The president of the United States, Joe Biden, went this Sunday to Lancaster House, the Victorian mansion in the London district of St. James where the book of condolences for the death of Elizabeth II has been arranged for international dignitaries, accompanied by the first lady Jill Biden.
Only he allowed himself to turn the act into an impromptu press conference, in which he explained to the media how he had told Carlos III - with whom he had previously met - that "he was going to have Elizabeth II by his side, day by day." day, minute by minute, during her reign”, and that the deceased monarch reminded her of her mother, “with that look in which she seemed to tell you that you should do the right thing”.
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The American leader has been the only protocol exception —with his journeys in the official car, and with the deference he has received—, in a logistics organization prepared to serve more than 2,000 guests: heads and former heads of state, and representatives of nations around the world.
The president of the United States went to Westminster Hall, the majestic hall where the coffin of Elizabeth II has remained for four days, to pay his respects together with his wife, Jill Biden.
Biden crossed himself before the catafalque, while dozens of people continued to parade on both sides of the coffin, after more than 10 hours of waiting.
The president of the Republic of France, Emmanuel Macron, along with his wife Brigitte, also passed through the burning chapel;
the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, or that of New Zealand, Jacinta Arden, as well as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and that of the European Council, Charles Michel.
The new king, Charles III, offered an official reception to all international leaders arriving in London in the early afternoon at Buckingham Palace.
Nearly 20,000 police officers and more than 2,000 soldiers have participated in an unprecedented logistics operation.
London has had to launch preparations equivalent to hundreds of state visits carried out at the same time.
And this while following the immense queue of citizens from all over the United Kingdom and many parts of the world to visit the funeral chapel and say their personal goodbye to the deceased monarch.
Late on Sunday, it was estimated that 850,000 people had filed past the coffin.
For half past six on Monday morning (half past seven in the morning, Spanish peninsular time),
state funeral
At 11:35 a.m. this Monday (12:35 p.m. in mainland Spain), the coffin of Elizabeth II will travel through the short space that separates the vestibule where the burning chapel of Westminster Abbey has been located these days, where the state funeral will be held.
Nearly 2,000 guests from all over the world attend the funeral of Elizabeth II.
Behind the coffin, on a military armor dragged by 250 members of the Royal Navy, will walk the new monarch, Carlos III, and other members of the British royal family.
Two minutes before the end of the funeral, at 11.58 local time, a solemn silence will be observed in the abbey, and throughout the United Kingdom, in honor of the deceased queen.
There will be one last funeral procession through the streets of London.
The coffin will parade, before the eyes of tens of thousands of Britons concentrated on the edge of the route, from Westminster to Wellington's Arch.
There he will be transferred to a hearse, which will take him to Windsor Castle, the residence where Elizabeth II spent, first with her husband Philip of Edinburgh, then alone, the long months of the pandemic.
In the Chapel of San Jorge, where the remains of the prince consort already rest, the final religious service will be held to bid farewell to Isabel II, before her son, Carlos III, participates together with his brothers and other members of the royal family in a private act.
It will be the new king who spreads a handful of earth on her mother's coffin before it is buried next to her husband's.
This Monday has been declared a national holiday across the UK.
The new monarch thanked the citizens, in a message late on Sunday, for all the signs of affection offered during the 11 days of mourning.
London has received more than a million visitors, and the surroundings of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Hall have been a logistical challenge for the police and the organization's volunteers.
But there have been few incidents or altercations of a few days in which the British and tourists have displayed an enormous exercise of respect for the memory of the monarch.
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