Before the Queen's funeral: Great Britain says goodbye to a gigantic state act
Created: 09/18/2022, 22:06
By: Helena Gries
Before Queen Elizabeth II is buried at Windsor Castle on Monday, thousands of people say goodbye to the monarch's coffin in Westminster Hall.
LONDON – Mourning has become a major event in Great Britain.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, thousands of people lined up in what is probably the most famous queue in the world to bid farewell to their queen and an era in front of the monarch's coffin in Westminster Hall.
Before the historic state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, high-ranking guests such as US President Joe Biden paid their respects to the Queen on Sunday (September 18).
Ex-footballer David Beckham also waited in line for about twelve hours to say goodbye to the queen.
Thousands of people did the same.
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For the gigantic act of state, the police, secret services and anti-terrorist units in Great Britain are coordinating one of the largest security operations that the capital has ever experienced.
Over 10,000 members of the British military are said to be deployed.
"It's huge," Chief of Defense Staff Admiral Tony Radakin told the
BBC
.
In view of the masses of mourners, the British Ministry of Culture called on Twitter on Sunday to stop queuing for the Queen's coffin.
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral can be followed on September 19 on TV and live stream.
Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8 at the age of 96 at her Scottish country estate, Balmoral Castle.
Her coffin will remain in state in Westminster Hall - the oldest part of the British Parliament - until early Monday morning.
Finally, on Monday, there will be a service in Westminster Abbey.
Police officers stand on Westminster Bridge near Westminster Hall with people queuing to bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth II at the coffin in Parliament.
© Christian Charisius/dpa
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Numerous representatives of the European aristocracy have also been announced, such as Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, US President Biden and the First Lady of the USA, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazil's Head of State Jair Bolsonaro, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Japanese Emperor Naruhito.
A government official told the
BBC
the effort was comparable to 100 state visits in a matter of days.
British Queen | Queen Elizabeth II |
|---|---|
Born on the | 21 April 1926, Bruton Street, London, United Kingdom |
deceased on | 8 September 2022, Balmoral Castle, United Kingdom |
After the service in the famous Westminster Abbey on Monday, the actual burial will not take place in London but in Windsor to the west, where the coffin will be driven.
The Queen is to receive her final resting place in the evening at a private funeral in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle - alongside her husband Prince Philip, who died last year.
(hg/dpa)