People from Kent have described their "surreal" but "amazing" experience after making the journey to London to pay their respects to the Queen at her funeral today.

Men, women and families from across the county have paid tribute to her late Majesty after travelling – sometimes days in advance – to mark her journey to her final resting place.

One Royal fan even spent her birthday camping out on The Mall to ensure a good view of the funeral procession.

Lesley Warren travelled to London with friends and family from her home in Sittingbourne on Saturday, her 51st birthday.

Her pals presented her with a cake - complete with candles - and serenaded her with "Happy Birthday" along with other people camping on the thoroughfare near Buckingham Palace on Saturday night.

Lesley said: “My friend Sandra bought me a cake and we lit candles.

“It was amazing, about 20 people came over and sang me Happy Birthday. It was very special.

“Buckingham Palace is not a bad place to spend your birthday! It was also quite warm on Saturday night so we were all okay. Everyone was friendly and all got together."

Lesley has been to many royal occasions. She also attended the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Diamond Jubilee and William and Kate’s wedding.

She and her friends were sat amongst numerous flags and photos of the late Monarch.

Lesley added: “When you do it time and time again you add more and more stuff to the display, so now we have all sorts that we take with us everywhere we go.”

She camped out with her daughter Victoria Warren, her granddaughter Darci May and her friend Sandra Brabbs who she met when she went to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

"You feel the level of majesty there was in her"

They were joined by a number of others from the county, many of whom were overwhelmed when the procession made its way past them.

Nicole Cox, from Ramsgate, said: "I am not someone who is that emotional because I think this should be a celebration, but when you see the coffin your thoughts go everywhere.

"You feel the level of majesty there was in her, and think how much she gave up to serve her people."

Sidcup man Joe Rutherford-Axcell described the scenes as "very surreal".

"Even before the procession when we heard God Save the King sung, and then during the two minutes' silence – I have never heard.

Dartford resident Rhiannon Hughes, who was among approximately one million mourners to travel to the capital, said the Queen had been "selfless".

"If we can have half the population half as selfless as she is, what a world that would be," she added.

"She always considered other people before herself, and she did it with honour and dignity... she is such a role model."