UNITED KINGDOM: The state funeral for Queen Elizabeth will take place on Monday, September 19, according to royal officials who announced on Saturday as her son Charles was formally crowned the new monarch of Britain in an elaborate ceremony that spanned generations.
Highlights:
- Charles was recognised as king.
- Sept. 19 is the day of the Queen’s funeral.
- “We believed she was unbeatable,” said William
- On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth, 96, passed away.
The 96-year-old monarch’s passing has elicited condolences, tears, and warm tributes from people all over the world, as well as from the queen’s immediate family and many Britons, reflecting her prominence on the international stage for 70 years.
The current heir to the throne, Prince William, stated, “We all assumed she was unstoppable.”
“It’s been surreal,” he remarked during a walkabout outside Windsor Castle, where he and his wife Kate appeared alongside his younger brother Harry and his wife Meghan for the first time in two years. This was a sign that Elizabeth’s passing might help to mend the rift between Charles’ sons.
In the ballroom of Balmoral Castle, her Scottish vacation home where she passed away peacefully on Thursday, Elizabeth’s oak coffin has been lying. It is draped with the royal standard of Scotland and has a wreath of flowers on top.
On Sunday, it will be transported by hearse through isolated highland villages to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, so that mourners can pay their respects.
The coffin will then be transported via plane to London on Tuesday, where it will stay at Buckingham Palace before being brought to Westminster Hall to lie in state until the funeral at Westminster Abbey on September 19 at 11 a.m. (1000 GMT).
A worldwide outpouring of sadness has been sparked by the passing of Elizabeth, the longest-reigning queen in British history. The red, white, and blue of the British flag have been illuminated on structures and famous locations across Europe, America, and Africa.
The Accession Council convened at St James’s, the most senior royal palace in the United Kingdom built for Henry VIII in the 1530s, to proclaim Charles, 73, as king on Saturday. Charles immediately succeeded his mother.
His son and heir William, wife Camilla, and the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, who signed the proclamation of his accession, were all present at the council, which was made up of Privy Counsellors, whose centuries-old duty it has been to counsel the king.
As the declaration was accepted, a chorus of politicians, including six previous prime ministers, top bishops, and others, yelled out “God Save The King.”
The duties and weighty responsibilities of Sovereignty that have been transferred to me, Charles replied, “I am profoundly conscious of this huge legacy. I will make an effort to follow the motivating example I have been set.”
Kingly Pomp
The Norman king William the Conqueror, who conquered England in 1066, is the line’s first ancestor, making Charles the 41st ruler in the line. The activities on Saturday were a reflection of proclamations that have been made for new kings and queens for hundreds of years.
Not only did he become the monarch of the United Kingdom, but also of 14 other countries, including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.
It was the first monarch’s proclamation to be broadcast on television. Given that Elizabeth was the only monarch most Britons had ever known, it was also a historic occasion. When she became queen in 1952, Charles was just 3 years old.
Up until the formal funeral for Elizabeth, which will be a national holiday, Britain has proclaimed a period of mourning. Global leaders are anticipated to participate, including US President Joe Biden, who confirmed his attendance.
Extremely emotional moment for Queen’s subjects
At Balmoral, the queen’s three younger children, Anne, Andrew, and Edward, along with their families, also made a public appearance. First, they visited a nearby church, then they looked at the messages written among the flowers and expressed their gratitude to the crowd.
One of Prince Andrew’s daughters, Princess Eugenie, was observed sobbing while giving her father a bear hug.
Ian Smith, a local businessman who was in front of the barriers, stated, “It was a very emotional moment, it was extremely heartfelt. It was quite special that they came to thank us and that we could support them in person.“
The social, political, and economic landscape of her country underwent a seismic shift over the years that she lived through. Despite heavy media scrutiny and her family’s struggles, which were frequently made public, she received accolades for modernising the monarchy during her lengthy reign.
Also Read: Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s Longest Reigning Monarch, Dies At 96
