They put the package.
No question of seeing small for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, watched by 2 billion viewers, according to estimates.
All in special editions, the French channels, from TF1 to BFMTV or CNews, competed with comments from their reporters sent to London, analyzes and anecdotes from experts in front of the images of the ceremony broadcast by the BBC.
We were in front of the post.
France 2, 10:57 a.m.
The arrival of the Macron couple is analyzed in detail by the public channel.
Obviously very well informed, Stéphane Bern cites all the brands worn by the French first lady, from gloves to hat, to earrings and her mourning "veil", which is in fact "an embroidery".
"She really represents the France of haute couture," enthuses the France 2 consultant.
TF1, 11:01 a.m.
While waiting for the arrival of the coffin where the queen rests, the chains furnish by commenting on the installation of the personalities who came to attend her funeral in Westminster.
“We haven't seen this since when?
The burial of General de Gaulle perhaps, ”questions the presenter Gilles Bouleau about the number of heads of state gathered in the abbey.
And to analyze the entry of figures well known to the general public, like Joe Biden, Boris Johnson and Justin Trudeau, like those of personalities known only to specialists in crowned heads.
The retransmissions all take on the false air of reading the social directory provided by consultants anxious to shine.
Sophie of Wessex parades in front of the Duchess of Gloucester, preceding the Earl of Saint Andrews, who rubs shoulders with Princess Alexandra of Kent.
Don't panic if you are lost,
VIDEO.
The emotion of the little princes George and Charlotte who participated in the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
BFMTV, 11:30 a.m.
The arrival of the royal family in Westminster gives some air to the chains.
BFMTV goes in search of Camilla.
“Is the Queen Consort with
(King Charles)
in the vehicle?
worries the house journalist Jean-Baptiste Boursier.
“I think I saw two uniforms.
I'm not sure that the queen consort is at his side, but I can't say anything, ”replies Thomas Pernette gravely.
The consultant is right, since Camilla was not there, Charles III being accompanied in his car by his only son William.
The arrival of the great-grandchildren of Elizabeth II and their mother allows a little levity.
"Very touching detail, I think this is the first time that Princess Charlotte
(William and Kate's daughter)
wear a hat.
Excuse me for this fashion point, but you know that hats are very important”, points out Thomas Pernette.
France 2, 11:38 a.m.
The removal of the coffin from Westminster Hall is the first moment of solemn emotion of the day.
The public channel shines with its mastery of numbers.
Viewers learn that the 142 sailors responsible for accompanying the remains of the sovereign trained twelve hours a day to succeed in the exercise, that the crown placed on her beer has 280 diamonds and 17 rubies, while the royal scepter at its sides measure 92 cm.
For the eight-minute journey to Westminster Abbey, made at the rate of 74 steps per minute, no less than 196 bagpipes accompany the gun carriage on which the royal coffin rests, compared to 144 for the funeral of the Queen Mum in 2002.
Read alsoElizabeth II: the story in pictures of the funeral of the century
LCI, 11:43 a.m.
The bouquet of flowers accompanying Elizabeth II to Westminster Abbey is the subject of much speculation.
“We changed the flowers,” we hear someone whisper on the set of the news channel of the TF 1 group. “No doubt there is a meaning.
Normally, we put rosemary in there, ”comments a consultant on the set, a bit distraught.
France 2 identifies for its part dahlias, English roses, and dark Hydrangea, "the favorite flowers" of the deceased.
TF1, 12 p.m.
Set to the millimeter, the ceremony begins with the entry of the coffin into the nave of Westminster under the gaze of cameras and billions of viewers.
Most channels choose to reduce their comments to make room for the solemnity of the moment.
They then translate the various speeches of the Dean of Westminster, the Archbishop of Canterbury, or even Baroness Patricia Scotland, representative of the Commonwealth.
The Queen's corgis, Muick and Sandy, were present in Windsor when King Charles III and his son William arrived at the royal estate where the Queen was laid to rest.
AFP/Pool/Gregorio Borgia
All channels, 12:58 p.m.
Strange moment if you turned on your TV at this time, a little before 1 p.m.: while the images show Westminster Abbey full to bursting, not a sound comes out of the speakers.
It is not a technical problem but two minutes of silence in homage to the sovereign.
France 2, 1:10 p.m.
The crowd ends a “God save the King”, at the end of the ceremony, when Stéphane Bern makes a point of specifying: “Only one has not sung the national anthem, it is Charles III.
It's normal because it's his song.
The camera then wanders over the ranks of the many personalities invited to the funeral.
What give the expert animator the opportunity to shine by showing his knowledge of the crowned heads of the whole world: “I saw the king of Tongas, Tupou VI.
He traveled a long way to come.
»
Read alsoElizabeth II: an unpublished photo of the queen made public just before her funeral
BFMTV, 1:20 p.m.
The queen's coffin is carried out of the abbey then placed on a gun carriage to leave in procession through London, and the news channel commentator wants to mark the occasion.
“These are images for history.
We will see them again in ten, twenty, fifty and even two hundred years.
»
France 2, 1:25 p.m.
A huge crowd is massed along the procession.
The special envoy of France Télévisions, in the middle of the public, has trouble finding her words: “The silence is impressive.
It is a silence impossible to describe…”
France 2, 2:15 p.m.
On set, there is a debate on the future of British royalty and the personality of Charles III.
Stéphane Bern would like to share an anecdote about Prince Charles, who then ran an organic biscuit company.
“In 1990, he was visiting France and I met him.
He asked me if I had tasted his cakes.
I answered yes.
I'm glad you survived,
he replied.
He is very funny.
»
PODCAST.
Elizabeth II, a life under the seal of duty
BFM TV, 2:40 p.m.
The cameras follow the hearse.
The anonymous massed along the route of course film the scene with their phones.
But, breaking the silence, applause also burst out from the crowd and bouquets of flowers were thrown on the road.
TF1, 2:59 p.m.
“These crowd images are just incredible,” says Gilles Bouleau, overcome with emotion when going on air.
Alongside Anne-Claire Coudray, he provided nearly six hours of live.
BFM TV, 3:00 p.m.
The hearse rolls towards Windsor, the Queen's final resting place, where the crowd also awaits.
“There are a lot of people here, around the castle.
This is very surprising, since the roads have been closed since 4 am.
You have to walk for miles to come.
But people continue to arrive…” is surprised the special correspondent of BFMTV.
LCI, 3:02 p.m.
Franck Ferrand breaks the ambient unanimity around the ceremony.
"Perhaps it was a little too long for the times we live in," wonders the director of the City of History.
“By dint of preparing everything down to the smallest detail, the spontaneity was a bit subdued”, also underlines the media historian less quick to praise.
And to give the floor to another specialist concerned, she, by Her Majesty's corgis… then later filmed in close-up by BFMTV.
France 2, 3:15 p.m.
On the set, we discuss the relationship of the French with the queen and, more generally, with royalty.
An opportunity for Stéphane Bern to recall a sentence from François Mitterrand: “My task is complicated, the French want me to be both Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher.
»
Read alsoWho is the Duke of Norfolk, whose family has crowned and buried British monarchs for 350 years?
CNews, 5:04 p.m.
“A word on the symbols of royalty placed on the coffin, insists Laurence Ferrari.
Yes, I'll come back to it, but it's important.
A few minutes later, Vincent Hervouët, editorial writer for Europe 1, does not go there with the back of the golden spoon.
"It's the triumph of the spectacle society what we see there..." What sums up this extraordinary and endless day.