A grand procession takes Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin from her official residence through London to Parliament. There the coffin is laid out for the public.
London – The funeral procession with the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II has arrived in the British Parliament. The almost 40-minute long procession with King Charles III. moved on Wednesday from Buckingham Palace across the magnificent boulevard The Mall to the heart of London’s government district.
Behind the coffin, which rested on the Imperial State Crown and a wreath of flowers, Charles’ sons Prince William and Prince Harry also walked side by side, as did his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
Crowds at the edge of the funeral procession
Hundreds of thousands of mourners and onlookers lined the route of the funeral procession, filming, crying and applauding. The spectator areas were already full half an hour before the start of the procession. Hours earlier, the masses had poured into the center of the British capital.
The closed coffin containing the body of the Queen, who died at the age of 96, was transported on a carriage carried by the Queen’s Company 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards regiment. It was covered with the royal standard, and the Imperial State Crown, which Elizabeth traditionally wore to the opening of Parliament, was enthroned on a velvet cushion. Behind lay a wreath of white roses, white dahlias and foliage from the royal residence of Balmoral in Scotland.
Also in the procession were Anne’s son Peter Philips and her husband Tim Laurence, as well as the Duke of Gloucester, a cousin of the Queen, and the Earl of Snowdon, her nephew. Charles’ wife Queen Camilla and the wives of William, Harry and Edward – Princess Kate, Duchess Meghan and Countess Sophie – should follow the coffin in cars. Numerous horses were also involved in the procession, previously prepared for the crowds and noise.
The public can say goodbye in Westminster Hall
The closed coffin of the Queen, covered with the royal standard, is laid out in Westminster Hall – the oldest part of Parliament. From Wednesday evening, the public will have the opportunity to pay their Queen one last visit. As the responsible Ministry of Culture announced on Wednesday, more than 1000 volunteers, security staff and police officers will be on duty along the queue.
The public broadcaster BBC will also broadcast the laying-out in a live stream – for people who do not dare to wait long or cannot travel to London, but want to pay their respects to the deceased queen. If you watch the BBC’s full stream, you can watch the coffin for a total of 109.5 hours.
Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday at the age of 96 at her Scottish country estate, Balmoral Castle. On Sunday, her coffin was taken to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, and on Monday, a funeral march attended by King Charles III. and his siblings attended, taken to a cathedral.
The coffin containing the Queen’s remains was then flown from Edinburgh to London on a British Air Force transport on Tuesday evening. He was greeted with loud applause by thousands of people outside Buckingham Palace and then welcomed by King Charles, his siblings and the Queen’s grandchildren. The coffin was set up overnight in the so-called Bow Room.
The Queen’s state funeral is next Monday. Hundreds of heads of state and government, members of royal families and other dignitaries are expected in London. dpa
