In Westminster Hall, the Queen’s casket is currently lying in state. This afternoon, it traveled from Parliament Square and Horse Guards Parade down the Mall to the Palace of Westminster.
Almost 25 years ago, during the funeral procession for their late mother, Princess Diana, Harry and William strolled a solemn route. As he honored his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry was captured in mourning as he stood by his wife Megham Markle.
The public will be able to visit Westminster Hall to pay their respects to the Queen while she is lying in state. The lying-in-state will end early on Monday, September 19, and the coffin will be carried in procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, where the state funeral service will be held.The media is reporing that lines to pay farewell from the public are almost three miles long and a long wait of 24 hours or more- depending on when people arrived in line.
Over the next five days, London is anticipated to become the center of attention as more than 100 heads of state, including American President Joe Biden who will travel to the British capital to attend farewell ceromonies. The legendary red-uniformed Buckingham Palace royal guards played a key role in the meticulously prepared procession on Wednesday. Until dusk on Monday, the day of her funeral, President Biden ordered all American flags to be flown at half-staff at the White House and all other government buildings, grounds, military installations, naval stations, navy ships, and consular offices abroad.
King Charles III and other royal family members sadly followed the coffin as it was pulled by a gun carriage draped in a royal flag and topped with an imperial state crown and floral wreath. Many members of the public who were present at the historic event were moved to tears as the procession traveled through some of London’s most illustrious avenues.
Photo Credits: “The Royal Family” Facebook Offficial page
