By DANICA KIRKA, MIKE CORDER and JILL LAWLESS
LONDON (AP) — Britain and the world stated a remaining 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.
A day filled with occasions in London and Windsor started early when the doorways of 900-year-old Westminster Hall had been closed to mourners after tons of of hundreds had filed in entrance of her flag-draped coffin. Many had waited for hours in line, together with by way of 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 affix the road.
In a rustic identified for pomp and pageantry, the primary state funeral since Winston Churchill’s was stuffed with spectacle: 142 Royal Navy sailors drew the gun carriage carrying Elizabeth’s coffin to Westminster Abbey, with King Charles III and his sons, Princes William and Harry, strolling behind as bagpipers performed. Pall bearers carried the coffin into the abbey, the place round 2,000 individuals starting from world leaders to well being care staff gathered to mourn her. Ahead of the service, a bell tolled 96 occasions — as soon as a minute for annually of her life.
“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, instructed the mourners, because the funeral opened.
It drew to a detailed with two minutes of silence noticed throughout the United Kingdom. The attendees then sang the nationwide anthem.
Monday has been declared a public vacation in honor of Elizabeth, who died Sept. 8 — and tons of of hundreds of individuals descended on central London to partake within the historic second. Long earlier than the service started, metropolis authorities stated viewing areas alongside the route of the funeral’s procession had been full.
Millions extra had been anticipated to tune into the funeral stay on tv, and crowds flocked to parks and public areas throughout the U.Ok. to look at it on screens. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby famous throughout the funeral that “few leaders receive the outpouring of love we have seen” for Elizabeth.
On the night earlier than, Charles issued a message of because of individuals within the U.Ok. 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.
Following the funeral, the coffin — accompanied by items of the armed forces in gown uniforms and members of her household — was introduced by way of the capital’s streets.
At Wellington Arch close to Hyde Park, it will likely be positioned in a hearse to be pushed to Windsor Castle — the place Elizabeth spent a lot of her time — for an additional procession earlier than a committal service in St. George’s Chapel. She can be laid to relaxation along with her late husband, Prince Philip, at a personal household service.
U.S. President Joe Biden was amongst leaders to pay their respects on the queen’s coffin on Sunday as hundreds of police, tons of of British troops and a military of officers made remaining preparations for the funeral.
Biden known as Queen Elizabeth II “decent” and “honorable” and “all about service” as he signed the condolence e-book, saying his coronary heart went out to the royal household.
People throughout Britain paused for a minute of silence at 8 p.m. Sunday in reminiscence of the one monarch most have ever identified. At Westminster Hall, the fixed stream of mourners paused for 60 seconds as individuals noticed the minute of reflection in deep silence.
In Windsor, rain started to fall as the group fell silent for the second of reflection. Some camped in a single day exterior the fort as a way to reserve the perfect spots to view the queen’s coffin.
Jilly Fitzgerald, who was in Windsor, stated there was a way of neighborhood 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”