World Leaders, Royal Family Say Farewell to Queen Elizabeth II

KOMPAS.com - Leaders and monarchs from around the world have started arriving at Westminster Abbey for the state funeral service of Queen Elizabeth II. About 400 dignitaries will be attending proceedings.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people have traveled to the capital and lined the streets to pay their respects.

Various arms of the military involving thousands of personnel are performing ceremonial functions for a day that has required meticulous planning.

Mourners arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of state funeral service

Guests have begun to take their seats at Westminster Abbey ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral service. Dignitaries and world leaders are expected to begin arriving a little later. Heads of state are gathering at a nearby hospital and will then be driven by bus to the abbey.

Also read: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s Longest-Serving Monarch, Dies at 96

Westminster Abbey is where the queen was married in 1947 and crowned in 1953.

‘We couldn’t miss this’ – mourners camp along procession route

IAN FORSYTH/POOL PHOTO via AP Crowds watch as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, passes Mercat Cross in Edinburgh, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, as it continues its journey to the Palace of Holyroodhouse from Balmoral.

Thousands of people set up camp on the streets of London ahead of the queen’s funeral procession. Some brought along tents and sleeping bags, while others slept in camping chairs covered by blankets, while others simply lay on the ground with just jackets and coats for warmth.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of history, to pay your respects,” one mourner told Reuters news agency.

Another mourner who had set off in the early hours of the morning said while she had never met the queen, to her it felt like losing a family member.

“It is like we have had a death in the family, we couldn’t miss this,” she said.

Authorities erected 36 kilometers of barriers in Central London to secure areas around the Houses of Parliament and other key areas including Buckingham Palace. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line streets of London. London authorities say all viewing areas along the route of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral procession are full.

What is expected during the memorial event and who will attend?
The queen’s lying-in-state at Westminster Hall ended Monday morning shortly after 6:30 a.m local time. At 10:30 a.m. a bearer party will carry the coffin on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy.

The gun carriage will be drawn by 142 members of the Royal Navy through a route lined by the Royal Navy and Marines. The procession will pass by Parliament Square where members of Britain's navy, army and air force will form a Guard of Honor.

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The state funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m. (1000 UTC) at Westminster Abbey, where heads of state and other government representatives will attend. The late queen will then be laid to rest with her late husband, Prince Philip in a private ceremony in St George’s Chapel within in the walls of Windsor Castle.

AFP PHOTO/AARON CHOWN Queen Elizabeth II 's grandchildren (L-R) Zara Tindall, Britain's Lady Louise Windsor, Britain's Princess Beatrice of York, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, James, Viscount Severn and Britain's Princess Eugenie of York arrive to hold a vigil at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster in London on September 17, 2022, ahead of her funeral on Monday. Queen Elizabeth II will lie in state in Westminster Hall inside the Palace of Westminster, until 0530 GMT on September 19, a few hours before her funeral, with huge queues expected to file past her coffin to pay their respects. (Photo by Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP)

Around 400 foreign heads of state and dignitaries are expected to attend the funeral, along with members of the royal family and celebrities. Over the past five days, tens of thousands of people waited hours in line to pay their final respects.

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako confirmed their attendance to the funeral. Japan’s emperor rarely attends funerals.

Among Europe’s royal families, Norway's King Harald, the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander, Sweden’s King Carl, Belgium’s King Philippe, Spain’s King Felipe, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe and Monaco’s Prince Albert will also attend.

Saudi Arabian crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman was invited to the funeral but will not be attending.

US President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, will attend. The Bidens were also seen paying their respects yesterday at the late queen’s lying-in-state.

Sources: DW, Reuters, AFP