The state funeral of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will unite people from across the globe, the official in charge of the huge ceremonial event said on Thursday, as mourners from all walks of life queued for hours to file past the late monarch’s coffin.
World leaders will gather on Monday for the funeral for Elizabeth, queen for 70 years whose global stature was almost without equal.
Her body is lying in state in London’s ancient Westminster Hall, where tens of thousands are waiting patiently in line to pay their final respects to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
“These events are taking place against the backdrop of an outpouring of grief, affection, and gratitude for people in the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and across the world,” said the Earl Marshal, Edward Fitzalan-Howard, the Duke of Norfolk, England’s most senior peer who is in charge of state occasions.
“The queen held a unique and timeless position in all our lives. It is our aim and belief that the state funeral and events of the next few days will unite people across the globe,” he told reporters.”
As he spoke, the queue to see the queen‘s coffin stretched more than 4 miles along the south bank of the River Thames, past such landmarks as Tower Bridge, crossing Lambeth Bridge as it neared Westminster Hall. Officials expect about 750,000 people to view the coffin before the lying in state ends at 6.30 a.m. on Monday.
King Charles, who has returned to his Highgrove home in southwest England after a hectic schedule of events since Elizabeth‘s death at age 96 last Thursday, and his three siblings, Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward, will themselves hold a silent vigil alongside the catafalque on Friday evening.
Some of those queuing to see the coffin had traveled from abroad, dropping off bags at nearby hotels to join those moving slowly through Westminster Hall. There were also former soldiers with military medals and babies being carried by their parents. Many wiped away tears.
The mourners included former Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip, who bowed their heads before the coffin as they filed past with members of the public.
Amy Tsai, 24, said she had traveled from Taiwan in May and had taken part in celebrations for the queen‘s jubilee in June in the Scottish capital Edinburgh.
“Now I’m waiting in line to see her lying in state. I’m just shocked,” she said.
Thomas Hughes, 20, who waited nearly 14 hours overnight with his brother, said viewing the coffin was overwhelming.
Others had traveled early in the morning to try to miss the crowds later on.
“Late yesterday evening, I made a snap decision to wake up really early and come here. I wanted to be part of history,” said Paul Frances, 72.
Funeral
For the first time, palace officials also provided details of the funeral, likely to be one of the grandest ceremonies ever witnessed in the British capital, involving thousands from the military.
The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. at Westminster Abbey, the same church where Elizabeth was crowned in 1953, and last for about an hour. At its conclusion, the Last Post will sound and there will be a two-minute silence to be observed by the nation.
The body will then be taken on a gun carriage in a large procession, with Charles and members of the royal family walking behind, from the Abbey to the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner. Guns will fire and parliament’s Big Ben bell will toll every minute.
The state hearse will then convey the coffin to Windsor Castle where there will be a further solemn procession before a service at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel.
In a later private ceremony, Elizabeth will be buried with her husband of 73 years Prince Philip, who died last year, at the King George VI Memorial Chapel where her parents and sister, Princess Margaret were also laid to rest.