William and Harry stand vigil with cousins at queen’s coffin

A whole lot of hundreds of individuals have lined up ready to file previous the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II.

vigil at Queen Elizabeth's coffin
Queen Elizabeth II's grandchildren (clockwise from entrance centre) Prince of Wales Peter Phillips, James, Viscount Severn, Princess Eugenie, the duke of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Girl Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall maintain a vigil beside the coffin of their grandmother because it lies in state [Yui Mok/Pool via Reuters]

All eight of Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren stood in silent vigil beside her coffin on Saturday, capping one other large day wherein hundreds got here to pay their final respects.

Mourners huddled in a line that snaked throughout London, enduring the town’s coldest night time in months and waits that stretched as much as 16 hours.

Authorities warned that extra chilly climate was anticipated Saturday night time. “Tonight’s forecast is chilly. Heat clothes is advisable,” the ministry answerable for the road tweeted.

Princes William and Harry stood in silence at both finish of the coffin, heads bowed, for the 15-minute vigil within the huge Westminster Corridor the place the coffin has been mendacity since Wednesday, as a line of mourners streamed previous the late monarch’s lying-in-state.

The queen died on September 8 at her summer time property within the Scottish highlands, aged 96.

A whole lot of hundreds of individuals have lined up for lengthy hours in a queue stretching alongside the River Thames, ready to file previous the coffin and honour the queen – an affidavit to the affection wherein she was held.

Earlier on Saturday, Charles and his inheritor William shook palms and greeted well-wishers within the queue, asking folks how lengthy that they had been there and whether or not they had been heat sufficient.

To shouts of “God save the king”, Charles and William spoke to mourners close to Lambeth Bridge, as they neared the tip of the lengthy line to see the lying-in-state within the historic Westminster Corridor.

On Friday night time, Charles joined his three siblings – Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward – in a silent vigil on the coffin.

“She wouldn’t imagine all this, she actually wouldn’t,” William was heard telling one man of the late queen, who got here to the throne in 1952. “It’s wonderful.” One lady instructed Charles it had been “well worth the wait” and others wished him effectively and cheered as he moved down the road.

World leaders arrive in London

Prematurely of the state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday, world leaders additionally began arriving within the British capital.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had been among the many dignitaries to pay their final respects on Saturday, whereas New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was seen curtsying to the coffin on Friday.

US President Joe Biden was anticipated to go to the lying-in-state on Sunday.

On Saturday, Charles met leaders of the 14 international locations the place he's head of state equivalent to Canada, Australia, and Jamaica after assembly the governors normal – the individuals who symbolize the monarch in abroad realms – at Buckingham Palace.

London’s police power has described the funeral as the largest safety operation it has ever undertaken as prime ministers, presidents and royals come collectively and big crowds throng the streets.

The king visited police headquarters on Saturday to thank emergency providers employees concerned within the planning.

Underscoring the dangers, police mentioned one man had been arrested after a witness instructed Sky Information he “ran as much as the queen’s coffin”. Footage confirmed a person being pinned to the bottom by law enforcement officials and brought away.

Contained in the silent corridor, some mourners wept whereas present troopers and veterans saluted their former commander-in-chief. Others within the line fell to their knees.

There was an outpouring of emotion throughout the nation and 10 days of choreographed occasions because the queen died at Balmoral in Scotland. Her coffin was at first laid at relaxation in Edinburgh earlier than being flown south to London.

The queen’s youngsters have described being overwhelmed by the response to their mom’s dying.

The state funeral, to be attended by practically 100 presidents and heads of presidency, is prone to be one of many greatest ceremonial occasions ever held in the UK.

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