By DANICA KIRKA, MIKE CORDER and JILL LAWLESS
LONDON (AP) — Britain and the world stated a last goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II at a state funeral Monday that drew presidents and kings, princes and prime ministers — and crowds who massed alongside the streets of London to honor a monarch whose 70-year reign outlined an age.
In a rustic recognized for pomp and pageantry, the primary state funeral since Winston Churchill’s was crammed with spectacle: Ahead of the service, a bell tolled 96 instances — as soon as a minute for annually of Elizabeth’s life. Then, 142 Royal Navy sailors used ropes to attract the gun carriage carrying her flag-draped coffin to Westminster Abbey earlier than pallbearers bore it contained in the church, the place round 2,000 folks starting from world leaders to well being care employees gathered to mourn her.
The trappings of state and monarchy abounded: The coffin was draped with the Royal Standard and atop it sat the Imperial State Crown, glowing with virtually 3,000 diamonds, and the sovereign’s orb and scepter.
But the non-public was additionally current: The coffin was adopted into the church by generations of Elizabeth’s descendants, together with King Charles III, inheritor to the throne Prince William and 9-year-old George, who’s second in line. On a wreath atop the coffin, a handwritten word learn, “In loving and devoted memory,” and was signed Charles R — for Rex, or king.
“Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from across the nation, from the Commonwealth, and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service, and in sure confidence to commit her to the mercy of God our maker and redeemer,” the dean of the medieval abbey, David Hoyle, advised the mourners, because the funeral opened.
The service drew to a detailed with two minutes of silence noticed throughout the United Kingdom, after which the attendees sang the nationwide anthem, now titled “God Save the King.”
The day started early when the doorways of Parliament’s 900-year-old Westminster Hall have been closed to mourners after a whole lot of 1000’s had filed in entrance of her coffin. Many had waited for hours in line, together with by chilly nights, to attend the mendacity in state in an outpouring of collective grief and respect.
“I felt like I had to come and pay my final respects to our majestic queen. She has done so much for us and just a little thank you really from the people,” stated Tracy Dobson, who was among the many final to hitch the road.
Monday was declared a public vacation in honor of Elizabeth, who died Sept. 8 — and a whole lot of 1000’s of individuals descended on central London to partake within the historic second. They jammed the sidewalks to observe the coffin wend its approach by the streets of the capital after the service. As the procession handed Buckingham Palace, the queen’s official residence within the metropolis, employees stood outdoors, some bowing and curtseying.
Millions extra tuned into the funeral stay on tv, and crowds flocked to parks and public areas throughout the U.Okay. to observe it on screens. Even the Google doodle turned a respectful black for the day.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby stated in his sermon that “few leaders receive the outpouring of love we have seen” for Elizabeth.
After the passage by central London, the coffin was positioned in a hearse and headed for Windsor Castle — the place Elizabeth spent a lot of her time. Mourners threw flowers on the convoy because it handed.
There will likely be one other procession in Windsor earlier than a committal service in St. George’s Chapel. The queen will likely be laid to relaxation along with her late husband, Prince Philip, at a non-public household service.
On the night earlier than the funeral, Charles issued a message of due to folks within the U.Okay. and all over the world, saying he and his spouse Camilla, the queen consort, have been “moved beyond measure” by the big numbers of people that have turned out to pay their respects to the queen.
People throughout Britain paused for a minute of silence at 8 p.m. Sunday in reminiscence of the one monarch most have ever recognized. At Westminster Hall, the fixed stream of mourners paused for 60 seconds as folks noticed the minute of reflection in deep silence.
In Windsor, rain started to fall as the gang fell silent for the second of reflection. Some camped in a single day outdoors the citadel so as to reserve the very best spots to view the queen’s coffin.
Jilly Fitzgerald, who was in Windsor, stated there was a way of group among the many mourners as they ready to attend hours to see procession carrying the queen’s coffin.
“It’s good to be with all the people who are all feeling the same. It’s like a big family because everyone feels that … the queen was part of their family,” she stated.
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Associated Press journalists Sylvia Hui, Samya Kullab and David Keyton contributed to this report.
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Follow AP protection of Queen Elizabeth II at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii
Source: www.bostonherald.com”