© Reuters The motorcade carrying the coffin of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth arrives at Buckingham Palace in London, Britain, September 13, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
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by Michael Holden and Kate Holton
LONDON (Reuters) – King Charles, his sons Princes William and Harry and other members of the royal family will attend a grand ceremony as Queen Elizabeth’s coffin is laid to rest in Parliament on Wednesday from Buckingham Palace.
After the Queen died last week at her summer residence at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, her coffin was taken to Edinburgh for a series of solemn ceremonies https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/solemn-procession-queen-elizabeths-coffin-in-edinburgh-2022- 09-12/, and then fly https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/queen-elizabeths-coffin-be-flown-london-2022-09- 13 to London late on Tuesday.
Driving down the 14 mile (22 km) road in the rain and seeing cars stop and cheer and slowly drive through the darkness to the well lit road to Buckingham Palace.
The flag-draped coffin at the palace was met by Charles https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britons-back-new-king-charles-so-long-he-keeps-quiet-2022-09-13 and all of the Queen Children, grandchildren, and their spouses who are reunited for the first time after their spouse’s death.
Elizabeth’s daughter Anne, 72, who flew with the coffin from Scotland, said: “It is an honor and a privilege to be on her final journeys.” “It is humbling and uplifting to witness the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys.”
The death of the queen at the age of 96 has left the nation mourning the king who reigned for 70 years.
People began lining the streets late on Tuesday to be among the first to pass the casket as the official government deadline began later on Wednesday.
Some gathered to represent aging parents, others to witness history and many to pay tribute to the woman who ascended the throne in 1952, who was still holding official state meetings two days before her death.
Veronica Lewis, 52, from Worthing, southern England, said: “She really took an oath to do everything she could for this country.”
On Wednesday, the imperial crown will be placed on the coffin, along with a wreath, at Buckingham Palace.
Then at 2:22 p.m. (1322 GMT) the King’s Army Royal Horse Artillery will move through central London to the Hall of Westminster, a medieval building dating back to 1097 and the oldest in Parliament.
Charles walks quietly behind the carriage with other members of the royal family, including his brothers Anne, Andrew and Edward.
Also in the line-up are his sons William, 40, now Prince of Wales, and Harry, 37, the Duke of Sussex, who have said their close relationship has soured in recent years. terms
However, they were spotted with their wives as they received well-wishers outside Windsor Castle on Saturday, hinting that the show of unity could be closer.
William’s wife, Kate, now Princess of Wales, and Harry’s wife, Meghan, will drive, while Charles’ wife, Camilla, now the Queen, will drive to concerts.
Lying-in state.
With much of central London closed to traffic, crowds were building on the streets to watch Wednesday’s march, with guns firing in Hyde Park every minute and the bells of Parliament’s Big Ben tolling.
As the cortege arrives at Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster, the coffin is escorted in by soldiers of the Grenadier Guards and placed on a catafalque. There will be a short service led by the Anglican Church’s spiritual leader, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
A four-day stay in the state will begin on September 19, when the funeral will begin.
A senior palace official described Wednesday’s event as relatively small and private. The full-scale ceremony to be held on September 19, the day of her funeral, could be one of the biggest the country has ever seen.
As 750,000 mourners were expected to pass the coffin as it lay in state, people lined the streets in the pouring rain to pay their last respects.
Brenda, 79, of London’s East Coast, said she traveled to London in 1953 after the Queen’s coronation.
“Since then she has been our constant,” she said, not revealing her full name. “Today is the day. As much as it’s great to be here, it’s a tribute and honor to her for all she’s done for us.”
Around 33,000 people in Scotland filed past the coffin at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh in the 24 hours, but the commemoration in London was an even bigger occasion.
The government has warned that the queue could stretch up to 5 miles along the south bank of the River Thames, bypassing landmarks such as the giant London Eye Ferris wheel and rebuilding Shakespeare’s Globe theatre.
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, told people in the queue: “We are celebrating two great British traditions, loving the Queen and queuing.
Culture secretary Michelle Donnellan said some people could queue for up to 30 hours to pass the coffin before the funeral on Monday.
Grieving Chris Imafido said he was happy that Camp Night had endured: “She’s an icon of icons.”
Glyn Norris, 63, said a little rain wasn’t going to stop her from celebrating her 70-year reign.
“We didn’t even think about it,” she said. “That was my queen.”