Posted at 7:00 p.m.
(London) In London, the wait has begun to see the Queen.
Elizabeth’s coffin is not due to arrive until 5 p.m. Wednesday at Westminster Hall, where it will be on display until next Monday, the day of the funeral. But there were already a dozen people in line Tuesday morning, at the foot of Lambeth Bridge, in anticipation of the Ardent Chapel.
“I arrived on Monday evening,” says Ann, who came directly from Cardiff, Wales, with her chair, duvets and a foldable mattress. “I first went to Westminster, but a policeman kindly made me understand that I had to wait here, on the other side of the river. »
Ann proudly claims the title of “number 2” in this embryonic line, which is already nicknamed the “E 2 queue” (for Elizabeth II), which could number up to 1 million people and stretch over more than 8 kilometers, according to projections.
She could have been number 1, but she was beaten by Vanessa, who we couldn’t talk to because she was in the bathroom, according to information from number 2. On the other hand, we did discussed with Grace and Delroy, respectively number 3 and number 4, as well as with Steven, astonishing number 8, on which we will come back a little later.
Ready for the test
These die-hard fans of the queen live their mourning to the fullest. In the end, they will have waited almost 48 hours before being able to parade in front of the royal coffin. This is much more than the 30 hours of waiting estimated for those who will line up in a more “normal” way starting Wednesday evening.
“But what is 48 hours to honor someone who reigned 70 years? asks Delroy, in a tone of evidence.
These sympathetic obsessives are obviously ready to do anything to be the first in the burning chapel. And they left nothing to chance in anticipation of their long wait.
PHOTO JEAN-CHRISTOPHE LAURENCE, THE PRESS
Delroy, “number 4”, shows off the African costume he will wear to the Ardent Chapel for Queen Elizabeth II.
Jamaican hat on his head, number 4 comes out of his suitcase a dish filled with cut vegetables, a bag of sweets and a box of cookies. “I should have enough to last until tomorrow” And then? “Afterwards, we’ll see,” he said, before showing off the African costume he’ll wear for the occasion and which he keeps dry in a cover.
Union Jack on the shoulders, number 3 brandishes a pot of Golden Shred marmalade, apparently the Queen’s favorite brand. Hair hat and Welsh flag, number 2 shows his mattress, his raincoat. ” I have everything I need. »
Last night they slept on the pavement. This morning, their mouths are dry and their brains are in compote, from answering questions from the press.
PHOTO JEAN-CHRISTOPHE LAURENCE, THE PRESS
A communications officer comes to the aid of Grace and Ann in front of numerous journalists.
The media circus is such that the Ministry of Culture has dispatched a communications manager to manage the journalistic pack that swoops down on them like gulls on fish and chips. “This gentleman is watching over us”, launches number 2, relieved, without hiding his exhaustion. In fact, two awnings appear when it starts to rain, an attention that will probably not be repeated beyond this handful of diehards.
“We couldn’t leave them like that without defence, we decided to take them in hand,” the communicator told us, without revealing his name.
dream of the queen
A few meters away, leaning against the low wall that runs along the river, Steven answers questions with a relaxed air. He arrived at 8 a.m. this morning, almost whistling. Which earned him a very respectable eighth place.
PHOTO JEAN-CHRISTOPHE LAURENCE, THE PRESS
Steven, “number 8”
He wears a nice white beard, a ponytail and Tibetan-style purple baggy pants. His old look hippie does not fit into this monarchist setting. You’d rather see him at a Grateful Dead concert.
And yet, he is the most lit of all. Because Number 8 says it has an “esoteric” connection to British royalty. Nothing less.
“In my past lives, I was a member of the court,” he said. I was a jester for King Henry VIII [1491-1547]. And I was knighted by Charles Ier [1600-1649].
“Hmm… Interesting. And the queen? Is there also a cosmic connection?
– Absolutely. She appeared to me in dreams three times, he said. The third time she said to me: “You again?” The second time, I was one of his employees.
– Oh good. And the first?
“She caught me having sex in a room at Buckingham Palace. I had to leave pretty quickly… Oh my God, I had never told anyone that! »
We don’t know if number 8 is serious. But he is seriously determined to hold on until the end. Like the others, he brought enough to survive the bad weather, the night, boredom: a large duvet, an umbrella and a friend to keep him company.
” Bad weather ? But I am English, sir! There can be tornadoes and waterspouts, I have no problem with that…”
In fact, the only waterspouts Number 8 dreads are the ones that will come out of his eyes when he finally stands before the queen’s coffin. Normal. For these groupies extremes, who have chosen to “suffer” for two days, the moment will undoubtedly be charged with powerful and uncontrollable emotions.
“Either I will hide my emotions, like a good Briton, or I will collapse on the ground and burst into tears, speculates number 8. Knowing me, it will rather be the second option.
“I’m not ashamed to say it. It is a very emotional time. We have the right to cry…”