FORMER Basildon MP Baroness Angela Smith will sit alongside world leaders and some of the biggest names in the country when she attends the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey today.

Baroness Smith - now Labour leader in the Lords - admits it is an “incredible honour” to be among the select few invited to the momentous event, which some predict will be watched by an estimated four billion people.

The former Basildon MP, who also fought the Southend West parliamentary seat in the 1980s, has described today’s final farewell to the Queen as a “unique moment in history”. Her Majesty’s coffin will be carried through the streets of London and Windsor, before she is finally laid to rest alongside her late husband, Prince Philip.

Baroness Smith, whose husband Nigel served on both Southend and Basildon councils in a distinguished career in local government, said: “It’s something I will never forget, to be a part of this massive occasion, saying goodbye to The Queen one last time.

“People have queued for hours on end to see the coffin, so to be invited to the funeral is an incredible honour.”

The Labour peer also joined politicians and dignitaries to receive The Queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall on Wednesday.

She says there has been a “real feeling of magnitude” shared by mourners, MPs, peers and officials visiting Westminster to see the Queen lying-in-state.

“The atmosphere is solemn, sombre and quiet,” Baroness Smith said.

“Everyone here can sense the importance of what is happening around them while also sharing in the sadness of the moment.”

People from across the world, including celebrities and politicians, have descended on the capital to see the Queen’s coffin lying-in-state, with some queuing for 14 hours.

To show his respects, Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois signed books of condolences at two churches on Friday, visiting St Catherine’s Church, in Southend Road, Wickford, and Holy Trinity Church in Rayleigh.

He said: “There were some lovely personal tributes which had been written in both books, by young and old alike. I was particularly struck by one entry, which read simply; ‘We will miss you Your Majesty, including at the races!’.”