World leaders including Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron arrived at Westminster Abbey as Britain and the world prepared to say goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II at her state funeral today.
The UK’s most important church began filling up from 8 am as the congregation arrived up to three hours early, including Kate Middleton’s parents, as enormous crowds of mourners filled the procession route outside and tens of thousands more went to Windsor, where her Majesty will be buried afterwards.
Michael and Carole Middleton were among hundreds of VIPs who arrived at the UK’s most important church, where Her Majesty married Prince Philip and had her coronation.
Two thousand royals, world leaders and hundreds of members of the public have started filing into the Abbey as billions around the globe will watch Her Majesty’s state funeral.
Most of the VIPs came by coach, meeting at the Royal Hospital Chelsea before being put on a bus into Central London.
Britain’s ministers, past and present, were among the first arrivals including Nadham Zahawi, Ben Wallace and Jacob Rees-Mogg, but US President Joe Biden went to the Abbey in The Beast, his bomb-proof limousine.
Michael and Carole Middleton, the parents of Kate, the Prince of Wales, arrived two hours early for the service, followed by Tom Parker Bowles, the son of Queen Consort, Camilla. They were also on a bus together despite their close ties to the Royal Family, and celebrities at the funeral included TV personality Bear Grylls.
Funeral flowers in the Abbey featured myrtle, which was used in the Queen’s wedding bouquet as is royal tradition. The huge white and green displays of flowers included Asiatic lilies, Gladioli, Alstroemeria, Eustoma and foliage of English oak, weeping birch and the sprigs of myrtle.
Around the coffin will stand the four tall yellow candles which usually rest around the grave of the unknown warrior at the entrance to the historic church, and outside hardy royal fans defied no camping rules, as people of all ages set up tents, deck chairs and even a makeshift minibar to grab premium seats for the spectacle that will see 2 million flood into the capital.
By 8.30 am members of the public were told that the procession route was full and began redirecting people to Hyde Park to watch on the big screens.
As you watch, you will see numerous high and mighty political types inside the Abbey and realise that many are not fit to be in the presence of Her Royal Highness.
The real VIPs are the people that Queen Elizabeth loved – MPs are totally irrelevant, but it is a sad day and a celebration of life for such a gracious Queen. We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through, and our purpose here is to observe, learn, grow, to love and then we return home, so here is hoping that our Queen has a safe journey, and may she Rest In Peace.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 