Also among the crowd were people with connections and ancestry to other Commonwealth countries.

“Despite my Pakistani roots, I was born here and feel like I was part of the Commonwealth at one point, many years ago now, but I still have this affinity with the royal family,” one person said.

“I thought this was the ultimate opportunity to pay my respects,” Soyfoo added. “Everyone keeps saying, ‘The Queen, bless her soul, worked so tirelessly and so selflessly.’ [and talking about] how she brought the nation together, whatever your creed, color or community. »

“She gave us so much,” said Chris Imafidon, a British Nigerian professor. “She wasn’t just a monarch up there; she was modest. She worked with my charity downtown and invited our students to come to the palaces.”