It is an uninterrupted parade of subjects and admirers who enter and leave Westminster Hall in London by the thousands to pay their last homage to Queen Elizabeth II
, who died on 8 September at the age of 96.
After yesterday's royal procession and the opening to the public of the funeral home - scheduled for 4 days until the funeral and burial of the sovereign on Monday 19 - the queue stabilized this morning, under a gray sky, for a length of about 5 kilometers on the banks of the Thames: fed by people of all ages.
ANSA agency
Queen: Archbishop Canterbury, 'the sovereign prayed for all' - World
"The queen prayed for everyone, she had great faith".
Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury and primate of the Anglican church, of which Elizabeth II was head as sovereign, told Sky News.
(HANDLE)
The tribute of men, women and families in front of the coffin goes on relentlessly between bows, prayers and tears.
All under the surveillance of a capillary security apparatus, but all in all discreet.
And in a prevailing atmosphere of meditation.
There are currently no significant incidents reported.
A day off from official commitments for King Charles III and the Prince of Wales, William, the new heir to the British throne, after a week of non-stop public events following the death of Queen Elizabeth.
Events imposed by the need to share the mourning with the subjects in all 4 nations of the United Kingdom and to complete the first steps of the succession that kept the almost 74-year-old Carlo in particular under pressure - in a moment of strong personal emotional impact.
The sovereign moved today with the new queen consort Camilla to the country residence of Highgrove, in English Gloucestershire -
their buen retiro for years - for a day of more intimate recollection in memory of her mother, according to court sources.
While
William headed with Kate and their three children (George, Charlotte and Louis) to the greenery of Sandringham, Norfolk.
Instead, two of Charles' brothers remain 'on tour' on behalf of the dynasty: Princess Anne, who returned to Scotland
- where Elizabeth II died - to receive the condolences of local communities and charities sponsored by the family;
and
Prince Edward, expected today with his wife Sophie in Manchester,
England's second urban area, from a similar agenda.
New crowd bath for William and Kate at Sandringham.
The new princes of Wales found several hundred people to welcome them, gathered around the royal property to lay bouquets of flowers, tickets and objects in memory of the deceased sovereign.
A mountain of memories and messages of affection that William and Kate went out to inspect, with expressions at times smiling at times moved, then stopping to exchange words and handshakes with some of those present crowded behind a barrier.
Meanwhile, in the capital, Buckingham Palace has announced that the ritual of the solemn state funeral on Monday 19 will close with two minutes of silence in honor of Elizabeth II.
ANSA agency
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth arrived in Westminster Hall - Europe
Where will be exhibited 4 days for the last public tribute (ANSA)