The last farewell of the British to Elizabeth II
Queue to see Queen Elizabeth II before her funeral, in London, Wednesday, September 14, 2022. AP - Stefan Rousseau
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2 mins
The coffin of the Queen of England arrived in London on Tuesday evening from Scotland where she died last Thursday September 8.
Before she rests for eternity with her husband Prince Philip in a chapel at Windsor Castle, the British have one last opportunity to bid her farewell.
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With our special correspondent in London,
Daniel Vallot
This Wednesday afternoon, the royal coffin will leave Buckingham for a procession which will last exactly 38 minutes;
the protocol is set to the minute.
The royal coffin will be placed on a gun carriage, the bells of Big Ben will ring, cannon salutes will be fired from Hyde Park and the coffin will be followed on foot by members of the royal family, starting of course with the new king Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla his wife.
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A religious service will be held at the Palace of Westminster, given by Justin Welby the Archbishop of Canterbury;
then two hours after the coffin arrives, Westminster Hall will be open to the public.
Thousands of people expected
The British will be able to meditate for a few moments in front of the coffin until the morning of the funeral which will take place next Monday, September 19.
The coffin will be closed, placed on a purple covered catafalque, in the middle of Westminister Hall.
The last time a body was exposed in this way to the public dates back to 2002, it was the queen mother.
Before her, this honor of “
lying in state
” was reserved for sovereigns but also exceptionally for political leaders: Winston Churchill in the 20th century and William Gladstone in the previous century.
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The Ardent Chapel will be open 24 hours a day and the authorities expect an extraordinary crowd: several hundred thousand people, and a queue that will stretch for several kilometers along the Thames.
Thousands of people wait to go to the coffin of Queen Elizabeth in London, September 14, 2022. AP - Stefan Rousseau
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UK
Elizabeth II
Charles III