Emotional King Charles wipes away a tear as he lays his mother the Queen to rest at Westminster Abbey funeral

KING Charles wiped away his tears in an emotional outpouring of grief today as he attended the Queen's funeral.

The monarch, 73, was visibly emotional as he led his family at the Westminster Abbey event this morning.

Charles, who last night thanked the public for their support, followed his mother's coffin through the grand entrance at 11am.

And in one poignant moment, he could be seen wiping away a tear as his family stood behind him.

It comes as...

• The Queen’s coffin has passed Buckingham Palace in poignant farewell
• Tearful King Charles led his family in an outpouring of grief during his mother's funeral
• Princess Charlotte and Prince George solemnly walked behind their Gan-Gan's coffin
• Kate Middleton paid a touching tribute to The Queen wearing Her Majesty's pearl choker
• Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton looked united in sorrow as they followed the Queen's coffin

The emotional King could be seen repeating the action during the moving state service earlier, with his wife, the Queen Consort, by his side.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sat behind the King and Queen, while the Prince and Princess of Wales were seated opposite.

The Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex walked behind their husbands before taking their seats for the event, watched by billions around the world.

William's eldest children, George and Charlotte, also joined him and Kate to say their final goodbyes.

And the children, who are the youngest mourners at their great-grandmother's funeral, stood and sung hymns with the 2,000 strong congregation.

Hundreds of thousands of mourners earlier lined the streets ahead of today's service - the climax of what has been described as the biggest security operation the UK has ever seen.

The King last night thanked them for their outpouring of love since his mother's death.

He has travelled more than 2,000 miles to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to meet crowds of well-wishers since the Queen's tragic passing.

And he has carried out at least 54 engagements in the last 11 days, including a silent vigil with his three siblings beside the monarch’s coffin at  on Friday.

As Buckingham Palace released a previously unseen picture of Her Maj last night, Charles said: “Over the last ten days, my wife and I have been so deeply touched by the many messages of condolence and support we have received from this country and across the world.

“In London, Edinburgh, Hillsborough and Cardiff we were moved beyond measure by everyone who took the trouble to come and pay their respects to the lifelong service of my dear mother, The late Queen.

“As we all prepare to say our last farewell, I wanted simply to take this opportunity to say thank you to all those countless people who have been such a support and comfort to my Family and myself in this time of grief.”

Some 2,000 people - including heads of state, prime ministers, presidents and European royals - gathered at Westminster Abbey to remember the late monarch at 11am today.

Thousands later lined the streets as Her Majesty was taken on her final journey in the state hearse to Windsor.

There, she will finally be reunited and laid to rest with her beloved Prince Philip.

Their parents, William and Kate, both 40, are said to believe it important they attend the historic occasion and say a proper goodbye to the woman they called "Gan Gan".