On a surprise walkabout with his father King Charles III this afternoon, the Prince of Wales thanked the mourners who waited in line for 14 hours to view the Queen’s casket lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster.
In London, hundreds of people gathered along the South Bank at Lambeth Bridge earlier today to welcome Prince William and Britain’s new king, amid cries of “hip hip hooray” and “God Save the King” as they walked by.
In an effort to speak with the King and the heir to the throne as they shook hands with those closest to them, many people snapped pictures and pushed up to the metal barricades.
William subsequently tweeted, “It mean an awful lot that you’re all here,” in appreciation for the 14-hour line of people who had waited to pay their respects to his grandma.
As Charles shook her hand, one woman expressed her sorrow, another said, “I can’t believe this,” and a third gave the two royals a Paddington Bear plush in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee drawing featuring the iconic children’s mascot.
It means an awful lot that you’re here, the prince added as he shook hands with the grieving. The Queen would never accept this as true. You’ll meet people in the crowd that you’ll consider friends for life. William also added that he grew upset seeing his grandmother’s corgis, adding: “They are being cared after – they have gone to a very wonderful home.” William also said that his wife Kate Middleton and children George, Charlotte, and Louis were “fine” and “all united in mourning.”
After meeting the Prince of Wales, several people started crying, and one lady told him, “You’ll be a magnificent king one day.”
The royals had already visited Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, Suella Braverman, the home secretary, and Sir Mark Rowley, the commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, at Scotland Yard’s special operations.
The King spoke with police officers on his visit to Lambeth today, thanking them for their planning and execution of policing in the days before his mother’s burial. He also spoke with representatives from the London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade, Transport for London, and the Army.
After previous visits to Scotland and Northern Ireland, the King finished his tour of the home countries yesterday with a stop in Wales.
The funeral will take place in two days, and 2,000 VIPs are expected to attend, including world leaders Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, and Jacinda Ardern, as well as royals like the Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Spanish King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, and Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.
It comes after the King and his brothers gave a touching memorial for their cherished mother last night in Westminster Hall.
He said, laughing, “You’re used to working long hours at the NHS. There are several dining options, bathrooms, and other amenities. “The Queen has served us for 70 years.” She has served for thirty years, as have I. I’ve been to three of her jubilees and would want to say goodbye.
He said, “I got off at Waterloo and followed the route backward, at one point being taken here to Southwark Park. Then it confidently said, “By midnight tonight, I hope to have seen the Queen. 14 hours have passed since you arrived here.”
Paula Priest, 53, of Wolverhampton, said that she was prepared to wait as long it needed for her to go to Westminster Hall. “Without a question, we’re in it for the long haul now.”
Those that continued on their trek despite official warnings were pleasantly surprised by how quickly the line moved. Later on Saturday morning, the tracker stopped urging mourners not to leave, and the wait time had decreased to barely 16 hours.
Southwark Park was humming with activity right up to the Thames walk along Bermondsey Wall East, when the line became more motionless.
Bright pink wristbands are still being handed out, but they make quite clear that entrance to Westminster Hall is not assured. According to individuals who were waiting, the event was well-planned, and there were helpful staff members and police officers there.
Sir Mark Rowley, the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner, was manning the line this morning for the Queen’s lying in state at Lambeth Palace in south London. After greeting mourners who had waited in line for hours throughout the night and early morning, some of whom were wearing blankets, he walked from the east in the direction of Lambeth Bridge.
In his Scout uniform and Platinum Jubilee badge, 11-year-old Lancashire youngster Alfie queued up for the lying in state.
Alfie’s grandmother, Karen Todd, said that he sincerely wanted to honour the Queen and that he wanted to do so by wearing his Scout outfit.
The speaker said, “We come because it’s a historic occasion. They will remember this for the rest of their lives, therefore we only have this one opportunity.
The family left their home on Friday at 11.45 p.m. Ms. Todd said she “had to sleep in a car park for an hour and a half” before getting on a bus to go to the line.
Looking at the wait tracker, Ms. Todd said, “We were going to come this evening, but we came earlier since we didn’t want to miss it.” It was fine, she said. clear roads It’s well-organized. I just hope that my legs and feet stay in good shape.
The family brought plenty of snacks and warm underwear for the waiting time.
Sachet Pariyar and his father, who had served in the Queen’s Gurkha regiment, had travelled from Basingstoke to see the lying in state.
He added, “My dad served earlier in the British Army, as did my grandparents, and the Queen’s Gurkha regiment. We thus wanted to go and pay our respects since we felt a connection to the Queen.
He said that he had been watching the queue’s live tracker and had discovered that it may take 24 hours, adding that he had been “a bit concerned” about the wait but “thought if we can get the wristband, then we would give it a shot.”
Linda Partridge, 71, and Simon Hopkins, 59, travelled from the West Midlands to witness the lying in state despite being informed that the route was blocked because they had “the yearning to come down.”
Ms. Partridge, who had left her residence at 3 am despite the fact that they thought it was closed, said: “I had the want to come down.” It’s acceptable if they walked away after we arrived. I would have felt obligated to come if I had been told I couldn’t leave.
However, Mr. Hopkins said, “There was a sense that it may be best to make the trip and just check things out, and you know, if it ended in disappointment, then so be it.” There was a notion that it could be preferable to remain at home.
It struck him as “a bit unusual” and “sort of goes against my grain” that he likened the experience to a “pilgrimage,” which he labelled as such. I feel as if I have been drawn into it.
You’re accustomed to working long hours at the NHS, he added, chuckling. “There are plenty of places to eat, restrooms, and stuff.” “For 70 years, the Queen has served us.” She and I have both served for thirty years. I’ve attended three of her jubilees and want to say farewell.
“I got off at Waterloo, followed the line backward, and at one time I was led here to Southwark Park,” he said. Then it assuredly said, “I’m expecting by midnight tonight I’ll have seen the Queen. It’s 14 hours from the entrance here.”
Paula Priest, 53, of Wolverhampton, said that she was willing to wait till she arrived at Westminster Hall for whatever long it took. “We’re here for the long haul now, without a doubt.”
Those that persisted with the journey in spite of government advisories were pleasantly pleased by the queue’s speed. The tracker ceased advising mourners not to go later on Saturday morning, and the wait time was now just 16 hours.
Up to the Thames path along Bermondsey Wall East, when the line became more stationary, Southwark Park was bustling with activity.
Wristbands in bright pink are still being distributed, but they clearly say that access to Westminster Hall is not guaranteed. The encounter was well-organized, according to those who were waiting, and helpful employees and cops were there.
The line for the Queen’s laying in state at Lambeth Palace in south London was being patrolled this morning by Sir Mark Rowley, the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner. He welcomed mourners, some of whom were wearing blankets after spending hours in line during the night and early morning, and then moved from the east in the direction of Lambeth Bridge.
Alfie, an 11-year-old boy from Lancashire, lined up for the laying in state while wearing his Scout uniform and Platinum Jubilee badge.
Alfie genuinely wanted to honour the Queen, and he wanted to come in his Scout uniform to do it, according to his grandma, Karen Todd.
“We came because it’s a historic event,” the speaker said. We just have this one chance because they will remember this for the rest of their life.
On Friday at 11.45 p.m., the family left their house, and Ms. Todd said she “had to sleep in a car park for an hour and a half” before boarding a bus to travel to the line.
We were going to come this evening, but we arrived earlier since we didn’t want to miss it, Ms. Todd stated after looking at the wait tracker. She said, “It’s been fine.” open roads It’s organised nicely. I only hope my feet and legs remain healthy.
For the waiting period, the family packed thermals and a tonne of munchies.
To attend the laying in state, Sachet Pariyar and his father, who had served in the Queen’s Gurkha regiment, had travelled from Basingstoke.
“My dad served in the British Army earlier, as did my grandparents, and the Queen’s Gurkha regiment,” he remarked. Therefore, we felt a connection to the Queen and wanted to visit and pay our respects.
He said, “I was a little scared” about the wait, but “thought if we can obtain the wristband, then we would give it a go,” adding that he had been following the queue’s live tracker and had noticed that it may take 24 hours.
Despite being told that the line was closed, Linda Partridge, 71, and Simon Hopkins, 59, travelled from the West Midlands to attend the laying in state because they had “that desire to come down.”
Even though they indicated it was closed, Ms. Partridge, who had left her house at 3am, said: “I felt that desire to come down.” If they turned away after we arrived, that’s okay. If I had been informed I couldn’t leave, I would have just felt compelled to come.
There was a feeling that it may be better to stay home, but Mr. Hopkins continued: “There was a sense that it might be best to make the trip and just check things out, and you know, if it ended in disappointment, then so be it.”
He compared the experience to a “pilgrimage,” which he described as “a little odd” since it “kind of goes against my grain.” I feel like I’ve been dragged into it.
James Birchall, a 33-year-old student physiotherapist from Liverpool who had come to pay his respects, was also in line.
As he approached the Queen’s coffin, he said: “Right now, I just feel normal and unemotional, but as I get closer and closer (to it), I think I’ll start to become more emotional, and maybe five minutes before I go in, I’ll probably start crying, even though I don’t look like the type of person who would do that.” I had the utmost regard for the Queen; I thought she was wonderful and had been in power my whole life. She was fantastic for our nation and up to her passing, she did everything properly.
“When mom passed away, I was overtaken with grief and decided I had to go to London to see it.”
‘I’m completely shocked because there are so many people, young and old,’ he said, “I didn’t think young people would come, necessarily, since they are not really in touch with royalty, but there’s so many young people here to pay their respects which I think is wonderful.”
Vlasta Picker, 73, of Bedford, who was also in line, said: “I came here in 1977 on the Silver Jubilee. Monarchy was considered to be history while I was growing up in central Europe.
As Beckham waited at the front of the queue, pictures posted on Twitter showed a large number of people attempting to take his photo.
The Leeds-based Twitter user Jules Birkby wrote: “The Queue is now full of people attempting to picture David Beckham and failing to actually go ahead.” He added that Beckham was “only a few lines behind us in the snake.” It’s insane! Although I have some sympathy for him, he is handling it extremely well. However, it has nearly helped me forget that we have been in The Queue for for TWELVE HOURS.
He was talking joyfully to others around him about the times he met the Queen, a fellow mourner recalled. Given how well-known he is, I believe we were all surprised to see him here. He was attempting to blend in, as shown by the fact that his cap was pulled down.
I didn’t immediately recognise him, but he was a kind guy and eager to chat. He had obviously been in line for some time, maybe since the wee hours like me. He thought that he should stand in line with the rest of us rather than utilise the VIP line, which moves significantly more quickly, since he was clearly eager to pay his respects to the Queen.
One lady tweeted: “My friend’s mom claims he joined the queue at approximately 2am,” in response to others who questioned if Beckham had genuinely been waiting in line. He has purchased doughnuts for those who are around him! They’re on a ledge.
“Compared to that, 15 or even 20 hours or whatever long it takes to say thank you and give my respects doesn’t seem so horrible.”
Karen Hare, 59, of Upminster, Essex, said: “We’ve been making fun of the fact that we’re waiting in line to wait in line.” As if it weren’t lengthy enough already. I was going to leave the home at three in the morning, but my spouse persuaded me out of it, only to change his mind at nine.
We would already be at the front of the line if
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