At 8 p.m. local time, the entire United Kingdom observed a moment of silence for Queen Elizabeth II. This occurred as international leaders came in London for her state funeral, which is scheduled for Monday.
President Biden and other dignitaries have arrived in London for the funeral, which will be attended by around 500 royals, presidents of state, and heads of government from around the world.
Mr. Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden paid tribute at Westminster Hall on Sunday, accompanied by U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom Jane Hartley. At Lancaster House, the president and first lady signed the official condolence book for the queen.
Mr. Biden remarked, “She was the same in person as she appeared to be: respectful, honorable, and devoted to service.” “Our hearts go out to King Charles and the entire royal family. As I assured the king, she will be by his side every step of the way, every minute of every day. This is a reassuring thought.”
On September 18, 2022, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II as they examine her coffin in Westminster Hall, London. JOE GIDDENS/POOL/AFP sourced from Getty Images
Thousands of people continued to queue up around the clock to go past the queen’s coffin as it sits in state at Parliament’s Westminster Hall, enduring cold overnight temperatures and up to 17-hour waits. Saturday evening, during a solemn vigil, the queen’s eight grandchildren, led by heir apparent Prince William, circled the coffin and stood with their heads bent.
The miles-long wait at Westminster Hall is scheduled to be closed to new arrivals later on Sunday so that everyone in line can file past the coffin before the queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday morning. As of Sunday evening, those wishing to join the line were directed to London Bridge, according to BBC News, with a seven-hour wait period.
Prince Andrew, the third child of the queen, paid tribute to her on Sunday.
In the statement, he stated, “As our book of experiences ends, another begins, and I will eternally cherish you near to my heart with the sincerest love and thanks, and I will joyfully enter the next with you as my guide.”
As part of the largest single-day police operation in London’s history, thousands of police officers from throughout the country will be on duty.
Also on Sunday, crowds gathered at Windsor Castle, where the queen will be laid to rest on Monday evening in a private family ceremony.
Anna Pettigrew, a 55-year-old educator, exclaimed, “It’s been incredible.” It has been incredibly emotional, and I believe it has been an appropriate tribute to a magnificent monarch.
Camilla, the next queen consort, praised the monarch in a video message, stating that she “crafted her own niche” as a “lonely woman” on an international stage dominated by men.
“I will never forget her grin. That smile will never be forgotten “Camilla, the wife of King Charles III, stated.
People continued to pour into Westminster Hall, where the queen’s casket lies in state, draped in the Royal Standard and crowned with a crown of diamonds. Since the public was first admitted on Wednesday, the number of mourners has slowly increased, with a wait that spans at least five kilometers along the River Thames and into Southwark Park in the city’s southeast.
Charles and William made an unannounced visit at Lambeth Bridge on Saturday to greet mourners in line, shaking their hands and expressing gratitude for their patience.
Later, the queen’s grandchildren gathered around her casket. William and Prince Harry, sons of Charles, were joined by Zara Tindall and Peter Philips, children of Princess Anne; Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, daughters of Prince Andrew; and Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, children of Prince Edward.
William stood at the head of the casket with his head bowed, while Harry stood at the foot. Both princes, who are veterans of the military, wore uniforms. The flow of mourners proceeded in silence.
Prince William stands beside the casket of Queen Elizabeth II on September 17, 2022 in Westminster Hall in London. Yui Mok / Getty Photographs
“It was clear that they were contemplating their grandma, the queen,” said Ian Mockett, a civil engineer from Oxford, England. In light of what has transpired over the past few years, it was nice to see them all together as a group of grandchildren.
Harry, a former British army officer who served in Afghanistan, donned civilian attire as the queen’s coffin left Buckingham Palace earlier this week because he is no longer a functioning member of the royal family. In 2020, Harry and his wife Meghan renounced their royal obligations and relocated to the United States. However, the monarch requested that both William and Harry wear their military uniforms to the vigil at Westminster Hall.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie published a statement honouring their “loving grandmother” before to the vigil.
“We, like many others, believed you would remain forever. We all miss you tremendously. You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our shoulders as we traversed the world. You taught us so much, and we shall always treasure these lessons and memories “The sisters penned a letter.
Friday, the queen’s four children Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward conducted a similar vigil at her coffin.
On Friday, the hush in the room was temporarily disturbed as a man leapt towards the casket. Sunday, London police announced that a 28-year-old man, Muhammad Khan, has been charged with “causing alarm, annoyance, or distress” On Monday, he will appear in court.
The lying-in-state will continue until early Monday morning, when the queen’s casket will be transferred to neighboring Westminster Abbey for the burial, concluding ten days of national grief for Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
After Monday’s service at the abbey, the late queen’s coffin will be brought on a gun carriage through the historic core of London. The coffin will subsequently be transported by hearse to Windsor, where the queen will be interred alongside her husband, Prince Philip, who passed away last year.