past. that's what we've seen past ten days. >> matt bradley, thank you so much. i want to bring in hillary, a british expert and commentator back with me. david rogue, executive editor for newyorker.com. it's interesting to hear what he had to say about constancy. i think in a changing world, what a lot of people who have come out, the loss they're feeling is some sense of sure ti and connection. >> what do see? >> yes, you're right about that. many people have said. i think wear seeing this around the world. the this could be a very different mace after her passing. yes. she was a rock of stability. looking at the lines, queues they're referring to them to, it is a magnificent of man kind. why have they come out? they were not expanded to. no one made them to. every dictator around the world is looking at this and wishing they had the same. people came because they wanted to come because of her service. it's going to be a very different world. we're almost saying good-bye completely to the 20th century. >> jack, do you think that is the same with the 500 dignitaries that we're seeing today? the people arriving from all around the world? many of them had a personal connection. a personal admiration for the queen. >> the queen is uncredibly powerful symbol across the world. when world leaders meet her, they get to see actually she is a predecessor and has stories and information she can bring out about 13 u.s. presidents and all of these dignitaries and people she met throughout 70 years of her reign. so during the meetings that they had with her, i think they all thought really strong personal bond with her:this is a moment in history for them. some people will be wiping away tears as they watch the funeral of westminster abbey in a couple hours. and it's going to be incredibly somber. i think a lot of people are going to feel the hair on the back of they are necks stand on end as the coffin comes in through the abbey doors. >> we were watching some of the pictures of the queen with leaders and u.s. leaders over the years. a toast between queen elizabeth and barack obama. and there's a charming anecdote. folks around him -- there it is, that picture that day. said that he was uncharacteristically nervous. there was something about being in the presencest queen even for a leader of this stature of a president obama or many other world leaders who had been with her that there is something a little different. what are your thoughts? >> it's an extraordinary moment. the grace and humility she had has a leader. so it's a wonderful sign of someone that does so much charity work is genuinely and warmly missed by the people around the world. very nice touch that's there were many average people celebrated during the queen's most recent birthday. and then, of course, russia and belaruse were not invited for the invasion of ukraine. that is a statement i think about democracy and decency and the rule of law. it's just an extraordinary mix of symbol and i think values that you're seeing to days the funeral commences. >> jack, she was doing 300 events a year. it does beg the question, how did she do it? >> absolutely. i think it's the commitment really. she gave her life to public service when she was 21. and she followed in her father's footsteps and her father taught her that serving other people, pitting yourself to one side and existing for other people was the core function of a leader. absolutely, two days before she died, she asked her 15th prime minister to form a government. so she really was working until the very end. some of the most fine profile and we're seeing many military personnel on duty today. and she was involved with royal british leader. >> what is the impact do you think, david, of the queen on her long relationship with u.s. leaders? >> the u.s. has been part of that. and through her lifetime, there was a battle against fascism and nazi germany, again, the u.s. and uk and allies won. again, success there. and now the latest challenge in ukraine. so it's a tremendous record of closeness and sacrifice. today about values, humility, charity, loyalty. i think that's -- that will be the big question going forward. can those values continue? >> this is about values, the values that she lived. that brought so many people out that express admiration for the values. we see some of the cars coming in, a time for what britain does so well which are these big moments. the royal marine band, the parade of black cars as we see approaching westminster abbey. what you are expecting to see the coming hours? >> the pomp and circumstance. so much is tradition. it was the buckingham palace conducts a few state visits every year. what we're seeing is all of those nations attending this. you mentioned earlier also about who will be there and who will be attending. don't forget, the queen actually not only has met all of these leaders, but she met a lot of the relatives justin trudeau met her as tiny little boy. of she knew a lot of the leaders' fathers and even grandfathers. some of them are coming in. president biden as two of his beasts over, there the 20 car entourage. others are coming in buses being referred to by the police as pods. you're going to see the could have fun. it will be now -- her casket will be put on to a gun carriage. it is pulled by the navy. as queen victoria's funeral, the horses buckle and the harnesses broke and the navy came in to pull the casket. will you'll see the naval men pulling the casket with a backup. >> i forgot about that image of a young justin trudeau whose father was the prime minister of canada. and we're seeing some of those dignitaries getting off the buses, filing into westminster abbey. thank you both so much. when we come back, the unprecedented security operation to protect london during the queen's funeral. protect londone queen's funeral. an unprecedented security challenge. with the royal family, dignitaries from around the world and people lining the city streets, the pra igs to secure the event is bigger than the 2012 olympics in london and the queen's jubilee. joining us now, nick alsworth. she is director at risk to resolution limited. back with me, daisy mcandrew and nbc news royal commentator. nick, take us through the preparations for an vent of this magnitude. >> well, it started a long time agony first contact with operation london bridge as it's called. i started over 20 years ago. a box got dusted off every year to make sure still valid. there are a number of phases to this operation. the most important one and the riskiest part passed which is managing this enormous queue snaking through london towards westminster. the necht phase is taking place very much inside a secure footprint and it's a footprint that is used many times a year but hundreds times over history to actually conduct such events. i think we're in a really safe part of this operation. >> this is the largest deployment of police officers that the city has ever seen. that is one part of the security operation. with all of the world leaders that we're seeing beginning arrive the at westminster abbey, how do you balance each individual leader's security protocols with british security? >> well, of course, on a one to one basis, that is always quite a challenge. although we meet one of these people very, very regularly. there are vip visits coming in and oit of london every week. it is challenging. for this specific event over the next few hours, it's been made bate simpler. the various dignitaries agreed to travel collectively. they've been meeting at a secure location in west london and coming in, as you say, the pods. that means that the supporting police services, because there won't be enough officers in the met to cover this event, it means really resources on protecting the people. if we had hundreds of vips moving around london, they would be much more vulnerable, actually. it would be a logistical nightmare. there are not enough officers to protect them all. >> there have been, daisy, of course, the big events before. i well remember being here for the 2012 olympics. of course, the jubilee which turned out so many people. so i guess in that sense onest things that we don't talk about is how do you balance, for example, the olympics, security with people having a good time and, of course, today with keeping people safe but also keeping the respectful tone it deserves for better or for worse? it is stg that this country and particularly london has some practice in? >> well, you're so right, chris. of course there is the really serious issue of keeping everybody safe. but particularly the vips. but then the police had to balance that with community policing. you and i have both seen the huge crowds around london lining up, being policed by their very natured police men and women. and the scale of the operation is hung. you mentioned earlier, 10,000 police out in force today with many thousands being shipped in from out of london. 6,000 military in support. i've seen a lot of different rej ments of military out and about today. there is a helicopter above me at the moment. but when the service starts, chris, the skies will be completely quiet. all planes and helicopters are being diverted away from this area partly for the service. they don't want it to be interrupted by the sound of aircraft. but for security. heathrow airport has actually canceled significant number of planes that would have been coming overhead during the service. so there are so many different elements to the security operation. many of which you can't see with the naked eye. >> the falcon used to scare away pigeons typically that they don't want to disrupt this service. so if the queen's solemn funeral service has been spotted in the abbey by britain's press association. thank you both. and up next, we'll speak with people gathered in london's hyde park to watch today's funeral together. s hyde park to watch today's funeral together ♪ ♪ away suitcases come in many colors. so you can find your color. colors. choices. happiness. away. ♪ ♪ - common percy! - yeah let's go! on a trip. book with priceline. you save more, so you can “woooo” more. - wooo. - wooo. wooooo!!!!! woohooooo!!!! w-o-o-o-o-o... yeah, feel the savings. priceline. every trip is a big deal. in the next hour, the procession will begin ahead of the funeral service where queen elizabeth ii. all procession viewing areas are completely full. inside the walls of westminster abbey, the seats are also filling up with the 2,000 people who were invited to pay final respects to the longest reigning monarch in british history. i want to bring in our anchor who is in hyde park. lindsey, what you are hearing from the people where you are? it hooks like it's a huge crowd. >> chris, absolutely. we're at hyde park. people have been invited to check out some of the procession, watch the state funeral on the big screens. the gates opened about four hours ago. we're an hour way the funeral beginning. people have been coming in droves. first a couple hundred and now it's a couple thousand people are here. i've been talking to people about why it's important tore at a place in person like this instead of in their living room. i want to bring in a guest that traveled four hours one way to get here. she lives in northern england. tell me why important to come here. you have your daughter with you. and be here in person. [ inaudible ] >> everybody coming together. it really means a lot to be involved in this. it was worth everything. and just to be involved in it is amazing. >> a lot of people are telling me this is kind of the final good-bye. there has been a period of mourning, obviously. it will be very somber here. the mood, when that funeral begins. a lot of people, they even tear up talking about the queen, even people who never met her. talk to me about her impact on you. >> i just feel like she's been a figure in my life since the day i was born. i feel like during the covid months, she gave us hope that world was going to come back together again and be normal. she is just a wise, wonderful woman. a fantastic role model. and actually, we needed to come out today to say good-bye. i do feel very tearful. we've been talking about the fact she's really gone. we knew should would. but when she actually did, i think it really means a lot to everybody to come out and say good-bye, to join together at this moment. >> thank you so much. i know that you've been here as well as i have. you talk to people. we hear that. we knew she was gone and we can't believe it. some people saying we thought she would be around forever. and another thing, chris that, is really pervasive here, one theme, is she was really that steady ship in the choppy sea of world events. it has really outlasted so many events and world leaders and moments of history. and so it's very interesting to see all these people out here today. there are choppers overhead. definitely a huge crowd out here. >> lindsey riser, thank you so much. daisy, as we said so many times this is a funeral literally decade in the planning. we've seen a lot of the military who have been gathering because they will be part of the procession that's about to take place. the casket will be moved across to westminster abbey. what will we see in the coming half hour, hour or so? >> i think this will be the first big moment today. seven different sections of that procession will which have the queen's coffin draped with the royal standard and royal flag on the top. with the crown, the sector. the crown jewels that so signify the monarch. as for you heard in the last hour, being pulled by members of the royal navy, excuse me, a tradition that goes back to queen victoria. seven different bands, seven different processions. >> the queen was the first female member of the royal family to serve as a full time active member of the arms forces. one thing that struck me in talking to people across these recent days who are waiting in line and included a captain, i asked him why he was there, seemed surprised by the question. she was i had commander in chief. that's who he swore an oath to. we saw so many examples of that. she did seem to have a particular kind of relationship with members of the military. she took part, actively took part in the annual trooping the color which is a parade not far from where you're looking at those pictures now. she was the commander in chief. they swore an oath to her. i think as well as that, as well as the military side of the it, one thing that is struck me watching over the last few days as these enormous crowds build up and those huge queues that you reported on so much is actually the diversity of people in the crowds. it's easy to say, yes, they appeal to an older generation but not so much to a younger generation. if you look at the faces in the crowds that you see all around you if, you hook back at those people who lined up to get into the lying in state, it was a very diverse crowd. people of all ages and all backgrounds. i think that showed at this particular moment, the nation as a whole is mourning the monarch. >> the world clearly mourning the monarch. we saw emanuel macron with his wife. talk to me a little bit about what does it mean that there has been such an overwhelming international response to queen elizabeth's passing? >> i think that really has been notable. of course, talking about macron, the queen has spoke excellent french. there videos from the past press reportings of her talking to a number of french politicians. she was taught french as a little girl and publicly spoke at a number of events. she always did make that effort with foreign dignitaries. of course, she was used by the british government many, many times as a form of soft diplomacy. the inviting heads of state over for those state visits. many politicians spoke about that. particularly after the retirement. with a small p, being able to be used in that way, i think tim was talking early better that. she was able to impart on behalf of the government pt they were incredibly valuable. >> daisy mcandrew, i can't think of better people to have taken us through these hours leading up to these momentous moments in the life memorializing queen elizabeth ii and, of course, leading up to her funeral. i want to thank both of you for being with us. we're going to continue to watch as international leaders come to westminster abbey. but that's going to do it for me this our. i'm chris jansing. i'll be back at 10:00 eastern time along with katie terr and andrea mitchell. "morning joe" will pick up our coverage of queen elizabeth's funeral next. verage of queen el funeral next good morning, welcome to "morning joe." it is 10:00 a.m. in london. in the next hour, the united kingdom and world will pause for the state funeral of queen elizabeth ii. mourners are