Thousands pass Queen Elizabeth’s coffin as she lies in state in London

LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) – Mourners from all walks of life filed past Queen Elizabeth’s coffin overnight as she lay in state at London’s Old Westminster Hall, paying their last respects to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch before her funeral on Monday. .

After days of processions and rituals as the Queen’s body was brought to London from Balmoral in Scotland, where she died last Thursday aged 96, this was the opportunity for ordinary people to take part directly in a ceremony.

When King Charles returned to his Highgrove home in the southern English region of Gloucestershire after days of planned events, officials expected around 750,000 people to view his mother’s coffin before the state lie-in ends at 6.30 (0730 GMT) Monday.

The line stretched back several miles along the south bank of the Thames, past landmarks such as Tower Bridge and a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and crossed Lambeth Bridge as it approached Westminster Hall. People waited many hours. Read more

Thomas Hughes, 20, who waited almost 14 hours overnight with his brother, said it was overwhelming to finally see the coffin.

“You do it all because you want to show respect to this lady … and I think when you put yourself through that and then you get to the moment you’re waiting for, you’re just a little bit more emotional,” he said. “It’s a very powerful thing.”

Most were British, but some were from overseas. They were young and old and included former soldiers in military medals and babies carried by their parents. Many stopped by the casket to bow their heads. Others wiped away tears.

Some were there to represent elderly parents, others to witness history and to thank a woman who, after ascending the throne in 1952, was still holding official government meetings just two days before she died.

FUNERAL

Queen Elizabeth’s coffin lay in the center of Westminster Hall on a purple catafalque placed on a red platform. It was covered with the Royal Standard flag and topped with the Imperial State Crown placed on a cushion along with a wreath of flowers.

Soldiers and ‘Beefeaters’ – the red-robed guards who normally guard the Tower of London – stood alert with bowed heads.

Among the first inside was Kenneth Taylor, 72, from Reading in central England, who had come with a neighbor and spent the night in a tent in the queue.

Taylor broke down and said that when he saw the Queen lying in state, he felt sad. “There was a lump in my throat.”

“You know, we’ve lost a special person. Her service to this country was truly steadfast and unwavering. And she’s probably what I would call the queen of queens.”

The coffin had been brought to the hall from Buckingham Palace on top of a gun carriage and escorted by soldiers in scarlet ceremonial uniforms in a solemn procession on Wednesday afternoon.

King Charles, his sons Princes William and Harry and other senior royals walked behind – the two princes united in grief despite a rift between them. Harry celebrates his 38th birthday on Thursday. Read more

William and his wife Kate will travel to the royal residence at Sandringham in eastern England on Thursday to view floral tributes left there by members of the public.

The full-scale ceremonial procession on the day of the Queen’s funeral is likely to be one of the largest the country has ever witnessed and will pose a major security challenge.

Royalty, presidents and other world leaders are expected to attend, although certain nations, including Russia, Afghanistan and Syria, were not extended invitations. Read more

French President Emmanuel Macron was the latest leader to say he would attend the funeral. Read more

US President Joe Biden, who has also said he will be there, spoke with the new king on Wednesday and “conveyed the great admiration of the American people for the queen,” the White House said.

The Times newspaper reported that British Prime Minister Liz Truss was expected to hold one-on-one talks with Biden and other world leaders on the sidelines of the funeral, but officials have said such meetings will be informal. Read more

Reporting by Farouq Suleiman, Alistair Smout, Angus MacSwan, Michael Holden, William James, Kate Holton, Kylie MacLellan and Elizabeth Piper Editing by Rosalba O’Brien, William Maclean

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