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Tag: Queen's funeral

  • King Charles, siblings pay respect to Queen Elizabeth’s coffin at Westminster Hall

    King Charles and his siblings stood vigil by the coffin of their late mom Queen Elizabeth on Friday as tens of hundreds of mourners queuing to pay their closing respects throughout her mendacity in state had been informed they confronted a wait of as much as 24 hours.

    Charles, Princess Anne, Princes Andrew and Edward, attired in navy uniforms, stood in silence with their heads bowed for the 15-minute vigil on the historic Westminster Hall the place the coffin of the late monarch has been mendacity since Wednesday.

    Most of the opposite members of the British royal household, together with a number of the queen’s great-grandchildren, watched from a gallery.

    Tens of hundreds of individuals of all ages and from all walks of life have already filed previous the coffin in a relentless, solemn stream to pay tribute to the queen, who died in Scotland on Sept. 8 on the age of 96 after a 70-year reign.

    ALSO READ | King Charles and sons escort Queen Elizabeth’s coffin as individuals line as much as pay respects

    Despite the warning of how lengthy it could take to succeed in the constructing, mourners continued to affix a well-organised line that stretched alongside the south financial institution of the Thames then over the river to parliament’s Westminster Hall, figuring out their wait would final via the night time when temperatures had been forecast to be chilly.

    “We have been overwhelmed by the tide of emotion that has engulfed us and the sheer number of people who have gone out of their way to express their own love, admiration and respect to such a very special and unique person,” Prince Edward, the queen’s youngest son, stated in an announcement.

    Rosie Beddows, 57, from Sussex, had queued along with her husband and son, and occurred to go by the coffin when it was being guarded by the royal household.

    “It was absolutely amazing, so moving, so beautiful. It was an incredibly long day, but we saw the king,” she stated, sounding elated. “I can’t believe it. I think he’s going to be a brilliant king.”

    Despite the warning of prolonged queues – repeated throughout native rail stations – individuals had flooded into Southwark Park to affix the road, many in excessive spirits. In distinction, those that emerged from the Lying-In-State had been quiet, reflective, and a bit stiff.

    ALSO READ | King Charles III’s response to man asking him out for a beer is hilarious. Old video goes viral

    Among their quantity was former England soccer captain David Beckham, who appeared tearful as he waited to file previous the coffin, having queued for greater than 13 hours on his personal, snacking on crisps, sweets and donuts.

    “We were all here celebrating her majesty today and it didn’t matter how long we were there,” stated Beckham, sporting a darkish swimsuit and flat cap. “We were there for a reason. And everyone was together. It was a special few hours.”

    New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in London for the funeral, was one other of those that visited Westminster Hall on Friday, stopping to curtsy as she filed previous the coffin.

    The oak casket stands on a purple-clad catafalque, draped within the Royal Standard and with the bejewelled Imperial State Crown positioned on prime.

    Soldiers in ceremonial uniform and different officers are conserving vigil round it as individuals stroll previous to pay homage after their lengthy wait. Many have been in tears, and others have saluted or bowed their heads.

    Some 750,000 individuals in complete are anticipated to file previous the coffin forward of the state funeral on Monday which presidents, prime ministers, royalty and different world leaders are because of attend.

    ALSO READ | King Charles underneath scrutiny after experiences of workers job cuts at former residence

    U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and the leaders of Australia, Canada and Jamaica will be a part of the emperor of Japan among the many congregation.

    London’s police drive stated the funeral can be the largest safety operation it has ever undertaken.

    The drive has been making ready for potentialities starting from terrorism threats to protests and crowd crushes, senior police official Stuart Cundy informed reporters.

    VISIT TO WALES

    Charles, who acceded to the throne on his mom’s loss of life, earlier visited Wales on Friday, the final stage of a tour of the United Kingdom to acknowledge his standing as the brand new monarch and head of state and to greet the general public.

    Charles and his spouse Camilla, the Queen Consort, attended a service at Cardiff’s Llandaff Cathedral then talked with cheering well-wishers exterior.

    Wales has a selected significance for the brand new king, who for 5 a long time previous final week’s accession had the title Prince of Wales.

    There had been a number of anti-monarchy protesters exterior Cardiff Castle, the place Charles met Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford.

    One man held a banner saying “Cancel Royals” and a placard saying “End Prince of Wales Title”. Another learn: “Not My King”.

    Similar small protests have been held exterior parliament in London and in Edinburgh over the previous days, though Charles has loved a surge in assist since he succeeded Elizabeth.

    DEFENDER OF FAITHS

    Later, the brand new king returned to London to satisfy religion leaders at Buckingham Palace, the place he stated he was decided to be “sovereign of all communities”.

    As monarch and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Charles holds the title “Defender of the Faith”, however he stated he noticed his position as stretching past his personal sturdy Christian beliefs, and that he had an obligation to guard range.

    “By my most profound convictions, therefore, as well as by my position as sovereign, I hold myself bound to respect those who follow other spiritual paths, as well as those who seek to live their lives in accordance with secular ideals,” he informed the religion leaders.

    “I am determined, as king, to preserve and promote those principles across all communities, and for all beliefs, with all my heart.”

    Following the vigil of the queen’s kids on Friday, her eight grandchildren, together with the brand new Prince of Wales, William, and his brother Prince Harry will stand vigil on the coffin on Saturday night.

    In an adjustment to protocol, each Harry and his uncle Prince Andrew have been allowed to put on navy uniform after they take their turns, royal officers stated.

    Both are battle veterans – Andrew having served as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot throughout the Falklands War and Harry serving two excursions of responsibility with the British Army in Afghanistan.

    But thus far, solely ‘working royals’ have appeared in uniform, whereas Andrew and Harry have appeared in processions in morning fits after they misplaced their honorary navy titles after they stepped again from public royal duties.

    ALSO READ | Inch of toothpaste, ironed shoelaces: Royal staffers reveal King Charles’s eccentricities

    — ENDS —

  • Former England captain David Beckham queues for greater than 13 hours to see Queen Elizabeth’s coffin

    Former England soccer group captain David Beckham was pressured to attend for greater than 13 hours to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth. Beckham mentioned that it was a second for individuals to return collectively and have fun the queen’s life.

    Beckham waited within the queue for greater than 13 hours to get a glimpse of the queen’s coffin (Courtesy: Reuters)

    HIGHLIGHTSBeckham waited within the queue for greater than 13 hoursBeckham saod that it was a particular second for the individuals to have fun the lifetime of the QueenThe former England captain was in a position to pay his respects at 3:25 PM

    Former England soccer group captain David Beckham waited for greater than 13 hours alongside 1000’s to see Queen Elizabeth mendacity in state in London on Friday.

    The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder mentioned he had joined the queue at 2.15 a.m. (0115 GMT).

    Speaking to the reporters, as quoted by Reuters, Beckham mentioned that the individuals are all ready collectively to have fun the wonderful lifetime of the queen and such a second is meant to be shared collectively.

    “We all want to be here together, we all want to experience something where we celebrate the amazing life of our queen. Something like this today is meant to be shared together,” Beckham advised reporters within the queue.

    Beckham additionally talked about snacking on crisps, sweets and donuts together with his fellow queuers to maintain their power as much as get a remaining glimpse of the queen.

    The tv footage of Westminster Hall confirmed Beckham, who met the queen a number of instances throughout her reign, wanting teary-eyed as he waited to see her coffin.

    At round 3.25 p.m, the previous England group captain was in a position to pay his remaining respects to the queen. Beckham bowed his head and closed his eyes for a second.

    The authorities needed to pause entry to the queue for just a few hours earlier on Friday after warning of ready instances of at the very least 14 hours.

    The queues prolonged for miles by way of central London to parliament’s Westminster Hall. There had been greater than 750,000 individuals in complete who’re anticipated to pay their remaining respects to the queen earlier than Monday morning.

    Beckham had made a publish on Instagram final week saying that he was “truly saddened” by the queen’s dying.

    “How devastated we all feel today shows what she meant to people in this country and around the world. How much she inspired us with her leadership. How she comforted us when times were tough,” mentioned Beckham in his publish.

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  • Chinese authorities delegation banned from Queen’s Lying-in-State in UK Parliament complicated

    The UK has refused permission for a high-level Chinese authorities delegation to attend Queen Elizabeth’s Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall inside the Parliament complicated earlier than the funeral at Westminster Abbey right here on September 19, in accordance with UK media studies on Friday.

    House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is alleged to have refused a request for entry to Westminster Hall as a consequence of Chinese sanctions towards 5 British members of Parliament and two friends for accusing Beijing of mistreating its Uighur Muslim minority in Xinjiang, ‘Politico’ and the BBC have reported.

    While the House of Commons stated it didn’t touch upon safety issues, the media studies claimed that China would have a presence on the funeral however not be allowed into the Parliament constructing.

    As Westminster Hall kinds a part of the parliamentary property, it’s beneath the management of the Commons and the Lords Speakers. The transfer is prone to additional pressure UK-China relations, which have been beneath some strain in latest instances.

    According to studies, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping as Head of State of a rustic with which the UK has diplomatic relations. It is believed that the vice-president, Wang Qishan, shall be despatched in his place together with a Chinese delegation.

    The newest growth comes after the sanctioned MPs had raised objections concerning the Chinese President being invited to the funeral in any respect.

    In March final 12 months, China had sanctioned 9 people and 4 organisations within the UK in retaliation after Britain imposed sanctions on Chinese officers for alleged human rights abuses in its Xinjiang province.

    Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the previous chief of the Conservative Party, in addition to Tory MPs Tom Tugendhat, Neil O’Brien, Tim Loughton and Nusrat Ghani are amongst these sanctioned as they and their households had been banned from coming into Chinese territory.

    “You cannot have a Golden Age, normal relations, with a country that has now been exposed as committing the sorts of atrocities it has, not least the genocide against the Uighurs, the oppression going on in Tibet for the last 60/70 years, and now what we see going on in Hong Kong as well,” Loughton advised the BBC.

    The sanctioned MPs had despatched a letter to the Parliament Speakers earlier this week to hunt assurances that representatives from Beijing wouldn’t be allowed onto the parliamentary property. They had additionally raised objections in a letter to the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly.

    Downing Street has stated that it’s a conference that nations with which the UK has diplomatic relations needs to be invited to state funerals. Three nationwide governments haven’t been invited to the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II over the continued conflict in Ukraine – Russia, Belarus and Myanmar.

    Several Western nations have imposed sanctions on a number of senior Chinese following rights abuse allegations towards the largely Muslim Uighur minority group.

    China has detained Uighurs at camps within the north-west area of Xinjiang, the place allegations of torture, pressured labour and sexual abuse have emerged. China has rejected these fees.