Finally, on 22 January 1901, the unthinkable happened. Queen Victoria died and the whole empire mourned. Her state funeral on 2 February 1901 saw one of the largest gatherings of European royalty ever, while hundreds of thousands of her loyal subjects came out in their droves to pay their respects too. Here we see the royal cavalcade passing by Paddington Station in London. The Victorian Age, which had witnessed and nurtured the birth of photography, had finally ended.

Liked this? Click on the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING

Now see the earliest photographs from the USA

Explore Victorian England through these incredible retro photos