Photos capturing the aftermath of the Queen’s death
- Text by Huck
- Photography by Julian Zerressen

On 8 September 2022, Buckingham Palace announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The death of the monarch, who had been head of state since the death of her father in 1952 brought an end to a historic 70-year reign.
Britain immediately entered a period of mourning, with flags at half mast, government communications ceased, Parliament suspended and website banners dulled in respect. The death of the Queen meant that her son, Charles, became King Charles III. Events across the country to mark his ascension were held as the Queen’s coffin moved from Balmoral (where she passed) to lie in state in Edinburgh before making the journey south.
In London, mourners gathered outside Buckingham Palace and laid flowers in the parks around the residence. As the coffin moved to Westminster hall on the Parliamentary estate, tens of thousands queued, many through the night, for miles along the south bank of the river Thames to pay their respects.
The queue, which at points ran over five miles from the coffin to Southwark park, closed on Sunday night ahead of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, which took place in nearby Westminster Abbey before she was laid to rest in St George’s Chapel in Windsor. Estimates say that around one million people lined the streets of London to watch the service, as the full breadth and weight of British pomp and ceremony was on show. Viewing screens were erected in Hyde park for those unable to get into viewing pens through Westminster.
The official mourning period of 12 days was a surreal time in London. A hushed, uncertain atmosphere fell upon the city at points, a far cry from the usual beating heart of the metropolis. In a week like very few others in London, photographer Julian Zerressen was there to capture the action.
Follow Julian Zerressen on Instagram.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
Latest on Huck

Meet the trans-led hairdressers providing London with gender-affirming trims
Open Out — Since being founded in 2011, the Hoxton salon has become a crucial space the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Hannah Bentley caught up with co-founder Greygory Vass to hear about its growth, breaking down barbering binaries, and the recent Supreme Court ruling.
Written by: Hannah Bentley

Gazan amputees secure Para-Cycling World Championships qualification
Gaza Sunbirds — Alaa al-Dali and Mohamed Asfour earned Palestine’s first-ever top-20 finish at the Para-Cycling World Cup in Belgium over the weekend.
Written by: Isaac Muk

New documentary revisits the radical history of UK free rave culture
Free Party: A Folk History — Directed by Aaron Trinder, it features first-hand stories from key crews including DiY, Spiral Tribe, Bedlam and Circus Warp, with public streaming available from May 30.
Written by: Isaac Muk

Rahim Fortune’s dreamlike vision of the Black American South
Reflections — In the Texas native’s debut solo show, he weaves familial history and documentary photography to challenge the region’s visual tropes.
Written by: Miss Rosen

Why Katy Perry’s space flight was one giant flop for mankind
Galactic girlbossing — In a widely-panned, 11-minute trip to the edge of the earth’s atmosphere, the ‘Women’s World’ singer joined an all-female space crew in an expensive vanity advert for Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Newsletter columnist Emma Garland explains its apocalypse indicating signs.
Written by: Emma Garland

Katie Goh: “I want people to engage with the politics of oranges”
Foreign Fruit — In her new book, the Edinburgh-based writer traces her personal history through the citrus fruit’s global spread, from a village in China to Californian groves. Angela Hui caught up with her to find out more.
Written by: Katie Goh