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By MIKE CORDER, JILL LAWLESS and DANICA KIRKA
LONDON (AP) — British officers mentioned late Sunday that the queue for folks to view Queen Elizabeth II mendacity in state had reached “final capacity” and needed to be closed to new entrants.
“Please do not attempt to join the queue,” the Division for Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport mentioned in a tweet.
A whole bunch of 1000’s of individuals have waited for as much as 12 hours in a miles-long line by central London up to now 4 days for an opportunity to file previous the queen’s coffin, which is mendacity in state at Westminster Corridor within the Homes of Parliament.
The mendacity in state ends Monday morning, when the queen’s coffin will likely be taken to close by Westminster Abbey for her state funeral service.
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U.S. President Joe Biden paid his respects at Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin on Sunday as 1000’s of police, a whole bunch of British troops and a military of officers made remaining preparations for the queen’s state funeral — a spectacular show of nationwide mourning that may also be the most important gathering of world leaders for years.
Individuals throughout Britain paused for a minute of silence at 8 p.m. in reminiscence of the one monarch most have ever recognized. At Westminster Corridor, the place the queen is mendacity in state, the fixed stream of mourners paused for 60 seconds as folks noticed the minute of reflection in deep silence.
In Windsor, the place the queen will likely be laid to relaxation on Monday night after her funeral at Westminster Abbey, rain started to fall as the gang fell silent for the second of reflection. Some have arrange small camps and chairs outdoors Windsor Citadel, with plans to spend the evening there to order the perfect spots to view the queen’s coffin when it arrives.
“Well, it’s just one night and day of our lives. Elizabeth gave us – you know – 70 years. So the rest of it is not a lot to ask, is it?” mentioned Fred Sweeney, 52, who kitted out his spot with two Union flags on giant flag poles.
Biden and first girl Jill Biden have been amongst 1000’s of mourners — from locals and vacationers to royals and world leaders — to pay their respects. The president made the signal of the cross and put his hand to his coronary heart as he stood quietly close to the casket within the ornate 900-year-old corridor together with his spouse and U.S. Ambassador Jane Hartley.
Biden then signed the official condolence guide and attended a reception Sunday at Buckingham Palace hosted by King Charles III. He’s certainly one of 500 world leaders and royals invited to the queen’s state funeral Monday, together with a whole bunch of dignitaries, politicians, navy veterans and British charity staff.
Biden known as Queen Elizabeth II “decent” and “honorable” and “all about service” as he signed the condolence guide, saying his coronary heart went out to the royal household.
“Queen Elizabeth lived her life for the people,” Jill Biden wrote in a guide for spouses and ambassadors. “She served with wisdom and grace. We will never forget her warmth, kindness and the conversations we shared.”
One no-show will likely be Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose invitation drew criticism from human rights teams due to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi contained in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. Saudi Arabia is predicted to be represented by one other royal, Prince Turki bin Mohammed.
Because the dignitaries poured in, the clock was ticking down for these searching for a spot within the longest queue many have ever seen to file previous the queen’s coffin. The miles-long queue is predicted to be closed to new arrivals later Sunday so that everybody now within the line can view the coffin earlier than Monday morning, when it is going to be taken to Westminster Abbey for the queen’s funeral.
Household by household, 1000’s of individuals stored becoming a member of the road across the clock, braving chilly in a single day temperatures and waits of as much as 17 hours in a queue that stretched for over 5 miles (8 kilometers.)
Lauren Wilson, 36, was within the much-shorter queue for folks with mobility points. She mentioned she wished to expertise in particular person the coffin mendacity in state.
“The world is in such a weird place and then this happened. It feels more momentous,” she mentioned.
She frightened that the pageantry surrounding Elizabeth’s demise deprives the queen’s kin of the flexibility to come back to phrases with their loss.
“The family are not allowed to grieve. I find it quite heartbreaking,” she mentioned.
The queen’s eight grandchildren, led by inheritor to the throne Prince William, circled the coffin and stood with their heads bowed throughout a silent vigil on Saturday night.
Among the many international leaders in London was New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who informed the BBC she was humbled to symbolize her nation on the funeral and to witness the nationwide outpouring of grief and respect for the late queen.
“The thing that I will take away from this period is just the beauty of the public’s response, the kindness that you see from members of the public, the patience, the camaraderie. That has been, for me, the most moving tribute of all, has been the public response of the British people,” she mentioned.
Monday has been declared a public vacation in honor of Elizabeth, who died Sept. 8 at 96 after 70 years on the throne. Her funeral will likely be broadcast reside to over 200 nations and territories worldwide and screened to crowds in parks and public areas throughout the nation.
Cops from across the nation will likely be on obligation as a part of the most important one-day policing operation in London’s historical past.
Camilla, the queen consort, paid tribute to her mother-in-law in a video message, saying the monarch “carved her own role” as a “solitary woman” on a world stage dominated by males.
“I will always remember her smile. That smile is unforgettable,” mentioned Camilla, who’s married to Charles.
Ukraine’s first girl, Olena Zelenska, was additionally amongst mourners paying respects to the queen’s coffin. British royal officers mentioned Zelenska met with Catherine, the Princess of Wales, at Buckingham Palace on Sunday afternoon. They didn’t launch additional particulars. The British authorities has been among the many strongest supporters of Ukraine because it was invaded by Russia in February.
On Saturday evening, it was the grandchildren’s time to mourn. William and Prince Harry, Charles’ sons, have been joined by Princess Anne’s youngsters, Zara Tindall and Peter Philips; Prince Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie; and Prince Edward’s two youngsters — Girl Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
William stood together with his head bowed on the head of the coffin and Harry on the foot. Each princes, who’re navy veterans, have been in uniform. The gang stored slowly, silently submitting previous.
“You could see that they were thinking hard about their grandmother, the queen,” mentioned Ian Mockett, a civil engineer from Oxford in southern England. “It was good to see them all together as a set of grandchildren, given the things that have happened over the last few years.”
The lying-in-state continues till early Monday morning, when the queen’s coffin will likely be moved on a gun carriage pulled by 142 Royal Navy sailors to close by Westminster Abbey for the funeral, the finale of 10 days of nationwide mourning for Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
After the service Monday on the abbey, the late queen’s coffin will likely be transported by the historic coronary heart of London on the state gun carriage. It’s going to then be taken in a hearse to Windsor, the place the queen will likely be interred alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died final yr at 99.
Sumita Tanda put down vibrant purple roses as an enormous floral tribute bloomed close to Windsor Citadel.
“I feel so privileged to be a local resident of Windsor,” she mentioned. “I just wanted to pay my respects.”
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Related Press journalists Sylvia Hui and David Keyton contributed.
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Observe AP protection of Queen Elizabeth II at
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