LONDON, UK
Britain and the world said a final goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II at a state funeral Monday that drew presidents and kings, princes and prime ministers — and crowds who massed along the streets of London to honor a monarch whose 70-year reign defined an age.
A day packed with events in
London and Windsor began early when the doors of 900-year-old Westminster Hall
were closed to mourners after hundreds
of thousands had filed in front of her flag-draped coffin. Many had waited
for hours in line, including through cold nights, to attend the lying 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,” said Tracy Dobson, who was
among the last to join the line.
In a country known
for pomp and pageantry, the first state funeral since Winston Churchill’s
was filled 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, walking behind as bagpipers played. Pall
bearers carried the coffin into the abbey, where around 2,000 people ranging
from world leaders to health care workers gathered to mourn her. Ahead of the
service, a bell tolled 96 times — once a minute for each year of her life.
It drew to a close with two
minutes of silence observed across the United Kingdom. The attendees then sang
the national anthem.
Monday has been declared a
public holiday in honor of Elizabeth, who died Sept. 8 — and hundreds of
thousands of people descended on central London to partake in
the historic moment. Long before the service began, city authorities said
viewing areas along the route of the funeral’s procession were full.
Millions more had been
expected to tune into the
funeral live on television, and crowds flocked to parks and public
spaces across the U.K. to watch it on screens. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin
Welby noted during the funeral that “few leaders receive the outpouring of love
we have seen” for Elizabeth.
On the evening before, Charles issued a message of thanks to people in the U.K. and around the world, saying he and his wife Camilla, the queen consort, have been “moved beyond measure” by the large numbers of people who have turned out to pay their respects to the queen.
Following the funeral, the
coffin — accompanied by units of the armed forces in dress uniforms and members
of her family — was brought through the capital’s streets.
At Wellington Arch near Hyde
Park, it will be placed in a hearse to be driven to Windsor Castle — where
Elizabeth spent much of her time — for another procession before a committal
service in St. George’s Chapel. She will be laid to rest with her late husband,
Prince Philip, at a private family service.
U.S. President Joe Biden was among leaders to pay their respects at the queen’s coffin on Sunday as thousands of police, hundreds of British troops and an army of officials made final preparations for the funeral.
Biden called Queen Elizabeth
II “decent” and “honorable” and “all about service” as he signed the condolence
book, saying his heart went out to the royal family.
People across Britain paused
for a minute of silence at 8 p.m. Sunday in memory of the only monarch most
have ever known. At Westminster Hall, the constant stream of mourners paused
for 60 seconds as people observed the minute of reflection in deep silence.
Jilly Fitzgerald, who was in
Windsor, said there was a sense of community among the mourners as they
prepared to wait 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 said.
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