LONDON (AP) – A growing number of people – from London pensioners to former England soccer captain David Beckham – have lined up to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin as it lies in Parliament, so many that authorities had to call a temporary curfew. stop on Friday to allow more people to join the mile-long queue.
By late afternoon, a live scout said the line to enter historic Westminster Hall had reopened, but the British government warned it would take more than 24 hours to cover the 5 miles (8km) from the start of the line in Southwark Park to the coffin in Parliament. The government also warned that “temperatures at night will be low”.
Mourners continued to stream silently into Westminster Hall, even as King Charles III and his three brothers held vigil around the flag-draped coffin for 15 minutes on Friday night. A baby crying was the only sound.
Those who came often prostrated before the coffin or made the sign of the cross. Several veterans, their medals gleaming in the spotlight, offered sharp salutes. Some were in tears. Many hugged each other as they walked away, proud to have spent hours in line to pay their respects, even if it only lasted a few moments.
Beckham was seen in a line of mourners near the Houses of Parliament at midday on Friday. He is believed to have joined the queue at 2am and was in line for more than 10 hours. Wearing a white shirt and black tie, he bowed briefly at the coffin before leaving Westminster Hall.
“We were lucky as a nation to have someone who led us the way her majesty led us, for a long time, with kindness, with care and always with affirmation,” Beckham said. “I think that’s the only thing we’ve all felt safe about and we’ll continue that with the royal family. But I think her majesty was something special and she will be missed, not just by everyone in our country, but around the world.”
Helena Larsen, 76, arrived at the park too late to get in line.
“We literally got here and they’ve closed it in front of us,” he said, adding that he would likely hang around until the gates reopened.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said seeing the Queen’s coffin lying in state was an unforgettable experience.
“You’re in Westminster Hall in her presence, with a wreath over her casket, and it’s incredibly emotional,” he told The Associated Press.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Chinese officials has reportedly been barred from visiting the historic hall in the Houses of Parliament where the late queen’s coffin lies, as geopolitics overshadows the official celebration.
China’s ambassador to the UK has been banned from parliament for a year after Beijing sanctioned seven British lawmakers last year for speaking out against China’s treatment of its Uyghur minority in the restive Xinjiang region.
The offices of Prime Minister Liz Truss and Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle declined to comment Friday on a Politico news agency report that the Chinese delegation would not be allowed into the Westminster chamber.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said she had not seen the Politico report but that as the host of the Queen’s funeral, the UK government should “follow diplomatic protocols and proper manners to welcome visitors”. .
A Chinese delegation is expected to attend the Queen’s funeral on Monday, which is at Westminster Abbey rather than Parliament. Funeral organizers have not released a guest list.
After a day out of the limelight, King Charles III flew to Wales on Friday on the final leg of his tour of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom.
Charles, who for decades before his accession to the throne was the Prince of Wales, visited Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff for a prayer service in honor of his late mother. After that, he and Camilla, the Queen Consort, greeted crowds of well-wishers, including flag-waving schoolchildren, as people chanted “God save the king!”
A small group protested his visit, with one person holding a banner that read: “King? No thanks.”
The king later traveled to the Welsh parliament, the Senedd, to receive condolences from lawmakers. He told them Wales “couldn’t be closer to my mother’s heart”.
Charles said he felt “immensely grateful for the privilege” of serving for decades as Prince of Wales, the title traditionally bestowed on the heir to the throne. Prince William’s eldest son now holds this title.
Charles returned to London to hold his mother’s coffin vigil in the evening with his three siblings, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
Before the vigil, Edward said the royal family had been “overwhelmed by the wave of emotion that has washed over us and the sheer number of people who have gone out of their way to express their own love, admiration and respect (for) our beloved mum .”
On Saturday, all eight of Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren are expected to hold a vigil by her coffin.
Charles’ sons Prince William and Prince Harry will attend, along with Princess Anne’s children Zara Tyndall and Peter Phillips. Prince Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenia. and Prince Edward’s two children – Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn.
William, who after the death of his grandmother is now heir to the throne, will stand at the head of the coffin and Harry at the feet. Both princes, who are military veterans, will be in uniform.
Most senior members of the royal family have honorary military roles and have worn uniforms to honor the Queen. Harry, who served in Afghanistan as a British Army officer, wore civilian clothes during the procession of the Queen’s coffin from Buckingham Palace because he is no longer a member of the royal family. He and his wife Meghan stepped down from royal duties and moved to the United States in 2020.
The king, however, has requested that both William and Harry wear their military uniforms to the Westminster Hall vigil.
London police said the Queen’s state funeral on Monday will be the biggest single police event the force has ever undertaken, surpassing even the 2012 Summer Olympics and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June which celebrates her 70th birthday. on the throne.
“The range of officers, police staff and all those who support the operation is truly huge,” said Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundyhe.
Renata Brio and Jeffrey Schaeffer in London contributed.
