Open this photo in gallery: TV screens show the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth at the Brighton, a British-themed sports bar, in Washington on Sept. 19. STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
Growing up in Los Angeles with a British father and Canadian mother, Alex Thomson saw Queen Elizabeth as a connection to his family history. He watched her annual addresses at Christmas, admiring her “constant duty” and how she embodied “what it means to be English.”
“She was always this present figure to me,” said Mr. Thomson, a 29-year-old lawyer now living in Washington. “She was a remarkable person who gave over 70 years of her life to her country.”
Mr. Thomson was one of a handful of mourners who came Monday morning to the Brighton, a British-themed sports bar on the Potomac waterfront, to watch the Queen’s funeral. The group was small, outnumbered by journalists and bar staff, who opened the place at 5:30 a.m. and served tea to the assembled.
Queen Elizabeth was a symbol of an era, figurehead of the postwar generation
Devin Henderson, a host at the Brighton, circulated with a book of condolences and passed out cards for people to fill out. The bar planned to send them to the Royal Family, he said.
“I grew up as a Disney kid, seeing kings, queens, princesses, princes – it seemed fantastical. But here, today, we still have those remnants of monarchy,” he said.
Open this photo in gallery: A British flag flies along Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 19. Manuel Balce Ceneta/The Associated Press
Open this photo in gallery: U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden board Air Force One to return to Washington after attending the funeral. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
So it goes for many in the U.S., including in this city founded by and named for the man who led a successful rebellion against the British Crown. Despite breaking away from the empire almost 250 years ago, there’s a lingering fascination with the pomp and circumstance of the monarchy and the woman who represented its modern expression for most of living memory.
President Joe Biden has ordered flags at all U.S. government buildings and military bases to fly at half-mast until Monday night, and the District of Columbia government hung Union Jacks along Pennsylvania Avenue.
Ottawa commemorates Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign with parade, ceremony
Neah Lekan said American interest in the institution largely stems from the fact it is so different from anything that exists on this side of the Atlantic. “In Britain, people have grown up with it, they’re used to it. Over here, we have such political divisions, the idea of a neutral head of state transcending politics – the idea of anything transcending politics – seems crazy,” he said.
Mr. Lekan, 22, is working on a PhD at Johns Hopkins University in cultural representations of the Crown during the Tudor and Stewart dynasties. He said his initial interest in the monarchy was inspired in large part by the Queen.
“She refashioned and reimagined what the Crown can mean,” said Mr. Lekan, who came down from Baltimore to watch the funeral at the Brighton. “It was the reimagination of the monarchy as a representation of the nation in the form of a neutral historical figure, who was Britannia.”
In photos: Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral
King Charles III, left, watches as The Lord Chamberlain Baron Parker breaks his Wand of Office, marking the end of his service to the sovereign, during a committal service for Queen Elizabeth. Joe Giddens/The Associated Press
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The Imperial State Crown is removed from the coffin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth during a committal service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Joe Giddens/The Associated Press
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at St. George's Chapel in Windsor. RICHARD POHLE/Getty Images
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Royal Grenadier guards march towards Windsor Castle in anticipation of the arrival of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth for the Committal Service at St George's Chapel. Kirsty Wigglesworth/Getty Images
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The Ceremonial Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth travels down the Long Walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service at St George's Chapel, in Windsor. Aaron Chown/The Associated Press
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Emma, the monarch's fell pony, stands as the Ceremonial Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service at St George's Chapel, in Windsor. Aaron Chown/The Associated Press
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The royal corgis await the cortege on the day of the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth, at Windsor Castle. PETER NICHOLLS/Reuters
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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is driven along the Long Walk in her State Hearse from London to Windsor towards her final resting place inside St George VI memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle. POOL/Reuters
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The Royal Family walk behind the coffin as the Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth aboard the State Hearse, travels inside Windsor Castle. ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
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The hearse travels along the Long Walk as it makes its way to Windsor Castle, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth, in Windsor. LEE SMITH/Reuters
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King Charles III, foreground, and his son Prince William, fourth from left, salute as Queen Elizabeth's coffin is transferred from a gun carriage to a waiting hearse at Wellington Arch in London. Andrew Testa/The New York Times News Service
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The Royal Hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II at Wellington Arch in London. David Ramos/AFP/Getty Images
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The Royal Hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II at Wellington Arch in London. David Ramos
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth with the Imperial State Crown resting on top, borne on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy followed by members of the royal family proceeds past The Wellington Arch. David Ramos/Getty Images
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is pulled on a gun carriage through the streets of London following her funeral service at Westminster Abbey. Kin Cheung/The Associated Press
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Crowds on The Mall stand for a two minutes silence during the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth in London. KEVIN COOMBS/Reuters
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Members of the armed forces march during the funeral procession for Queen Elizabeth in London. Wo1 Rupert Frere/The Associated Press
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Coldstream Guards proceed down The Mall ahead of The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London. Chip Somodevilla/The Associated Press
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The RCMP lead the funeral procession marching down The Mall following the service at Westminster Abbey for Queen Elizabeth, in London. ANDREW BOYERS/Reuters
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Buckingham Palace staff stand outside its gates during Queen Elizabeth funeral ceremonies in central London. POOL/Reuters
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth makes it way on the procession from Westminster Abbey following the funeral service. JOHN SIBLEY/Reuters
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Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte sit in a car on the day of the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth, in London. HANNAH MCKAY/Reuters
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RCMP during the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey in London. WPA Pool/Getty Images
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King Charles III, Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Britain's Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall attend the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth. BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth, draped in a Royal Standard and adorned with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre arrives during the state funeral. BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
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The crown is seen as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried into the Westminster Abbey in London. HANNAH MCKAY/Reuters
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King Charles III and Anne, Princess Royal arrive at Westminster Abbey for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London. CHRIS Jackson GETTY IMAGES/Getty Images
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth with the Imperial State Crown resting on top is carried into Westminster Abbey in London. Chris Jackson/Getty Images
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Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort (R), Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales (2nd R), Britain's Prince George of Wales (L) and Britain's Princess Charlotte of Wales (2nd L) travel down The Mall on the day of the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth. WPA Pool/Getty Images
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Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Peter Phillips arrive at Westminster Abbey for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth. CHRIS Jackson GETTY IMAGES/Getty Images
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried into Westminster Abbey for her state funeral in central London. Frank Augstein/The Associated Press
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Spectators are seen gathering on the Long Walk, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in Windsor. PAUL CHILDS/Reuters
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is placed on a gun carriage during her funeral service in Westminster Abbey in central London. Emilio Morenatti/The Associated Press
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King Charles III and Prince William are driven to Westminster Abbey for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in central London. Emilio Morenatti/The Associated Press
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People gather prior of the Queen Elizabeth funeral in central London. Andreea Alexandru/The Associated Press
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People gather to watch the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, at Parliament Square in London. SARAH MEYSSONNIER/Reuters
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Guests arrive ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London. WPA Pool/Getty Images
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People display a portrait of Queen Elizabeth at Horse Guards Avenue ahead of her State Funeral Service in London. David Davies/The Associated Press
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Inside Westminster Abbey ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London. Danny Lawson/Getty Images
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People gather to watch the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey in London. WPA Pool/Getty Images
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Yeoman of the Guard at Westminster Abbey ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London. Chris Furlong/Getty Images
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Yeoman of the Guard at Westminster Abbey ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London. Chris Furlong/Getty Images
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Former Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London. Chris Furlong/Getty Images
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President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive at the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth, at Westminster Abbey in London. KAI PFAFFENBACH/Reuters
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Trudeau arrive for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London. Geoff Pugh/Getty Images
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Christina Heerey (L), the last person to pay their respects, walks past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth Lying-In-State in Westminster Hall in London. Mark Large/Getty Images
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Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, arrives at Westminster Abbey in London. MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images
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The State Gun Carriage carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, as it leaves Westminster Hall. WPA Pool/AFP/Getty Images
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Buckingham Palace household staff return through the gates of Buckingham Palace after paying their respects during the State Funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth in London. CHIP SOMODEVILLA/AFP/Getty Images
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is seen on the day of her funeral and burial, in London. POOL/Reuters
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