The surroundings of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey were a labyrinth this Saturday where streams of people wandered clueless, followed the orders of the police and volunteers without question when they were diverted to one side and the other, and all shared a sense of expectation and the final stretch of a long duel.
At that point, it no longer made sense to join a queue – the one at the entrance to the funeral chapel of Elizabeth II, in Westminster Hall – that meant at least 14 hours of waiting.
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People placed flowers under the trees of Green Park, on the statue that honors the fallen soldiers of the two world wars, next to the Wellington Arch, or on the fences that surround the park.
Close to two million people have flocked to London this weekend, and the entire city has become a tribute to Elizabeth II.
The authorities have already made it clear that, at some point this Sunday, the line - one of the longest in the history of the United Kingdom, at almost 10 kilometers in length - will have to be cut.
It is the only way to guarantee that all those waiting can see the coffin of the deceased monarch, which has been installed since Wednesday in the catafalque, in the center of the majestic lobby that is Westminster Hall.
It is estimated that there can be up to 800,000 people who end up parading through the burning chapel.
At half past six on Monday morning (half past seven, Spanish peninsular time), the burning chapel will be closed to the public.
royal surprise
At mid-morning, the new king, Charles III, and his son and heir, William, now Prince of Wales, appeared by surprise at the final stretch of the queue, on the south bank of the Thames, on the straight that leads to Citizens waiting towards Lambeth Bridge.
From there, down Millbank, they finally arrive at their destination.
"What a good idea it was to come with those sneakers," Guillermo said to one of the dozens of people, in that section of the line, who extended their hand to shake his.
"I think my grandmother would have been the first surprised to see how people have reacted," he explained.
His father, a few meters ahead of him, was talking to some, smiling at others, shaking hands with everyone who extended theirs and seemed in no hurry to end this mass bath.
Carlos III understood better than anyone that the opportunity created by a gigantic-scale national duel was ideal for deploying a broad public relations exercise.
Perhaps he was not the most beloved heir for years, after the underground war between him and Lady Di, but his prestige has been largely recovered over time, and the closeness shown these days with the citizens —at the Palace gate of Buckingham, the first day he entered as king;
in the streets of Edinburgh or those of Belfast - have notably played in favor of his good image.
On Friday afternoon, the group of citizens who paraded before the coffin of Isabel II had to feel their clothes when they saw how the monarch's children guarded the body in a vigil of just eight minutes.
Charles III, Princess Anne, and Princes Edward and Andrew wore uniforms.
The royal house had allowed the Duke of York, removed from the functions of public representation due to his link to the scandal of the American millionaire pederast, Jeffrey Epstein, to be able to wear his military finery on this occasion.
Just as Prince Harry has been allowed, also removed from the activities of the royal house and
exiled
in the United States with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children.
The prince participated in the vigil this Saturday around the coffin, along with the rest of the grandchildren -eight- of Elizabeth II.
He and his brother William went to Westminster Hall in uniform.
state ceremony
Carlos III will receive this Sunday, in a state ceremony at Buckingham Palace, a large part of the almost 500 heads and former heads of state who will be in London to attend the funeral for the monarch, which will be held at 11:00 on Monday ( 12.00, Spanish peninsular time) in Westminster Abbey.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are visiting the British capital, who will stay at the Spanish Embassy, as well as King Emeritus Juan Carlos I and his wife, Sofía, who will spend the night in a London hotel.
Don Felipe and Doña Letizia will attend the Buckingham reception.
Throughout Sunday, international dignitaries who wish may visit the funeral chapel and show their respect to Elizabeth II.
Among them, the presence of the kings of Spain is expected.
The newly appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss, will hold bilateral meetings over the weekend with some of the international leaders who have arrived in London, although finally, due to a matter of agenda, she will not be able to do so with the most desired, the US president, Joe Biden.
It will have to be throughout the week in New York, where many of those present had intended to travel this very weekend to the UN General Assembly, until the death of Elizabeth II disrupted the plans of half the planet.
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