By MIKE CORDER, JILL LAWLESS and DANICA KIRKA
LONDON (AP) — 1000's of police, a whole lot of British troops and a military of officers made closing preparations Sunday for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II — a spectacular show of nationwide mourning that may also be the largest gathering of world leaders for years.
U.S. President Joe Biden and different world leaders have flown into London for the funeral, to which round 500 royals, heads of state and heads of presidency from across the globe have been invited.
Because the dignitaries poured in, the clock was ticking down for these searching for a spot in most huge queue any of them have ever seen to file previous the queen’s coffin because it lies in state at Westminster Corridor. The miles-long queue is anticipated to be closed to new arrivals later Sunday so that everybody in line can view the coffin earlier than Monday morning, when it will likely be taken to Westminster Abbey for the queen’s funeral.
Household by household, 1000's of individuals stored lining up across the clock, braving chilly in a single day temperatures and waits of as much as 17 hours in a queue that stretched for over 5 miles (8 kilometers).
Lauren Wilson, a 36-year-old pupil, was within the a lot shorter queue for folks with mobility points. She stated she wished to expertise in individual the coffin mendacity in state.
“The world is in such a bizarre place after which this occurred. It feels extra momentous,” she stated.
She frightened that the pageantry surrounding Elizabeth’s dying deprives the queen’s kin of the flexibility to come back to phrases with their loss.
“The household usually are not allowed to grieve. I discover it fairly heartbreaking,” she stated.
The queen’s eight grandchildren, led by inheritor to the throne Prince William, circled the coffin and stood with their heads bowed throughout a silent vigil on Saturday night.
Among the many international leaders in London was New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who informed the BBC she was humbled to signify her nation on the funeral and to witness the nationwide outpouring of grief and respect for the late queen.
“The factor that I'll take away from this era is simply the great thing about the general public’s response, the kindness that you simply see from members of the general public, the endurance, the camaraderie. That has been, for me, essentially the most transferring tribute of all, has been the general public response of the British folks,” she stated.
King Charles III was holding a reception for heads of state and different leaders Sunday night at Buckingham Palace.
Individuals throughout the U.Okay. may also pause Sunday night for a nationwide minute of silence to recollect the queen, who died Sept. 8 at 96 after 70 years on the throne. Monday has been declared a public vacation, and the funeral will likely be broadcast to an enormous tv viewers worldwide and screened to crowds in parks and public areas throughout the nation.
Law enforcement officials from across the nation will likely be on obligation as a part of the largest one-day policing operation in London’s historical past.
Crowds additionally gathered Sunday close to Windsor Fortress, the place the queen will likely be laid to relaxation at a non-public household ceremony on Monday night.
“I feel it’s been superb,” stated Anna Pettigrew, a 55-year-old instructor. “It’s been very emotional, and I feel it’s been a really becoming tribute to a beautiful queen.”
Camilla, the brand new queen consort, paid tribute to the queen in a video message, saying the monarch “carved her personal position” as a “solitary girl” on a world stage dominated by males.
“I'll all the time keep in mind her smile. That smile is unforgettable,” stated Camilla, who's married to Charles.
Prince Andrew additionally paid tribute to his mom, saying he would ceaselessly treasure “your love for a son, your compassion, your care, your confidence.”
“I'll miss your insights, recommendation and humor,” he stated.
Andrew, the third of the queen’s 4 kids, has been relieved of official royal duties and stripped of his honorary army titles over his friendship with the late intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.
After queen’s 4 kids — Charles, Princess Anne, Andrew and Prince Edward — held a vigil Friday round her coffin, on Saturday evening it was the grandchildren’s flip.
William and Prince Harry, Charles’ sons, have been joined by Anne’s kids, Zara Tindall and Peter Philips; Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie; and Edward’s two kids — Woman Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
William stood along with his head bowed on the head of the coffin and Harry on the foot. Each princes, who're army veterans, have been in uniform. The gang stored slowly, silently submitting previous.
“You would see that they have been pondering laborious about their grandmother, the queen,” stated Ian Mockett, a civil engineer from Oxford in southern England. “It was good to see all of them collectively as a set of grandchildren, given the issues which have occurred over the previous couple of years.”
Earlier than the vigil, Beatrice and Eugenie issued an announcement praising their “beloved grannie.”
“We, like many, thought you’d be right here ceaselessly. And all of us miss you terribly. You have been our matriarch, our information, our loving hand on our backs main us by way of this world. You taught us a lot and we'll cherish these classes and reminiscences ceaselessly,” the sisters wrote.
The silence in Westminster Corridor was damaged briefly Friday when a person lunged on the coffin. London police stated Sunday that 28-year-old Muhammad Khan of London has been charged with conduct meant to “trigger alarm, harassment or misery.” He'll seem in courtroom on Monday.
The lying-in-state continues till early Monday morning, when the queen’s coffin will likely be moved on a gun carriage pulled by 142 Royal Navy sailors to close by Westminster Abbey for the funeral, the finale of 10 days of nationwide mourning for Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
After the service Monday on the abbey, the late queen’s coffin will likely be transported by way of the historic coronary heart of London on the state gun carriage. It's going to then be taken in a hearse to Windsor, the place the queen will likely be interred alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died final 12 months at 99.
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Observe AP protection of Queen Elizabeth II at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii