Thousands of police, hundreds of British troops and an army of officials made final preparations Sunday for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
Family by family, thousands of people kept lining up around the clock, braving chilly overnight temperatures and waits of up to 17 hours in a queue that stretched for over 5 miles ., circled the coffin and stood with their heads bowed during a silent vigil on Saturday evening.
People across the U.K. will pause Sunday evening for a nationwide minute of silence to remember the queen, who died Sept. 8 at the age of 96 after 70 years on the throne. Monday has been declared a public holiday, and the funeral will be broadcast to a huge television audience worldwide and screened to crowds in parks and public spaces across the country.
“I think it’s been amazing,” said Anna Pettigrew, a 55-year-old teacher. “It’s been very emotional, and I think it’s been a very fitting tribute to a wonderful queen.”, paid tribute to the queen in a video message, saying the monarch “carved her own role” as a “solitary woman” on a world stage dominated by men.King Charles IIIPrince Andrew also paid tribute to his mother, saying he would forever treasure “your love for a son, your compassion, your care, your confidence.
After queen’s four children — Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — held a vigil around her coffin on Friday, on Saturday it was the grandchildren’s turn. “You could see that they were thinking hard about their grandmother, the queen,” said Ian Mockett, a civil engineer from Oxford in southern England. “It was good to see them all together as a set of grandchildren given the things that have happened over the last few years.”
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
US President Joe Biden arrives in London with wife Jill for Queen's funeralUS President Joe Biden arrived in London tonight with his wife Jill for the Queen’s funeral. Biden touched down in Air Force One at Stansted shortly after 10pm and was taken to the …
Read more »
Joe Biden arrives in London for Queen's funeralThe US president is among some 500 world leaders and foreign dignitaries coming to London.
Read more »
Joe Biden arrives in London ahead of the Queen’s funeralUS President Joe Biden and his wife Jill have arrived in London ahead of the Queen’s funeral
Read more »
US President Joe Biden arrives in UK to attend the Queen's funeralAir Force One touched down at Stansted Airport shortly before 10pm on Saturday.
Read more »
Liz Truss to meet world leaders ahead of Queen's funeralThe PM will meet leaders including US President Joe Biden over the weekend, before Monday's service.
Read more »