Huge crowds built in central London overnight and from early morning on Monday to secure a spot to watch the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey
Huge crowds built in central London overnight and from early morning on Monday to secure a spot to watch the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey
Britain, world leaders and royalty from across the globe will on September 19 bid a final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II, the last towering figure of her era, at a state funeral of inimitable pageantry. Thousands of people camped overnight in London to get the best spots for viewing Queen Elizabeth’s funeral procession.
Shortly before 11 a.m. (local time), the oak coffin, covered in the Royal Standard flag with the Imperial State Crown on top, will be placed on a gun carriage and pulled by naval personnel to Westminster Abbey for her funeral.
Among the 2,000 in the congregation will be some 500 world leaders, including Mr. Biden, Emperor Naruhito of Japan, Wang Qishan, the Vice President of China, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Read | Queen Elizabeth II, longest-reigning monarch of U.K., dies
The queen’s great-grandchildren, Prince George (9) and Princess Charlotte (7) the two eldest children of now heir to the throne Prince William, will also be attending.
“Over the last 10 days, my wife and I have been so deeply touched by the many messages of condolence and support we have received from this country and across the world,” Charles, Elizabeth’s son and the new king, said in a statement.
Read | India remembers Queen Elizabeth II’s visits
“As we all prepare to say our last farewell, I wanted simply to take this opportunity to say thank you to all those countless people who have been such a support and comfort to my family and myself in this time of grief.”
Queen Elizabeth II died aged 96 on Sept. 8 at her Scottish summer home, Balmoral Castle.
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Crowds gather for the Queen’s funeral
Huge crowds built in central London overnight and from early morning on Monday to secure a spot to watch the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey.
As dawn broke over the River Thames, a steady stream of well-wishers streamed out of Embankment underground station headed for Parliament Square.
Police officers are seen on The Mall, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain, on September 19, 2022
| Photo Credit: Reuters
People gather on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain, on September 19, 2022.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
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‘We couldn’t miss this’: Thousands camp out for Queen’s funeral
Thousands of people camped overnight in London to get the best spots for viewing Queen Elizabeth’s funeral procession on Monday. The best prepared had tents, sleeping bags, blow up beds and flasks of tea. Others were sitting or sleeping on the ground in only their jackets. One couple were seen asleep just in their clothes, their arms interlocked for warmth, and, perhaps, for comfort.
Melanie Odey, 60, a teacher, was at the front of the barriers along the Mall outside Buckingham Palace. She had camped overnight in a tent with two daughters and grandchildren after arriving on Sunday afternoon at 4.30 p.m. (1530 GMT)
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of history, to pay your respects,” she said with a pink scarf wrapped around her head. “The atmosphere is so unique. I had to come. It has definitely been worth it,” she said, adding that it was the least she could do to honour the late monarch.
People continued to arrive throughout the night arriving by taxi or the extra trains put on to accommodate the crowds.
As people made their way to the procession route, some were silent and sombre, dressed in black. Others were more upbeat. A group of three women dressed in Union Jack hats sang “God Save the Queen” as they made their way to the route. On the streets, there was a remarkable cross-section of society, of young and old. Some arrived in wheelchairs, others in pushchairs.- Reuters
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President Mumru attends reception at the Buckingham Palace
President Droupadi Murmu, who is representing India at the state funeral, and the heads of state and government from around the world including US President Joe Biden attended an “official state event” hosted by the King and Queen Consort Camilla at Buckingham Palace on Sunday evening.
In pictures | Queen Elizabeth II’s visits to India
Queen Elizabeth along with Duke of Edinburgh arrived at Palam airport, New Delhi on January 21, 1961. Others seen (from left) are: Radhakrishnan, Vice President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President, Vijayalakshmi Pandit, Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India.
Her Majesty is all smiles as she gives away the Queen Elizabeth II stakes (Race I) to Mrs. Medhora whose Fair Babb won the prize. Unprecedented scenes of enthusiasm were witnessed at the Bombay Races when the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Mahaluxmi, Bombay in 1961.
Queen Elizabeth rides an elephant to attend the City Palace reception at Jaipur which she visited on January 22, 1961.
Queen Elizabeth is presented with a spinning wheel by Pyarey Lal, who was secretary to Mahatma Gandhi, when she went to Rajghat on January 21, 1961 to pay homage to Father of the Nation.
Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II cuts a cake on the first birthday of her son Prince Andrew at the reception given to her at Rajaji Hall in Madras on February 19, 1961.
Queen Elizabeth II visits Durgapur Steel Plant on February 17, 1961.
Queen Elizabeth visits the Mysore Arts and Crafts Emporium during her visit to Bangalore on February 21, 1961.
Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh leave the Taj Mahal in Agra which they visited on January 29, 1961
Queen Elizabeth II of Britain lays a wreath at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, Delhi on November 18, 1983
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, being received by the President, Zail Singh and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at Delhi airport on their arrival on November 17, 1983.
Queen Elizabeth II of Britain presents to Mother Teresa the Insignia of the Honorary order of merit, at Rashtrapti Bhavan, New Delhi on November 24, 1983.
Queen Elizabeth II visits Holy Trinity Church in Hyderabad on November 20, 1983.
Queen Elizabeth II of Britain visits the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla on November 21, 1983. Here, the Commandant of the Academy presents its crest to the Queen.
Queen Elizabeth II who visited Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited R&D complex at Balanagar in Hyderabad on November 19, 1983 is being explained the working of the parabolic solar energy collector by the BHEL Chairman, K. L. Puri.
In this file photo dated Oct. 13, 1997, Queen Elizabeth II is with former President K. R. Narayan during her ceremonial reception in Delhi
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, with Sonia Gandhi at a state banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on October 14, 1997
Queen Elizabeth at a banquet given in her honour in Chennai on October 16, 1997. Others in the picture are the State Governor Fathima Beevi and the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
On the sets of the film Marudanayagam, its director-actor Kamal Haasan (left) speaks to Queen Elizabeth II.
Also seen are (from right): Om Puri, Naaser, costume designer and Kamal Haasan’s wife Sarika and art director Sabu Cyril at the M.G.R. Film City in Madras on October 16, 1997.
Queen Elizabeth II exchangs pleasantries with the consular representatives in Chennai at a reception at “Cottingley”, the official residence of the British Deputy High Commissioner, Sidney Palmer, on October 18, 1997.
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Charles reflects on ‘lifelong service of dear mother’ ahead of Queen’s funeral
Britain’s King Charles III reflected upon his late mother’s “lifelong service” in a thank you message ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday morning.
Queen Elizabeth II, 96, passed away peacefully at her Scottish residence of Balmoral Castle on September 8 and has been Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall, where Murmu and the world leaders joined thousands of mourners to pay their respects to the late monarch.
“Over the last 10 days, my wife and I have been so deeply touched by the many messages of condolence and support we have received from this country and across the world,” Charles said in a statement, in the wake of a one-minute silence as a national moment of reflection in memory of the Queen at 20:00 local time on Sunday.
“In London, Edinburgh, Hillsborough and Cardiff we were moved beyond measure by everyone who took the trouble to come and pay their respects to the lifelong service of my dear mother, the late Queen,” he said.
“As we all prepare to say our last farewell, I wanted simply to take this opportunity to say thank you to all those countless people who have been such a support and comfort to my family and myself in this time of grief,” he added.- PTI
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Biden, VIPs lay low as spotlight stays on late Queen
For US President Joe Biden and other presidents, prime ministers and dignitaries, there were no red-carpet arrivals, no big speeches and no news conferences as they gathered for Monday’s state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II.
Instead, world leaders used to people hanging on their every word checked their egos in the service of honouring the queen, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, who died earlier this month at age 96 after 70 years on the throne.
“They know that they are there to honour the passing, honour the individual,” said Capricia Marshall, who was the US State Department’s protocol chief for a period during Barack Obama’s administration. “They also are aware that they’re representing their country.” The protocol office is a key player in US foreign policy and diplomatic affairs by working to make sure that US officials don’t say or do anything that will offend a foreign visitor or host.
Most other leaders in town have kept similarly low profiles, appearing so far only to sign the official book of condolence and silently pay respects beside the queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall.- AP
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UK officials close queue to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state, saying it was at ‘final capacity’
The lying-in-state ceremony for Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall formally ended and the doors closed to the public ahead of her state funeral on Monday.
Over five days, tens of thousands of people had waited hours in line before filing past her coffin to pay their final respects. The funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey in front of some 2,000 guests.- AP
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First televised funeral of a British monarch
Tens of millions in Britain and abroad are expected to watch the funeral of the monarch, something which has never been televised before. It will end with the Last Post trumpet salute before the church and the nation falls silent for two minutes.
Afterwards, the coffin will be brought through central London, past the queen’s Buckingham Palace home to the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner, with the monarch and the royal family following again on foot during the 1.5 mile (2.4 km) procession.
From there, it will be placed on a hearse to be driven to Windsor Castle in west London for a service at St George’s Chapel. This will conclude with the crown, orb and sceptre – symbols of the monarch’s power and governance – being removed from the coffin and placed on the altar.
The Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the royal household, will break his ‘Wand of Office’, signifying the end of his service to the sovereign, and place it on the casket.
It will then be lowered into the royal vault as the Sovereign’s Piper plays a lament, slowly walking away until music in the chapel gradually fades.
Later in the evening, in a private family service, the coffin of Elizabeth and her husband of more than seven decades Prince Philip, who died last year aged 99, will be buried together at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, where her parents and sister, Princess Margaret, also rest.- Reuters
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Leaders in U.K. for Queen’s funeral
World leaders and royalty arrived in London on Saturday night and Sunday to offer condolences on behalf of their countries and say their final goodbyes to Queen Elizabeth II whose state funeral is scheduled for Monday. The 96-year-old Queen — Britain’s longest reigning monarch of 70 years — died on September 8 in Scotland. President Droupadi Murmu was among those who visited the Westminster Hall in the British Parliament complex on Sunday, where the Queen’s is lying in state.
“President Droupadi Murmu visited Westminster Hall London where the body of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II is lying in state. The President offered tributes to the departed soul on her own behalf and on behalf of the people of India,” the President’s official twitter handle said. Among those with her was Deputy High Commissioner to the U.K., Sujit Ghosh.
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Queen Elizabeth II’s eight grandchildren hold silent vigil beside her coffin in Westminster Hall
All eight of Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren stood in silent vigil beside her coffin on September 17, capping another huge day in which thousands came to pay their respects. Mourners huddled in a line that snaked across London, enduring the city’s coldest night in months and waits that stretched up to 16 hours.
Honoring their patience, King Charles III and his eldest son Prince William made an unannounced visit on September 17 to greet people waiting to file past Elizabeth’s coffin, shaking hands and thanking mourners in the queue near Lambeth Bridge.
Later, all the queen’s grandchildren stood by her coffin. William and Prince Harry, Charles’ sons, were joined by Princess Anne’s children, Zara Tindall and Peter Philips; Prince Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie; and the two children of Prince Edward – Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
