Thousands of people lined up in London on Thursday evening to say goodbye in person to Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin. After a ceremonial procession from Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s coffin was placed in Westminster Hall for four days on Wednesday evening. From the start there was a queue of about four kilometers through the center of the British capital. Standing for a long time was clearly too much for one of the guards: the man suddenly fell from a pedestal during a guard change.
The guard, who had passed out, slammed his face to the ground. Bystanders rushed to the rescue and turned him onto his back. Several waiting people who wanted to say goodbye to the queen clapped their hands in shock in front of their faces. Nothing is known about the health of the security guard.
The incident was broadcast live on the internet due to the BBC broadcast. The flow then switched to an exterior view and only returned to Westminster Hall some time later. There, as before, people could be seen walking in two rows along the coffin, some stopping and bowing. Some were visibly moved.
Hundreds of rescuers are ready
Given the long wait, hundreds of helpers, police officers and paramedics are on hand. The queen’s body should remain fit until next Monday morning (7:30 a.m. CEST). He will then be transferred to Westminster Abbey, where the funeral service will be held at 12 noon. This is followed by the state funeral, attended by hundreds of heads of state and government, members of royal families and other dignitaries.
It is considered a great honor that Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will travel from Japan – representatives of the oldest hereditary monarchy in the world traditionally do not attend funerals, either in Japan or abroad. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have also been announced.
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.
