By MIKE CORDER, JILL LAWLESS and DANICA KIRKA
LONDON (AP) — Thousands of police, a whole bunch of British troops and a military of officers made last preparations Sunday for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II — a spectacular show of nationwide mourning that can even be the most important gathering of world leaders for years.
U.S. President Joe Biden and first woman Jill Biden had been amongst hundreds of mourners — from locals and vacationers to world leaders — to pay their respects at Westminster Hall, the place the queen is mendacity in state. The president made the signal of the cross and put his hand to his coronary heart as he stood quietly close to the casket within the ornate 900-year-old corridor.
Biden was additionally anticipated to signal the official condolence e-book and attend a reception Sunday at Buckingham Palace hosted by King Charles III earlier than going to the state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday. He is considered one of 500 world leaders and royals invited to the funeral, together with a whole bunch of British charity staff.
As the dignitaries poured in, the clock was ticking down for these in search of a spot within the longest queue many have ever seen to file previous the queen’s coffin because it lies in state at Westminster Hall. The miles-long queue is anticipated to be closed to new arrivals later Sunday so that everybody in line can view the coffin earlier than Monday morning, when will probably be taken to Westminster Abbey for the queen’s funeral.
Family by household, hundreds of individuals stored lining up across the clock, braving chilly in a single day temperatures and waits of as much as 17 hours in a queue that stretched for over 5 miles (8 kilometers).
Lauren Wilson, a 36-year-old scholar, was within the a lot shorter queue for individuals with mobility points. She stated she wished to expertise in individual the coffin mendacity in state.
“The world is in such a weird place and then this happened. It feels more momentous,” she stated.
She apprehensive that the pageantry surrounding Elizabeth’s demise deprives the queen’s family members of the flexibility to return to phrases with their loss.
“The family are not allowed to grieve. I find it quite heartbreaking,” she stated.
The queen’s eight grandchildren, led by inheritor to the throne Prince William, circled the coffin and stood with their heads bowed throughout a silent vigil on Saturday night.
Among the international leaders in London was New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who informed the BBC she was humbled to signify her nation on the funeral and to witness the nationwide outpouring of grief and respect for the late queen.
“The thing that I will take away from this period is just the beauty of the public’s response, the kindness that you see from members of the public, the patience, the camaraderie. That has been, for me, the most moving tribute of all, has been the public response of the British people,” she stated.
People throughout the U.Okay. can even pause Sunday night for a nationwide minute of silence to recollect the queen, who died Sept. 8 at 96 after 70 years on the throne. Monday has been declared a public vacation, and the funeral will likely be broadcast to an enormous tv viewers worldwide and screened to crowds in parks and public areas throughout the nation.
Police officers from across the nation will likely be on responsibility as a part of the most important one-day policing operation in London’s historical past.
Crowds additionally gathered Sunday close to Windsor Castle, the place the queen will likely be laid to relaxation at a non-public household ceremony on Monday night.
“I think it’s been amazing,” stated Anna Pettigrew, a 55-year-old trainer. “It’s been very emotional, and I think it’s been a very fitting tribute to a wonderful queen.”
Camilla, the brand new queen consort, 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 males.
“I will always remember her smile. That smile is unforgettable,” stated Camilla, who’s married to Charles.
Prince Andrew additionally paid tribute to his mom, saying he would perpetually treasure “your love for a son, your compassion, your care, your confidence.”
“I will miss your insights, advice and humor,” he stated.
Andrew, the third of the queen’s 4 kids, has been relieved of official royal duties and stripped of his honorary army titles over his friendship with the late intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.
After queen’s 4 kids — Charles, Princess Anne, Andrew and Prince Edward — held a vigil Friday round her coffin, on Saturday night time it was the grandchildren’s flip.
William and Prince Harry, Charles’ sons, had been joined by Anne’s kids, Zara Tindall and Peter Philips; Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie; and Edward’s two kids — Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
William stood together with his head bowed on the head of the coffin and Harry on the foot. Both princes, who’re army veterans, had been in uniform. The crowd stored slowly, silently submitting previous.
“You could see that they were thinking hard about their grandmother, the queen,” stated 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.”
The silence in Westminster Hall was damaged briefly Friday when a person lunged on the coffin. London police stated Sunday that 28-year-old Muhammad Khan of London has been charged with conduct meant to “cause alarm, harassment or distress.” He has a courtroom date Monday.
The lying-in-state continues till early Monday morning, when the queen’s coffin will likely be moved on a gun carriage pulled by 142 Royal Navy sailors to close by Westminster Abbey for the funeral, the finale of 10 days of nationwide mourning for Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
After the service Monday on the abbey, the late queen’s coffin will likely be transported by means of the historic coronary heart of London on the state gun carriage. It will then be taken in a hearse to Windsor, the place the queen will likely be interred alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died final yr at 99.
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Follow AP protection of Queen Elizabeth II at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii
Source: www.bostonherald.com”