Before the funeral of Elizabeth II, an impressive queue to say goodbye

Tens of thousands of Britons line up to pay their last respects to Queen Elizabeth on September 15, 2022. AP - Martin Meissner

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3 mins

The British continue to go to meditate after the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II.

The burning chapel must last until Monday morning, the day of the funeral.

We also know more about the course of this day.

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The queen herself had validated the plans for her own funeral.

His coffin will leave

shortly after 10:30 a.m. on Monday, carried by around 100 naval personnel to Westminster Abbey, accompanied, among others, by a bagpiper appointed by Her Majesty during her lifetime.

Nearly 2,000 people, including the American and French presidents, will attend the mass which will end around noon with two minutes of silence, reports our correspondent in London,

.

London airports will have ceased all operations to ensure complete silence in the British sky.

It would be the biggest ceremony held in Britain since the Second World War. 

Then will begin the real last journey of Elizabeth II, to her Windsor Castle.

At the end of the afternoon, the royal family will meet there for a new service, alongside the sovereign's staff.

Elizabeth II will be buried in the crypt of the chapel at the same time as her husband, Prince Philip, during a final ceremony in the early evening and in the presence of his relatives.

Endless queue

While waiting for Monday,

to pay their last respects to Elizabeth II.

This endless queue is done calmly and according to perfect organization, reports our special correspondent,

.

It must be said that the British are undoubtedly the world champions of the queue.

" 

," they say, without knowing whether they are really proud of it or whether they are making fun of themselves. 

This Thursday evening, the queue stretched for almost five miles.

The rules are precise: people in line are given a bracelet with a number.

They have the right to relieve themselves if necessary – 500 portable toilets have been set up along the route – and the authorities have recommended bringing water, food and warm clothes for those who spend the night there. .

However, it is necessary to “travel light”, because once in Westminster, only a small backpack is authorized, and the security rules are the same as in an airport. 

A potential wait of more than 30 hours

Once inside the burning chapel, the queue continues to move forward.

People only have a few seconds to pay their respects to the queen, so most do so by walking, stopping only for a very brief moment in front of the catafalque where the royal coffin has been laid.

On the images broadcast by the BBC, some make a brief bow, others simply turn to the coffin in an atmosphere of calm and without the slightest incident.

We took cushions, but we couldn't use them because the queue is moving too fast!

In front of us, people were saying that we would wait nine o'clock.

We were lucky.

The British, queuing world champions

Emily Wine

For that fleeting moment, Brits are prepared to wait 8 hours now, but that's only the beginning, with authorities estimating the queue could stretch to 10 kilometers, with a potential wait of more 30 hours at the peak of the crowd.

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