As far as we can remember, the British had never shown such devotion to a sovereign. Nearly a million people filed past the coffin of the late queen. Flowers as far as the eye can see have flooded the gardens of the royal palace. The funeral of the century concludes Monday with a ceremony bringing together 500 dignitaries from around the world.
The parterre of Green Park, near Buckingham Palace, gave rise to a frankly impressive scene this week. A sea of flowers covered a portion of the park beyond sight. Uninterrupted streams of people piled up their bouquets in immense heaps. The floral scent powerfully perfumed the air.
Thin dirt paths allowed the mourners to move between the huge carpet of flowers to meditate. You could read “Thank you” on the cards placed everywhere. Here, we notice a DIY Corgi. There, a photo of cows with the mention “to you who liked the countryside”. Again: “You have been an inspiration to us all. »
A quote from the queen was repeated in several places: “Sorrow is the price you pay for love. Flags from all over the world (Canada, Chile, Japan, Portugal…) adorned the magnificent painting.
This surge of love for Queen Elizabeth II overflowed the place provided for the deposit of tributes. Until leaving the park, there were few trees without a crown of bouquets at their feet. The wreaths continued to pour in on Sunday evening.
“When Princess Diana died, there was the same thing, but not as immensely,” explains Chris Karr, who came to lay yet another bouquet with her daughter. “I’ve never seen that, it’s incredible. There’s something about the queen, who was bigger than all of us. I lose my words. »
A minute’s silence brought everyone to attention at 8 p.m. in Green Park, across London, and eventually across the UK. Emotional applause broke this moment of national recollection, followed by a final cry: ” God save the Queen “.
Right next to it, many people were already occupying the area around The Mall Avenue in the evening, the span on which the Queen will pass on Monday on her way to her final rest. All being ready to spend the night there in order to be at the forefront of the passage of the funeral procession. For lack of space elsewhere, it was said, because the public sections near the Palace of Westminster were already packed with loyal subjects, nearly 16 hours before the start of the funeral.
Chairs and ground mattresses were to help the public to spend the night there, the tents being counted by tens.
Julie Taylor installed hers around 4 p.m. so as not to miss a thing. “I want to be part of history. I came with my son, Oscar, and I hope that when he gets old he can remember the moment he said a final goodbye to the Queen. »
A huge queue
The Queen’s passing has spawned one of the biggest queues in history. Thousands of people waited in an 8 kilometer long queue for the privilege of bowing before the late sovereign’s coffin in Westminster Hall, Britain’s oldest chamber of parliament. The latest reports estimated that in four days, 750,000 people had marched to pay homage to the late queen. The million mark has probably been exceeded, according to a supervisor in charge of managing the crowd.
Sunday evening, the latecomers disembarked by taxi or at a run so as not to miss the chance of their life. A small sign reading “The Queen of Peace” and bouquets of flowers awaited these admirers at the start of an average of twelve hours of waiting.
The queue crisscrossed the south side of the Thames in front of the most beautiful monuments of the capital: Shakespeare’s Theatre, the City of London, a warship that can be visited, Tower Bridge or the cathedral of Southwark, old 800 years.
Now, the English people only had one for their queen.
This outpouring of love has become a kind of attraction in itself. Laetitia Choinet, a Frenchwoman who has lived in London for twenty years, spent her afternoon observing the uninterrupted flow of people. “The English really have a sense of community, for things like that at least. The atmosphere vibrates with a single movement. For the jubilee too, it was extraordinary. »
Others watch the column weighing the future. The queen’s death is also a new chapter in the royal soap opera that punctuates discussions in British salons. “I can’t wait to see Prince William on the throne,” said Londoner Ali Mustafa. “They will be good monarchs. I don’t like King Charles. I don’t forgive him for what he did to Princess Diana. »
Some merchants took the opportunity to sell souvenirs. The time was perfect to sell the last pennants of the platinum jubilee celebrated last February. Trinkets with the effigy of King Charles III remained untraceable.
Everyone in the procession had nothing but compliments on their lips. “She’s been there all our lives. It’s up to us to be there for her, ”we heard repeatedly. Others simply reply, eyes cloudy, “she was our queen”, as if the word alone explained everything.
One of the last to get in the queue, Nikla Theyse, explains her delay because she comes from Manchester and she wanted to avoid the 18 hour wait of the first days. She hurriedly falls into line. Missing that funeral would have haunted her all her life. “She was our last queen. There will never be more like her. No one can replace her. »
After a final procession on Monday, Elizabeth II will be buried in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, west London, where English monarchs have been buried for more than 200 years.
The celebration will be broadcast on giant screens across the country as well as on televisions around the world.
This report was financed thanks to the support of the Transat International Journalism Fund.The duty.