Britain is holding its breath:
in the next day, an unprecedented air train of world leaders will arrive in London: about 500 heads of state, members of royal families, senior ministers and senior ministers are expected to land in the British capital starting in the morning, in what has already been defined in the British press as "the largest political gathering in modern history".
Queen Elizabeth at Cambridge University.
April 2011, photo: Reuters
For the hosts, this is an extraordinary logistical challenge.
For the first time, dozens of world leaders will be forced in the next two days to give up their large official delegations and move around London in buses and special shared transportation that will be assigned for this purpose.
"It's like organizing a hundred state visits at once," a concerned senior official at the British Foreign Office told the BBC. "This is an unprecedented task, and the potential for mistakes is huge."
Israel was represented at the events by President Yitzhak Herzog, who will leave this morning with his wife Michal for a quick visit to London during which he will express his condolences on behalf of the people of Israel to King Charles, the royal family and the British people.
Herzog will be among the only leaders, besides the President of the United States, Joe Biden, who received an exemption from transportation in the special buses and were allowed to arrive at events in a private vehicle for security reasons.
The heir to the throne, Prince William surprised those waiting in line with his father the king,
The list of participants reveals how complex and important a political event such a global gathering is: while US President Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German President Walter Steinmeier, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan, Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Turkish President Reg. Tayyip Erdogan and many others were invited and will come to London - six countries were not invited at all: Russia, Belarus, Syria, Myanmar, Venezuela and Afghanistan.
Beckham waited 13 hours
On the other hand, the wife of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Olena Zelenska, will come to represent her country.
"This is no coincidence," political sources in London told the "Sun" newspaper, "this is further proof that Russia is isolated from the world.
Zelenska's presence at the funeral is a sign of our standing by Ukraine.'
Iran will be represented at a low level by only an ambassador, while Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been invited and is expected to arrive in London for the first time since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Beckham refused to be cut short, photo: Reuters
During the weekend, the pilgrimage of thousands of citizens continued to Westminster Hall to pass the Queen's coffin.
The huge queues that stretch for many kilometers along the banks of the Thames have become the talk of the day in the kingdom and a social phenomenon that includes live broadcasts and a huge presence on social networks.
Thus, for example, the former captain of the England soccer team, David Beckham, stood in line for 13 hours because he refused the offer to shorten what was already defined as the "longest line in the world".
The authorities in London even created a "queue for a queue" in which the visitors are also forced to wait for many hours.
In addition, embarrassment was recorded when one of those entering the hall unexpectedly tried to take a flag placed on the Queen's coffin.
The security forces jumped on the man and grounded him in front of the astonished crowd.
Queues, screens and speakers at the foot of Windsor, photo: IPA
At the same time, in London and Windsor Castle - where the Queen will be brought to burial tomorrow - the general rehearsals for the official events began yesterday.
The large accumulation of events since the Queen's passing is showing its signs in the members of the royal family, who at the end of the week admitted to their close associates that they are "exhausted".
The personal tensions between the different parts of the family, which have been masked with some success until now, are beginning to rise to the surface again.
According to some reports, in the last day it was made clear to Harry and Meghan that they are not invited to the official dinner that the King will host today for many of the world leaders at Buckingham Palace, on the grounds that it is intended for "active family members only".
It is estimated that with the end of the days of mourning, and without the authoritative figure of Queen Elizabeth, the internal tensions in the family will intensify - in what could be a blow to the popularity of the incoming king.
The following participated in the preparation of the news: Yuri Yalon
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