Queen Elizabeth II mourners nonetheless becoming a member of enormous line

British military veteran joins line to see queen

A British military veteran has traveled greater than 160 miles to hitch the lengthy line of individuals in London ready to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II.

Sporting a chest filled with medals from his years of army service, Bob Thompson, 61, stated he and his spouse had come from Somerset, in southwest England, for the funeral.

“We made the final minute determination to hitch the queue,” Thompson stated. The military veteran added that he doesn’t thoughts ready in line for the estimated 14 hours it may take to get to Westminster Corridor in central London, the place the queen is mendacity in state.

“I’m turning 62 tomorrow,” he stated. “I’ll spend it with the queen.”

Bob Thompson Corky Siemaszko / NBC Information

Bidens pay respects to the queen at Westminster Corridor

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall, London, on Sept. 18, 2022.
President Joe Biden and First Woman Jill Biden view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II mendacity in state on the catafalque in Westminster Corridor, London, on Sept. 18, 2022.Jacob King / Pool through AP

President Joe Biden and first girl Jill Biden traveled to Westminster Corridor Sunday to pay their respects to the queen as she lay in state.

After they arrived, the Bidens have been seen with the U.S. ambassador to the U.Ok., Jane Hartley, on a balcony overlooking mourners. The president, who’s Catholic, made the signal of the cross to the gang.

Royal mendacity in state traditions endure a century of change

When Queen Elizabeth II’s grandfather, King George V, died 86 years in the past, many properties in Britain had little or no electrical energy and huge components of the inhabitants nonetheless lived in slums.

Life in 1936 is unrecognizable to Britons immediately. However regardless of nearly a century of change, the photographs from the queen’s mendacity in state this week are nearly precise copies of these from when George V lay in state.

Members of the public pass the coffin of Britain's King George VI, as it lays in state, and the guard is changed in total silence, in Westminster Hall, London, on Feb. 13, 1952.
Members of the general public cross the coffin of Britain’s King George VI, because it lies in state, and the guard is modified in complete silence, in Westminster Corridor, London, on Feb. 13, 1952.AP file
Image: The coffin carrying Queen Elizabeth II rests in Westminster Hall for the lying in state on Sept. 14, 2022 in London.
The coffin carrying Queen Elizabeth II rests in Westminster Corridor for the mendacity in state on Wednesday.David Ramos / Getty Photos

Each used the identical huge, medieval Westminster Corridor with the coffin resting on a royal purple platform within the center. A brass cross is at one finish of the coffin, the royal normal is draped on prime, and tall candlesticks and scarlet and gold-clad ceremonial guards are rigorously positioned round it.

Historians say sustaining such traditions persistently via time is essential to preserving reverence for the monarchy.

Learn extra right here.


Chinese language officers barred from visiting the queen’s mendacity in state

Chinese language officers have been barred from visiting the Westminster Corridor for the queen’s mendacity in state, Home of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle advised the BBC on Sunday.

The choice to bar the Chinese language ambassador and accredited officers from attending Westminster Corridor in Parliament got here after seven members of the British Parliament and a peer have been sanctioned by Beijing final 12 months.

“To carry a reception within the Home of Commons when MPs and a peer have been sanctioned isn’t acceptable,” he stated.

‘You are doing nice!’ Steward cheers as 1000’s line up

33-year-old steward Rabia Sheikh cheering on the line of people waiting to see the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II lying in state, on Sunday.
Rabia SheikhCorky Siemaszko / NBC Information

Because the plenty marched via mazes at Southwark Park to select up their wristbands to permit them to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster, steward Rabia Sheikh cheered them on.

“Good afternoon, stunning individuals,” Sheikh, 33, stated, smiling, and with an more and more hoarse voice, “You’re doing nice! Properly performed.”

A muffled Massive Ben to punctuate final days of mourning

Parliament’s iconic clock bell, generally known as Massive Ben, will ring Sunday at 8 p.m. (3 p.m. ET) to mark what the federal government has known as a nationwide second of reflection.

Image: Members of the public walk down towards Westminster Hall, to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London on Sept. 18, 2022.
Members of the general public stroll down towards Westminster Corridor, to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London, on Sept. 18.Loic Venance / AFP – Getty Photos

The bell will then be rung once more after the tip of the minute of silence, in response to an announcement from Parliament, with a muffler getting used to supply a quieter tone. Massive Ben will once more toll on Monday at one-minute intervals as an enormous procession departs after the state funeral service.

‘Pricey Mummy’: Prince Andrew’s private tribute to the queen

Prince Andrew, the third youngster and second son of Queen Elizabeth II, launched a private tribute to the late monarch on Sunday.

“Mummy, your love for a son, your compassion, your care, your confidence I’ll treasure perpetually,” the Duke of York stated in an announcement.

Image: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew, Duke of York attend Royal Ascot 2017 on June 22, 2017 in Ascot, England.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew, Duke of York, attend Royal Ascot 2017 on June 22, 2017. Chris Jackson / Getty Photos file

Lately, Andrew has defended himself towards allegations of sexually abusing underage ladies via his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of procuring a toddler for prostitution.

In January, Buckingham Palace introduced that Andrew was returning his army affiliations and royal patronages to his mom the queen. In February, he settled a lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, who alleged that she was 17 years previous when she was trafficked by Epstein and abused by Andrew.

‘Price it’: Mourner who joined line at 2:30 a.m. has no regrets

Dave Wheeler, 71, of Birmingham, picked up his wristband around 2:30 am at Southwark Park and by 10 a.m he'd gotten near the London Eye and figured he had another dozen hours of slow-walking to go before he reached the queen.
Dave Wheeler, 71, of Birmingham.Corky Siemaszko / NBC Information

Dave Wheeler of Birmingham stated he picked up a wristband that may enable him to see the queen mendacity in state at round 2:30 a.m. on Sunday (9 p.m. Saturday ET) in Southwark Park in South London.

By 10 a.m. he’d gotten close to the London Eye, which is a brief stroll from Westminster Corridor the place Elizabeth’s casket is. He figured he had one other dozen hours of sluggish strolling to go earlier than he reached the queen.

“It’s price it,” Wheeler, 71, stated. “The largest problem dealing with King Charles is holding the Commonwealth collectively. The queen was the glue.”

Greater than 1,000 mourners in line have acquired medical therapy

Greater than 1,000 individuals in line to see the queen’s coffin and in surrounding areas have acquired medical therapy since Wednesday, London’s ambulance service stated Sunday.

Out of just about 300 sufferers, 17 had been taken to the hospital on Wednesday, it stated. That quantity had climbed to 55 out of 400 on Saturday. Mourners have been within the lengthy line for hours, enduring the chillier climate.

Queen’s love for animals went past corgis

They’re maligned in the US as rats with wings. However in the UK, pigeons maintain a extra revered place as completed racers and little-known favorites of Queen Elizabeth II.

Lengthy earlier than the queen turned Britain’s longest reigning monarch, the younger princess took a eager curiosity in animals of all styles and sizes, together with pigeons, horses and, in fact, corgis.

She was additionally an avid sportswoman, typically pictured angling in Scotland with Prince Philip or driving herself to the horse stables at Sandringham Property. Her trademark printed headscarves, tweeds and galoshes used on searching, taking pictures and fishing expeditions have been as recognizable as her purses.

Learn extra right here.

King Charles III to host overseas leaders, new U.Ok. prime minister

Britain’s new King Charles III, Camilla, the Queen Consort, and different members of the royal household will host a reception for overseas friends and heads of state at Buckingham Palace on Sunday night.

Forward of the reception, the king will meet with the primeministers of Tuvalu, Antigua and Barbuda, and Papua New Guinea.

And at lunchtime, the king will host the newly elected prime minister of the U.Ok., Liz Truss, additionally at Buckingham Palace.

Lining up in a single day to pay their respects

Image: The Nation Prepares To Pay Their Final Respects To Queen Elizabeth II
Members of the general public lined up in a single day to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II.Ian Forsyth / Getty Photos

Queen Elizabeth’s difficult LGBTQ legacy

In 1952, when Queen Elizabeth II took the throne after the demise of her father, same-sex sexual relations have been criminalized in Britain. The identical legal guidelines have been additionally dropped at the Commonwealth nations that it colonized. 

By the point she died, the panorama for lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, transgender and queer rights regarded dramatically totally different — at the very least in the UK — partly as a result of she accredited of many pro-LGBTQ measures, similar to same-sex marriage.

That help has led some to argue that she was a “quiet” supporter of LGBTQ rights, however to others she was simply doing her job.

Learn the complete story right here.

The general public proceed to pay their respects

Image: People queue to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II during the Lying-in State, outside Westminster Hall in London on Sept. 18, 2022.
Folks queue to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II throughout the mendacity in state, exterior Westminster Corridor in London on Sunday. Emilio Morenatti / AP
Image: The King's Body Guard, formed of Gentlemen at Arms, Yeomen of the Guard and Scots Guards, change guard duties around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, lying in state inside Westminster Hall in London on Sept. 18, 2022.
The King’s Physique Guard, fashioned of Gents at Arms, Yeomen of the Guard and Scots Guards, change guard duties across the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, mendacity in state inside Westminster Corridor in London on Sunday.Adrian Dennis / Pool through AFP – Getty Photos

Man charged in incident close to queen’s coffin

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A person has been charged in reference to an incident Friday at Westminster Corridor, the place the queen has been mendacity in state, London police stated Saturday.

A 28-year-old man was arrested and charged with shifting to trigger alarm, harassment or misery, in response to an announcement from London’s Metropolitan Police. He was scheduled to look on the Westminster Magistrates’ courtroom Monday.

A Parliamentary spokesperson stated an individual had “moved out of the queue and towards the Catafalque,” or raised platform.

The particular person was faraway from the corridor and the queue resumed with “minimal disruption,” the spokesperson stated.

The platform the place the queen’s coffin is displayed was being guarded always by the Sovereign’s Bodyguard, Foot Guards or the Family Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

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