Elizabeth's coffin arrived in Buckingham in front of thousands of emotional Britons
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Buckingham Palace, September 13, 2022. AP - Paul Childs
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Five days after her death, the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II arrived at Buckingham Palace, London.
On Wednesday, he will be at Westminster Hall where thousands of Britons will be able to gather until September 19, the date of the funeral.
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After an initial display in Edinburgh, Scotland,
Queen Elizabeth's body
arrived in London on Tuesday.
The body arrived in the early evening at Buckingham Palace, escorted by an almost continuous guard of honor of thousands of Britons.
She will spend the night in the Bow Room, a circular room with marble columns framing each of the monumental windows, where palace staff can bid her farewell in private.
She was greeted by her son Charles III and the Queen consort, Camilla, who
had returned from a brief official visit to Northern Ireland
, and other members of the royal family.
Came out of @BFMTV after commenting on the arrival of the Queen's coffin in London.
Arrived at Park Lane just in time.
#ElizabethII pic.twitter.com/mkXxTm7VA5
— Alexander Seale (@AlexSeale) September 13, 2022
The hearse passed to the applause of hundreds of people who gathered along the streets between the airport and Buckingham Palace, reports our correspondent in London,
Émeline Vin.
The interior of the vehicle was lit, allowing the public to see the coffin draped in the royal flag and topped with a wreath of white flowers.
A very moving moment for the country.
A great silence reigned over the passage of the motorcade and many Britons attending the scene had tears in their eyes and hugged.
“
It must be hard going through this alone
,” said a lady along the road, hugging our reporter, seeing that she was alone.
During the wait, the British and tourists gathered in small groups to follow the progress of the plane carrying the coffin on the phones.
The real-time air traffic monitoring site has also crashed several times.
A woman cries as she watches the procession accompanying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II to Buckingham Palace, September 13, 2022. AP - Vadim Ghirda
If people braved the rain for three or even four hours, it was to be part of this moment of history that is being written before their eyes.
But it was mostly to say thank you to their queen, thank you and goodbye.
Because for many, this is the last opportunity.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected in Westminster, where the queen's coffin will be on display until her funeral on September 19, the occasion to pay a last tribute to the sovereign.
But many anonymous people are discouraged by the 8 kilometers and 20 hours of queue announced.
Others, to be sure of having the chance to be able to meditate one last time on the body of Elizabeth II, began to queue on Tuesday, when the queen had not yet reached London.
►Also read
: In Scotland, the British gather in front of the coffin of Elizabeth II
“There may be hail, snow, or even a hurricane: I stay here”
White hair, a ponytail and a Sean Connery physique, Steven is in eighth position in the queue that has formed along the Thames, just opposite Westminster.
He eagerly awaits the arrival of the queen's coffin.
“
I brought a sleeping bag so I could sleep, water and fruit… and I have a friend who will come later to bring me food.
I'm here to bow before the queen's coffin.
There may be hail, snow, or even a hurricane: I'm staying there
, ”he says at the microphone of our special correspondent,
Daniel Vallot.
Britons wait in the rain in front of the Palace of Westminster.
AFP - ALAIN JOCARD
Small problem, he still does not officially know where the queue will start which will lead to the Palace of Westminster and the Ardent Chapel where the queen's coffin will be exposed.
But that doesn't pose a problem for Steven, who relies on the presence of the large number of journalists and a few security guards: "
It's a bet, but a bet that I'm completely ready to take, like the lady I saw on TV on Monday and who is first in line.
»
“
You know, in this country, we are used to very well organized queues, and queuing doesn't scare us!
“says the man.
And no question of camping, tents have been strictly prohibited by the authorities.
They simply recommend that Britons who want to see the coffin bring suitable clothing, food, water and above all a lot of patience.
The queue could stretch for ten kilometers along the Thames.
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