Queuing to see the Queen lie in state has been disrupted for “at least” six hours after Southwark Park reached capacity, it was announced on Friday morning. The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DMCS) announced the move as thousands of mourners queued for hours for a third day to pay their respects. At about 12 noon the gates to Southwark Park were closed to prevent other mourners from entering the queue. As preparations continue for Monday’s state funeral, King Charles and Camilla, the Queen’s consort, visited Wales for the first time since coming to the throne before returning to London to hold a vigil at the Queen’s coffin with her brothers and sister of. The couple were in Cardiff for a special service on the next leg of a home country tour following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, following trips to Northern Ireland and Scotland.
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Later, the King is expected to hold a 15-minute vigil around his mother’s coffin at 7.30pm, along with the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex. It comes a day after the Prince and Princess of Wales visited a sea of flowers left for the Queen at the gates of Sandringham House in Norfolk, where Prince William told a mourner that walking behind the Queen’s coffin as she lay in state on Wednesday was difficult. , and it reminded him of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales’s funeral.
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Video: Charles in Wales
King Charles attends the prayer service on his first visit to Wales as monarch 1663334651
King at Cardiff Castle: Mostly cheering, some booing
A person holds a sign during a protest outside Cardiff Castle on the day of the visit of Britain’s King Charles / REUTERS Amid cheers as Charles and Camilla arrived in a motorcade at Cardiff Castle after their visit to the Senedd, anti-monarchy protesters could be heard chanting, holding signs reading “We want a republic, a Welsh republic”. Despite being intended to be a silent protest by some groups under the Real Democracy Now banner, the rally also at times broke out in song led by members of Cor Cochion, a Cardiff-based socialist choir. 1663334442
Charles III at Cardiff Castle
The King will spend Friday afternoon meeting audiences and attending a reception for local charities. Britain’s King Charles III waves as he arrives to visit Cardiff Castle / Getty Images1663334226
King arrives at Cardiff Castle
Britain’s King Charles III waves as he arrives to visit Cardiff Castle / AFP via Getty Images1663333995
David Beckham
Yes, it could very well be him! Here’s more on the news that David Beckham is queuing with the public to see the lies in the situation. 1663333879
Charles addresses Well Sennett
King Charles III speaking after receiving an offer of condolence in the Senedd in Cardiff / PA The King said: “Throughout her reign, the land of Wales could not have been closer to my mother’s heart. “I know she was proud of your many great accomplishments, even as she felt you deeply in times of great sorrow. “Surely it must count as the greatest achievement to belong to a land that inspired so much devotion. “I am determined to honor the same example in the spirit of the words by which I always try to live my own life – Ich dien – I Serve.” He added: “I take up my new duties with immense gratitude for the privilege of serving as Prince of Wales. “This ancient title which dates back to the time of those great rulers of Wales… I now pass to my son William, whose love for this corner of the Earth grows still greater with the years he himself spent here.” 1663333513
Commentary: King Charles III is a man of faith, a leader and a great congressman
King Charles III and the Queen Consort leave Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff after a service of prayer and reflection on the life of Queen Elizabeth II / PA wire An opinion piece on the legacy of King Charles III. “Now that His Majesty has passed, it is Charles’s head that wears the heavy crown. Just a few days into the role, he has already steadied the ship through his thoughtful speeches and his heartfelt TV talk. He has also won praise for his composure – although a dripping pen caused him to let his guard down.’ Read the full piece here. 1663331878
Liz Truss to meet world leaders at funeral
Liz Truss is set to meet a number of world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, Irish Taoist Micheal Martin and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, when they visit Britain for the Queen’s funeral. Downing Street on Friday detailed the controversies confirmed so far for the prime minister this weekend ahead of the state funeral. She will meet privately with her Australian and New Zealand counterparts, Anthony Albanese and Jacinda Ardern, at the government’s Chevening country house on Saturday, a No 10 spokesman said. On Sunday, he will meet with Mr Martin, Mr Trudeau, Polish President Andrzej Duda and Mr Biden in Downing Street. Ms Truss met Mr Biden as secretary of state, but this will be their first meeting since he became prime minister. It will take place amid disputes over the Northern Ireland Protocol and difficulties over a trade deal with the White House. The protocol is also likely to come up when he speaks to Mr Martin amid strained relations between the two countries over post-Brexit arrangements. 1663331793
The queue starts moving again after a 40 minute pause
Members of the public queuing in Southwark Park / PA The public queue for the Queen’s presence started moving again after a 40-minute pause when it reached full capacity. However, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has urged mourners not to join the line until at least 4pm on Friday. Officials stopped people from entering the queue entirely around 11.35am. at the entrance to Southwark Park in south-east London due to overwhelming demand. Helena Larsen, 76, just missed entry right away, but said she was prepared to wait despite recovering from a back injury. Mrs Larsen, from Chertsey, Surrey, told the PA news agency: “We literally got here and they’ve shut it down in front of us.” Asked if she was prepared to wait for the line to reopen, she said: “I don’t know what else to do. There are no other access points.” “I think because there are so few of us, they should let us in,” he added. “I broke my back a few months ago. It’s a long ride, even this far.” As Ms. Larsen spoke over the PA, the crowd around the entrance began to swell. She was allowed into the line about 40 minutes later. 1663331615
Is that David Beckham in line?
It’s a sporting right, but apparently there’s no red carpet service for David Beckham. The former England number 7, or someone who looks a lot like him, has been spotted among the common people in the 14-hour queue – and the photo was shared on Twitter. Is it really the man himself? There’s plenty of time to get an autograph!
