After the cherished pair stated the Royal Family had been “overwhelmed by the flood of emotion” after the Queen’s death, the Countess of Wessex caressed happy youngsters, including a newborn, and gave smiles to hundreds of well-wishers gathering outside Buckingham Palace today.
After King Charles III and the Prince of Wales greeted mourners lining up along the banks of the Thames to see the Queen lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster, royal fans applauded Sophie and Prince Edward and could be heard saying “sorry for your loss” as the couple shook hands with dozens of bereaved people outside the palace gates this afternoon.
The eldest son of the Queen could be heard inquiring into the mourners’ origins and if they were on their way to Green Park to lay flowers.
Then, when his wife shook hands with the crowd and received flowers and a stuffed animal, he said that the Queen would “appreciate” the large crowd paying their respects.
However, Edward apologised to well-wishers for not shaking their hands and could be heard saying that he was trying to make sure he did not fall behind and could talk to as many people as possible after he kindly waved as he passed by them.
The Countess paused to examine a little girl’s T-shirt that had images of the Queen from different eras of her reign. Some of the well-wishers sent Sophie written tributes to the late queen as well as armfuls of flowers, including sunflowers and roses.
The duo also made their way over to the neighbouring Green Park’s edge where others were waiting behind fences.
The Earl of Wessex said in an emotional statement just hours before he and his siblings, the King, Duke of York, and Princess Royal, attended a touching vigil in Westminster Hall last night: “As a family, we have grown up learning to share our parents, especially our beloved mama, with the nation, her realms, and the Commonwealth.”
“While it has been nice to spend time saying our own goodbyes in solitude at Balmoral, the time has come for others to have the opportunity to do the same.
“We have been completely overcome by the wave of emotion that has swept over us and the sheer amount of individuals who have gone above and beyond to show their own love, admiration, and respect to such a very rare and unique person who was always there for us,” one person said.
And now, united in our sorrow, we are at her side. You have no clue how much your support means to me, so thank you.
The loss of the Queen has left all of us with an unfathomable hole. James and Louise enjoying the locations and pastimes that their grandparents so loved has brought Sophie and I much delight.
Given that my mother allowed us to spend so much time with her, I believe that she also took pleasure in seeing our interests grow. These wonderful memories and our moments spent together are now very valuable to each and every one of us.
“May God Bless Her Majesty and may her memory be treasured for a very long time, even as the torch she has carried for these last 70 years now transfers to the next generation and to my brother Charles.” King is still alive.
As hundreds of people gathered in Manchester on Thursday to honour the Queen, Prince Edward and Countess Sophie welcomed the mourning.
The pair took part in the procession the day before that carried the Queen’s casket from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.
The Countess of Wessex, Sophie, met Josh in Manchester, a young mourner who was waiting to meet her with his mother, Sue.
Sue described how she introduced herself and said, “Nice to meet you, do you want me to take your flowers?” Josh then said, “Can I have a hug?” They had an embrace before he requested a picture. Josh has signed the bouquet, but it also has my name on it.
When asked how he felt, Josh, a non-verbal person, responded, “Happy.”
At Westminster Hall earlier in the week, Edward and Sophie paid homage to the monarch with their kids, Lady Louse and Viscount Severn.
It happens after mourners were met by King Charles and his son Prince William as they waited to see the Queen lie in state.
On Saturday afternoon, hundreds of mourners waited in line in Lambeth, south London, to pay their respects at Westminster Hall. As Charles and William arrived, the crowd roared and applauded. As the King shook her hand, one lady expressed sympathy, while another said, “I can’t believe this.”
As Charles and William proceeded down the line, pausing to speak with each individual for a short while, dozens of people chanted “hip hip hooray.” Many individuals made phone calls to their friends and family to describe what they had just seen. As each passed, other people yelled, “God save the King” and “God save the Prince of Wales.”
William’s conversation on how long individuals had to wait and if they were able to stay warm could be overheard. After meeting him, several people started crying, and one lady told him, “You’ll be a magnificent king one day.”
Charles and William departed first, both driving away in automobiles that were being followed by police cruisers.
A constant stream of mourners kept adding to the back of the line as the line for the laying in state grew in Southwark Park.
Well-wishers typically expressed satisfaction when they saw the notice at the front of the line informing mourners that there would be a 14-hour minimum wait, with one group applauding them as they passed.
It happened after the King commended the emergency personnel for their efforts during the time of grief.
In addition to Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors and Commander Karen Findlay, who are in charge of organising police operations in and around London in the days leading up to and during the Queen’s funeral, Charles also met London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley. Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, and Suella Braverman, the home secretary, were also present.
People were advised not to travel to the back of the lying-in-state queue this morning by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport’s queue tracker. At 8 am, it revised the advice, stating that Southwark Park was reached by the line and wait times would be “at least 24 hours.”
Although it was a very bright morning in central London temperatures remained cool, particularly in the shade, at around 12C.
Alfie, 11, from Lancashire, wore his Scouts uniform complete with Platinum Jubilee badge, to join the queue for the lying in state.
His grandmother, Karen Todd, said: ‘Alfie really wanted to pay his respects to the Queen, and he wanted to come in his Scout uniform to honour her. And we came because it’s a momentous occasion and a moment in history. They’ll always remember this for the rest of their lives, so we’ve only got this one opportunity.’
Later, the Queen’s grandchildren will stand guard around her coffin. At Westminster Hall, William will be joined by his brother, the Duke of Sussex, who will also be dressed in costume.
Harry has previously been refused the opportunity to wear his military uniform while he publicly mourns because he is no longer a working royal, despite doing two tours of duty in Afghanistan where he saw combat on the front lines. However, according to royal insiders, the King has decided that his youngest son, who will stand at the foot of the coffin with William at the head, may wear a uniform for the vigil.
Harry will be beside Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, while William will be flanked by his cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips. Lady Louise Windsor and her brother Viscount Severn will be in the centre of the coffin.
Charles, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, and the Earl of Wessex, the Queen’s children, participated in their own vigil last night.
Politicians and royal dignitaries from all around the globe are anticipated to arrive during the weekend as the funeral is getting ready to start on Monday.
Shiv Pandian, 58, a urologist for the NHS for 30 years, said he was prepared for a lengthy line today. He is from Raynes Park in south-west London.
You’re accustomed to working long hours at the NHS, he added, chuckling. “There are plenty of places to eat, restrooms, and stuff.” “For 70 years, the Queen has served us.” She and I have both served for thirty years. I’ve attended three of her jubilees and want to say farewell.
“I got off at Waterloo, followed the line backward, and at one time I was led here to Southwark Park,” he said. Then it assuredly said, “I’m expecting by midnight tonight I’ll have seen the Queen. It’s 14 hours from the entrance here.”
Paula Priest, 53, of Wolverhampton, said that she was willing to wait till she arrived at Westminster Hall for whatever long it took. “We’re here for the long haul now, without a doubt.”
Those that persisted with the journey in spite of government advisories were pleasantly pleased by the queue’s speed. The tracker ceased advising mourners not to go later on Saturday morning, and the wait time was now just 16 hours.
Up to the Thames path along Bermondsey Wall East, when the line became more stationary, Southwark Park was bustling with activity.
Wristbands in bright pink are still being distributed, but they clearly say that access to Westminster Hall is not guaranteed. The encounter was well-organized, according to those who were waiting, and helpful employees and cops were there.
The line for the Queen’s laying in state at Lambeth Palace in south London was being patrolled this morning by Sir Mark Rowley, the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner. He welcomed mourners, some of whom were wearing blankets after spending hours in line during the night and early morning, and then moved from the east in the direction of Lambeth Bridge.
Alfie, an 11-year-old boy from Lancashire, lined up for the laying in state while wearing his Scout uniform and Platinum Jubilee badge.
Alfie genuinely wanted to honour the Queen, and he wanted to come in his Scout uniform to do it, according to his grandma, Karen Todd.
“We came because it’s a historic event,” the speaker said. We just have this one chance because they will remember this for the rest of their life.
On Friday at 11.45 p.m., the family left their house, and Ms. Todd said she “had to sleep in a car park for an hour and a half” before boarding a bus to travel to the line.
We were going to come this evening, but we arrived earlier since we didn’t want to miss it, Ms. Todd stated after looking at the wait tracker. She said, “It’s been fine.” open roads It’s organised well. I only hope my feet and legs remain healthy.
For the waiting period, the family packed thermals and a tonne of munchies.
To attend the laying in state, Sachet Pariyar and his father, who had served in the Queen’s Gurkha regiment, had travelled from Basingstoke.
“My dad served in the British Army earlier, as did my grandparents, and the Queen’s Gurkha regiment,” he remarked. Therefore, we felt a connection to the Queen and wanted to visit and pay our respects.
He said, “I was a little scared” about the wait, but “thought if we can obtain the wristband, then we would give it a go,” adding that he had been following the queue’s live tracker and had noticed that it may take 24 hours.
Despite being told that the line was closed, Linda Partridge, 71, and Simon Hopkins, 59, travelled from the West Midlands to attend the laying in state because they had “that desire to come down.”
Even though they indicated it was closed, Ms. Partridge, who had left her house at 3am, said: “I felt that desire to come down.” If they turned away after we arrived, that’s okay. If I had been informed I couldn’t leave, I would have just felt compelled to come.
There was a feeling that it may be better to stay home, but Mr. Hopkins continued: “There was a sense that it might be best to make the trip and just check things out, and you know, if it ended in disappointment, then so be it.”
He compared the experience to a “pilgrimage,” which he described as “a little odd” since it “kind of goes against my grain.” I feel like I’ve been dragged into it.
James Birchall, a 33-year-old student physiotherapist from Liverpool who had come to pay his respects, was also in line.
As he approached the Queen’s coffin, he said: “Right now, I just feel normal and unemotional, but as I get closer and closer (to it), I think I’ll start to become more emotional, and maybe five minutes before I go in, I’ll probably start crying, even though I don’t look like the type of person who would do that.”
I had the utmost regard for the Queen; I thought she was wonderful and had been in power my whole life. She was fantastic for our nation and up to her passing, she did everything properly.
“When mom passed away, I was overtaken with grief and decided I had to go to London to see it.”
‘I’m completely shocked because there are so many people, young and old,’ he said, “I didn’t think young people would come, necessarily, since they are not really in touch with royalty, but there’s so many young people here to pay their respects which I think is wonderful.”
Vlasta Picker, 73, of Bedford, who was also in line, said: “I came here in 1977 on the Silver Jubilee. Monarchy was considered to be history while I was growing up in central Europe.
“I was actually pretty mesmerised; it was big in 1977, and I’ve respected her ever since. She was a lovely, special lady.” Isn’t it something for her to serve till the very end of her life? Unprecedented. Therefore, I want to be here.
According to data from the London Ambulance Service (LAS), 435 members of the public were treated over the course of the last two days while waiting in line to view the Queen laying in state.
On Wednesday, 291 individuals in the vicinity of the line and in London received medical attention, with 17 requiring hospitalisation, according to the LAS. On Thursday, 144 more patients received treatment, and 25 more were admitted to hospitals.
According to the LAS, brain injuries from fainting and collapsing predominated among the events they responded to.
After entering the line at 2 a.m., David Beckham finally entered Westminster Hall at about 3 p.m. yesterday.
In the meanwhile, some individuals are attempting to profit by selling secondhand wristbands for up to £350 on eBay. Wristbands are given to those who join the line to record their position so they may go for a drink or to use the restroom and then come back.
To the ire of those made to wait, MPs may skip the line and bring in up to four guests. Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg and Shadow Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner were among those who stopped by yesterday.
The anchors of This Morning, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, seemed sombre when touring Westminster Hall. According to information provided to MailOnline, the TV couple entered a press gallery after joining a separate press line.
Former England captain Beckham joined the line at 2 a.m. and waited with everyone else until he was spotted queuing at around 12:30 p.m.
His representative told MailOnline that he had stood in line with the general public and claimed there was an atmosphere of “mutual respect” at first because no one wanted to photograph the 47-year-old celebrity.
Inside the park, a crowd formed in the holding pen next to the main queue as people begged to be let in. Security teams were allowing 100 people at a time from the holding area to join the main queue every ten to 15 minutes.
But outside the park, some people waited in the street with no idea of when they might be able to even join the queue.
The Government said in an update just before 10am: ‘Southwark Park has reached capacity. Entry will be paused for at least 6 hours. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Please do not attempt to join the queue until it re-opens.’
Just after 12pm, the Government also said the accessible queue was now ‘at capacity for today and entry for allocation of wristbands is currently paused’, adding that those with wristbands and entry times will still get in.
But then at 1pm, the entrance to Southwark Park reopened despite the Government still saying that the queue has been paused.
The gates were originally shut as queue attendants sought to deter new arrivals. However a second queue quickly began to form outside the park along Jamaica Road, leading attendants to reopen the gate.
A Number 10 spokesman directed questions to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, but said it was ‘the case that what DCMS have done is they’ve temporarily paused the queue for at least six hours after it reached maximum capacity.
‘That has always been part of our planning and that is to make sure as many as people as possible in the queue can enter the Palace of Westminster. But we keep it under review and there will be further updates from DCMS.’
The spokesman would not state what number of people represented ‘maximum capacity’ for the queue.
Beckham said to Sky News as he walked toward Westminster Hall: “This day was always going to be a difficult day.” We are thinking of the family, and it’s been wonderful to hear everyone’s stories.
The moment I received my OBE was the most memorable for me. My grandparents, who were ardent royalists, accompanied me. I consider myself quite fortunate to have had such brief encounters with Her Majesty. Although it is a sad day, it is one to remember.
Before England matches, singing the National Anthem “meant so much,” Beckham said.
‘I assumed by arriving at 2am it was going to be a little bit calmer, but I was incorrect, everyone had that in mind,’ he told ITV News. However, there were individuals of various ages there, including an 84-year-old woman and a 90-year-old guy. Everyone is eager to go in order to share in this experience and honour what Her Majesty has done for us.