The United Kingdom, in mourning since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, froze for a minute of silence on Sunday evening, on the eve of a state funeral which promises to be grandiose with a huge crowd and dignitaries from the whole world.
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As the national mourning following the death of the sovereign on September 8 comes to an end, the British were invited to observe this minute of silence at home, on their doorstep or in their street, or during events. community and vigils.
The sovereign, who died at 96, was extremely popular after more than 70 years of reign, an unprecedented longevity in British history. To the point that tens or even hundreds of thousands of people have lined up, up to more than 24 hours, night and day, since Wednesday to gather in front of his coffin, exposed in Westminster Hall, the oldest room in the British parliament. .
The public, who continued to queue on Sunday evening, still have until 6:30 a.m. Monday to gather in front of the queen’s coffin. These Britons were joined by heads of state and government over the weekend.
US President Joe Biden, accompanied by his wife Jill, made the sign of the cross on Sunday afternoon in front of the coffin of the late sovereign. He paid tribute to the sense of “dignity” and “service” of Elizabeth II, who died on September 8 at the age of 96.
French President Emmanuel Macron came on Sunday evening with his wife Brigitte. “We share the pain of the British,” he told reporters earlier.
The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen or the King of Spain, Felipe VI, also bowed before the remains of the Queen, as well as the Ukrainian first lady, Olena Zelenska, visibly very moved.
Foreign leaders were received at Buckingham Palace in the early evening for King Charles III’s first major diplomatic meeting. More than 200 leaders had been invited.
First lodges
Monday will be a bank holiday in the UK for this state funeral, the first since that of Winston Churchill in 1965. Some 2,000 guests, including heads of state and government from around the world, will gather at Westminster Abbey , where Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953, for the culmination of tributes paid in immense emotion since the death of the monarch to planetary popularity.
The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. They will be led by the Dean of Westminster David Hoyle. The sermon will be delivered by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the Anglican Church of which the British sovereign is the formal head. An hour later, the ceremony will end with the national anthem.
The coffin will then be pulled from the gun carriage towards Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner, near Buckingham Palace, followed by the Royal Family and a procession, to the sound of Big Ben and cannon shots. The crowd should be massed throughout this course.
The funeral will be broadcast on giant screens and in cinemas across the country.
“Not a boring service”
The organization of these funerals represents an unprecedented security challenge, and mobilizes thousands of police and military personnel.
On the outskirts of Westminster Hall, the most ardent were already camping on Friday to secure a place of choice. To his surprise, Shaleen MacLeod, from Glasgow (Scotland), managed to secure a place in the front line on Sunday morning to see the procession pass on Monday. “I expected to be behind,” explained to AFP this fervent admirer of the queen.
It will be “the best of funeral ceremonies,” former Archbishop of York John Sentamu warned the BBC. The Queen did not want a “boring” service, he added, announcing a ceremony that would “elevate” and “warm” hearts.
Last of the Queen’s children to pay tribute to her, Prince Andrew, reputedly favorite son of Elizabeth II and who fell into disgrace after accusations of sexual abuse ended in a financial agreement, hailed her “compassion”, her “trust” , his “advice” and his “humor”.
Rising popularity
As if to both gauge and maintain the bond between the British and the royal family, the Queen’s children and grandchildren have increased their meetings with the public in recent days, while the period of mourning crushes all other news in the Kingdom. United.
Since the 70th anniversary celebrations of Elizabeth II’s reign in June, the proportion of Britons who want to keep the monarchy has risen by five points, to 67%, according to a YouGov poll published on Sunday. Charles recorded a jump in popularity (70% favorable opinions), but remained behind his son William (84%) and his wife, Kate (80%).
After a final procession, Elizabeth II will be buried privately on Monday in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, west London, next to her father, King George VI, and her husband, Prince Philip. .