Queues for people to pay their respects to her coffin stretched for miles along the Thames on Friday
This is the last weekend during which citizens can pay homage to her coffin of Queen Elizabeth II: the queue to Westminster Hall, where her coffin will lie until Monday when her funeral takes place, is huge.
The death of Queen Elizabeth II, highly popular after 70 years on the throne, caused great sadness in Britain. The queue for people to pay their respects to her coffin stretched for several kilometers along the Thames on Friday, with the British government estimating that people would have to wait more than 22 hours.
The public can pay their respects to the late queen until 06:30 (local time, 08:30 Greece time) on Monday.
Last night was the “princes’ vigil”: Elizabeth’s four children — King Charles III, Anne, Andrew and Edward — took their places around her coffin, as they had done in Edinburgh.
Dressed in military uniforms and with their heads bowed, they remained there for a quarter of an hour, surrounded by the crowd waiting to pay their respects to Elizabeth II’s coffin, which is placed in the oldest chamber of the British Parliament.
Andrew, who has been stripped of most of his military titles following a sex scandal, was allowed to wear his military uniform for the occasion.
The Queen’s eight grandchildren – including Princes William and Harry – are expected to attend her coffin today.
Moreover, yesterday among the crowd waiting to pay tribute to Elizabeth was former footballer David Beckham.
“We are all here to thank Her Majesty for being so kind, considerate, comforting over the years,” he said as he left Westminster Hall.
Also yesterday, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, wearing black clothes, bowed at the Queen’s coffin.
Today the representatives of the 14 Commonwealth kingdoms are going to pay their respects to Elizabeth.
More important than the Olympic Games
On Monday morning, Elizabeth II’s coffin will be moved to Westminster Abbey where her funeral will take place at 11:00 (local time, 13:00 Greek time). It is the first state funeral to be held in Britain since that of Winston Churchill in 1965.
About 2,000 guests, among them hundreds of leaders from around the world, crowned as well as anonymous who have been honored, will attend the ceremony.
It will be the most important event that the London police have undertaken to guard, as announced. Even bigger than the 2012 Olympics.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who took office about 10 days ago, will have the opportunity to meet with many leaders, including American President Joe Biden, Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She will also hold talks with her Australian counterparts Anthony Albanese and New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern.
Tomorrow, Sunday afternoon, King Charles III will receive the heads of state at Buckingham Palace. The king completed his tour of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales yesterday in Wales.
Elizabeth II will be buried on Monday at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, west London, next to her father King George V and her husband Prince Philip.
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I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
