Britain will bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, 19 September with a majestic funeral steeped in tradition and a send–off reflective of the broad popularity she managed to retain over her remarkable seven-decade reign, informs news network CNN.
Thousands of people are expected to gather at Westminster Abbey and streets along the 40–kilometer procession route from central London to Windsor, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sovereign’s flag-draped coffin as it travels by hearse to her final resting place in St. George’s Chapel, within the grounds of Windsor Castle.
According to news agency Reuters, at 5.30 a.m. (local time), an official lying–in–state period ends after four days in which hundreds of thousands have queued to file past the casket of Britain’s longest–reigning monarch at London’s historic Westminster Hall.
World leaders and royalty from across the globe will bid a final farewell to Queen Elizabeth, the last towering figure of her eRA.
Some 500 heads of state and foreign leaders will be attending the funeral later today, including US president Joe Biden, president of France Emanuel Macron, president of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, as well as president of Latvia Eglis Levits and president of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda.
The queen’s great–grandchildren, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, the two eldest children of now heir to the throne Prince William, will also be attending.
Charles, Elizabeth’s son and the new king said in a statement: «Over the last 10 days, my wife and I have been so deeply touched by the many messages of condolence and support we have received from this country and across the world.»
List of world leaders and royals to attend the queen’s funeral.