'A moment in history'

London Correspondent John Kilraine

Queen Elizabeth's legacy begins with what was billed as the biggest television spectacle of all time.

Then there were the 500 heads of state and dignitaries at her funeral - the biggest ever such gathering in history, according to British media.

The media turnout was incredible. TV presenters from countries like Germany, Italy and The Netherlands manoeuvring themselves in tight positions at scores of live points around Buckingham Palace and Westminster.

It has been said often in recent days that the queen left a legacy of public service, always sticking to her sense of duty.

It paid off in the depth of admiration for her seen in the crowds braving many hours of queue times for the lying-in-state in the days just past.

People came from all over. There were quite a few people with Northern and Midlands accents trying to find their way around at night on the London Underground over the past week - sometimes with children.

One woman said she queued beside two elderly women from Middlesbrough who had travelled down on an overnight coach. They had never been in London before.

For them, Queen Elizabeth has bequeathed a moment in history. Some in Britain are describing this as the end of the Post War Era.