LONDON (AFP) – Thousands queued overnight into yesterday to pay their last solemn respects to Queen Elizabeth II, with some choking back tears after seeing her coffin lying in state in London.
Britain’s longest-serving monarch, who died a week ago aged 96 after 70 years on the throne, is at rest in the capital’s Westminster Hall ahead of Monday’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey.
After waiting for more than 48 hours, the first public mourners were allowed into the vast mediaeval hall on Wednesday after the coffin left Buckingham Palace for the last time, in a ceremonial procession witnessed by tens of thousands.
Yesterday marked the first full day of Queen Elizabeth II’s lying-in-state – a last chance to say farewell to a much-loved monarch admired around the world for her steadfast sense of duty.
“Nation’s turn to say farewell,” the Daily Telegraph headlined on its front page, above an image of the coffin shortly after it had arrived inside the centuries-old hall in the United Kingdom (UK) parliamentary complex.
All Britain’s national newspapers carried similar images on their covers.
The queen’s casket, draped in the Royal Standard flag and bearing the Imperial State Crown plus the Orb and Sceptre, was raised high on a platform, with tall, flickering candles at each corner.
The coffin was being guarded by soldiers in ceremonial uniform, in a constant vigil.
One guard fainted off the podium overnight, in a sign of the toll standing vigil can take.
In sombre scenes, many people stopped and bowed or curtsied towards the coffin. Others crossed themselves, or removed their hats.
Some prayed towards the casket or wiped away tears with tissues. Others brought their infants in pushchairs. Old soldiers stopped and gave one last salute to their former commander-in-chief.
Accountant Sue Harvey, 50, was among those in tears after filing past the coffin.
“Inside it was really quiet, really calm, and incredibly emotional. A lot of people were in tears but there was a total silence. It was just so respectful,” she told AFP.
“I wanted to make sure I did see her no matter how long the queue was going to be, because I never met her when she was alive.”
