It’s the first morning without a queen for many in Britain – after Queen Elizabeth II’s death on Thursday, the monarch is now a man. King Charles III (73) succeeded his mother as head of state. “During this period of grief and change, my family and I feel comforted and sustained by the respect and deep affection so widely bestowed upon the Queen,” he said. Meanwhile, the world bids farewell to the Queen.
According to the palace, Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, are planning to travel from the Queen’s mansion in Scotland to London on Friday. Under a long-drawn-out plan, the king is expected to meet new Prime Minister Liz Truss later in the day and deliver a televised address to the nation.
Britain bids farewell to Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully on Thursday at the age of 96 at her Scottish estate Balmoral. She was in her seventies, taller than any other British monarch before her on the throne. Elizabeth II was the head of state of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and more than a dozen other countries, including Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
Numerous official funeral notices are planned in Britain after the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Friday. At St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey in London, and at Windsor Castle, about 25 miles west of London, where the Queen last lived, the bells should ring at noon. There will then be a cannon shot in Hyde Park.
In Parliament, the deceased Queen is commemorated in both the lower and the upper house.
Thousands of people sang “God Save the Queen”
Thousands of people gathered in places across Britain on Thursday, laying flowers or singing the national anthem “God Save the Queen”. Many burst into tears when the flag was lowered at Buckingham Palace. In the evening the police removed fences at the gates of Balmoral Castle so that citizens could lay flowers.
There is also mourning in Commonwealth countries: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern praised the monarch’s ‘unshakable devotion to duty’. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanian emphasized her calm demeanor.
Salute to the Queen in Canberra
Flags were also flown at half-mast in Australia’s government district of the capital Canberra. At dusk on Friday evening, 96 gun salutes are fired in front of the parliament building. Each shot symbolizes a year of life for the deceased regent.
The Australians’ mourning for their queen will also be reflected in the cityscape: mourning flags hang all over the country, for example on the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Probably Australia’s most famous landmark, the Sydney Opera House is lit up in honor of the Queen on Fridays and Saturdays.
British National Anthem in Venice
The Queen was also honored at the Venice International Film Festival. The British national anthem sang as the stars walked the red carpet. New York’s Empire State Building glowed purple and shimmered silver in tribute to the Queen. In Rio de Janeiro, the Christ statue was illuminated in red, blue and white. In Paris, the lights on the Eiffel Tower went out at night to honor the Queen.
After the death of the British Queen, numerous sports organizers also reacted, interrupting or canceling scheduled matches. These include a golf tournament, horse racing and rugby matches, as well as at least the lower division football matches Burnley v Norwich City and Tranmere Rovers v Stockport County scheduled for Friday. It was not clear from the published condolence message whether the Premier League football matches scheduled for the coming days would also be cancelled.
Years ago, meticulous plans were made for what would happen after the Queen’s death. Her state funeral is expected on Monday, September 19. Before that was King Charles III. embark on a funeral journey across the UK.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
