People line up for hours King Charles at Highgrove House The list of those attending the funeral is growing
LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) – Mourners from all walks of life filed past Queen Elizabeth’s coffin overnight as she lay in state at London’s ancient Westminster Hall, paying their last respects to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch before her funeral on Monday . After days of processions and rituals as the Queen’s body was brought to London from Balmoral, Scotland, where she died last Thursday aged 96, this was the chance for ordinary people to take part in a ceremony directly. As King Charles returned to his home in Highgrove in the southern English region of Gloucestershire after days of planned events, officials expected around 750,000 people to view his mother’s coffin before the service ended at 6.30am. (0730 GMT) on Monday. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up The line stretched several miles along the south bank of the River Thames, passing landmarks such as Tower Bridge and a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, crossing Lambeth Bridge as it approached Westminster Hall. People waited for many hours. read more Thomas Hughes, 20, who waited almost 14 hours through the night with his brother, said finally seeing the coffin was overwhelming. “You do everything because you want to respect that lady … and I think when you do that and then you get to the moment you’re waiting for you’re a little bit more emotional,” he said. he said. “It’s a very powerful thing.” Most were British but some were from overseas. They were young and old and included ex-soldiers in military medals and babies carried by their parents. Many stopped by the casket to bow their heads. Others wiped away tears. Some were there to represent elderly parents, others to witness history and thank a woman who, having ascended the throne in 1952, was still holding official government meetings just two days before she died.
FUNERAL
Queen Elizabeth’s coffin lay in the center of Westminster Hall on a purple shroud placed on a red platform. It was covered by the flag of the Royal Standard and finished with the imperial crown of the state placed on a cushion, next to a wreath of flowers. Soldiers and ‘Beefeaters’ – the red-clad guards who were usually found guarding the Tower of London – stood vigil with bowed heads. The guard changes as members of the public pay their respects as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is passed as she lies in State inside Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster in London September 14, 2022. BEN STANSALL/Pool via REUTERS read more Among the first inside was Kenneth Taylor, 72, from Reading, central England, who had come with a neighbor and spent the night in a tent in the queue. Tearing up, Taylor said that when he saw the Queen lying in state, he felt sad. “A lump came in my throat.” “You know, we’ve lost someone special. Her service to this country was truly steadfast and unwavering. And she’s probably what I would call the queen of queens.” The coffin had been brought into the hall from Buckingham Palace on a gun carriage and was escorted by soldiers in red ceremonial uniforms in a formal procession on Wednesday afternoon. King Charles, his sons Princes William and Harry and other senior members of the royal family walked behind – the two princes united in grief despite the rift between them. Harry celebrates his 38th birthday on Thursday. read more William and his wife Kate will travel to the royal residence of Sandringham in eastern England on Thursday to view floral tributes left there by members of the public. The full-scale ceremonial procession on the day of the Queen’s funeral is likely to be one of the largest the country has ever seen and will pose a huge security challenge. Royals, presidents and other world leaders are expected to attend, although some nations, including Russia, Afghanistan and Syria, were not invited. read more French President Emmanuel Macron was the latest leader to say he would attend the funeral. read more US President Joe Biden, who also said he would be there, spoke with the new king on Wednesday and “conveyed the great admiration the American people have for the queen,” the White House said. The Times reported that British Prime Minister Liz Truss was expected to hold one-on-one talks with Biden and other world leaders on the sidelines of the funeral, but officials said any such meetings would be informal. read more Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up Reporting by Farouq Suleiman, Alistair Smout, Angus MacSwan, Michael Holden, William James, Kate Holton, Kylie MacLellan and Elizabeth Piper Editing by Rosalba O’Brien, William Maclean Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
