It is a difficult mourning that is gradually taking place for the British royal family: almost a week after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the members of her clan took part in a long procession in London this Wednesday after – noon, to transport the coffin of the sovereign from Buckingham Palace, where he spent the night, to that of Westminster where he will be exposed to the public until his funeral Monday, September 19.
And it was King Charles III, who, as in Scotland in recent days, led the procession, surrounded by his brothers and sisters but also, for the first time, by his two sons, Princes William and Harry, the first in a military costume, the second in a tuxedo, since he has now lost his military titles.
Angry for two years and the sudden departure of the youngest in the United States, the brothers have forgotten their quarrels to gather around their father and walk the streets of the capital followed by car by their wives, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, who had spent the night with them at Buckingham Palace after welcoming the Queen’s coffin.
A strong reunion image that inevitably recalls a disastrous day in September 1997: exactly 25 years ago, then teenagers, the two princes had already walked together behind Lady Diana’s coffin during their mother’s funeral. A difficult moment for the two brothers, traumatized by this walk a few days after his death.
They had also met during a procession for their grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, in April 2021, but the queen, wanting to avoid any controversy, had separated them thanks to their cousin, Peter Philips. He was also present but withdrawn this Wednesday, like all the grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II: Zara Tindall, accompanied by her husband Mike, Eugenie and Beatrice of York with their respective husbands and young Louise and James had of course made the trip, all by car.
A whole family that we had already seen this Saturday: with the exception of King Charles III and his sons, all had appeared at Balmoral where they had read, with great emotion, the little notes left for the queen. An exercise that princes William and Harry had repeated a few hours later in Windsor, making their first outing to four with their wives to meet the public massed behind the gates of the castle.