The coffin of Elizabeth II, who died Thursday in her Scottish residence of Balmoral, began its journey, Sunday, September 11, through Scotland to reach Edinburgh, where the public will be able to pay a first tribute to the monarch, before his solemn arrival Tuesday in London for a state funeral, September 19.
The coffin covered with the Scottish royal standard on which had been placed a bouquet of flowers passed through the gates of Balmoral Castle shortly after 10 a.m. local time (11 a.m. Paris time). The royal hearse is due to travel nearly 300 kilometers through the Scottish countryside during the day and arrive at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the monarch in Scotland, in Edinburgh, around 4 p.m. local time (5 p.m. Paris time). . On Tuesday evening, the Queen’s coffin will be flown to London.
In the villages, along the roads, Scots on their thirty-one to watch the coffin of the re… https://t.co/xyVsxYfBDO
A large crowd is expected on the route of the funeral convoy, to greet one last time the one who reigned seventy years and seven months, a familiar and reassuring presence, but always mysterious, having crossed, imperturbable, times and crises. The crowd was asked not to throw flowers as the convoy passed. The hearse must first stop in Ballater, the village very close to the castle, then in Aberdeen and Dundee before reaching Edinburgh. The coffin will spend the night there in the throne room of Holyroodhouse, the official royal residence in Scotland.
State funeral at Westminster
On Saturday, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the state funeral would take place on September 19 at Westminster Abbey, London, a mecca for royal weddings, coronations and burials for nearly a millennium. It was there that the one who was still only Princess Elizabeth had married in November 1947, at the age of 21, Philip Mountbatten. This is also where she was crowned on June 2, 1953. Leaders from around the world are expected for the ceremony, including US President Joe Biden.
Tens of thousands of people are also expected to pay their last respects to him at the Palace of Westminster, where his coffin will be displayed from September 14 to 19, before the funeral which will begin at 12 p.m. Paris time on the 19, a public holiday in the United Kingdom. United.
His grandson William, now Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, paid his respects on Saturday. “She was by my side in my happiest moments. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life. I knew this day was coming, but it’s going to take time to get used to the reality of life without Grandma.”he said in a statement.
“My grandmother said grief was the price to pay for love. All the sadness we will feel in the weeks to come will testify to the love we have for our extraordinary queen. I will honor his memory by supporting my father, the king, in any way I can. »
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The prince then created the surprise by going with his wife Kate, but also his brother Harry and his wife Meghan to meditate in front of the flowers placed in tribute to Elizabeth II in front of Windsor Castle. The two couples are notoriously cold, Harry and Meghan now settled in California. They had not been seen together in public for more than two years and their walkabout was greeted with applause.
« All 4 One »headlined the tabloid The Sun for its Sunday edition, featuring an image of the quartet on the front page, also on the front page of all UK media sites on Saturday evening. The children of Charles III thus almost eclipsed their father, proclaimed king in the morning according to a ceremonial centenary, televised for the first time, after having automatically become king Thursday at the announcement of the death of Elizabeth II.
King Charles III was officially named the monarch of Australia and New Zealand on Sunday, at ceremonies held in both countries to mark his accession to the throne. In Canberra, Governor General David Hurley proclaimed that “Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is King Charles III, by the grace of God, King of Australia”.
At a similar ceremony in Wellington, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern greeted Charles III, saying he “has a long affection for New Zealand, and has consistently demonstrated his deep interest in our nation”. Both ceremonies were pure formalities.
Looking increasingly frail in recent months, the Queen has devoted her life to the monarchy. On Tuesday, she was still working, receiving in audience the resigning Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, whom she had asked to create a new government. The monarch, too weak to travel, had however remained at Balmoral for these audiences.