Queen Elizabeth II Lying-in-State: Mourners wait 14 hrs in 16-km queues to file
past coffin
A million visitors are queuing up to attend the longest-reigning Queen Elizabeth II
Lying-in-State, making history; while a galaxy of world leaders land in London for
the State funeral at Westminster Abbey at 11 am (3:30 pm IST) on Monday. It
will be a huge gathering of world leaders never seen before. King Charles III
hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace for them on Sunday evening. There
were 500 dignitaries.
The queue from Southwark Park touches Tower bridge, London bridge,
Southwark bridge, Millennium bridge, Blackfriars bridge, Waterloo bridge and
Westminster bridge before crossing the Lambeth bridge to enter a zig-zag near
the entrance.
The BBC gave a calculation of the length of the queue. The distance from
Westminster to Southwark Park, the starting point of the queue, is 11 km. Then
there is the zig-zag section of nearly 5 km to rough in. So the queue is
meandering slowly up towards Westminster for a total of 16 km! (which in
theory becomes a constant). Although, 16 km is quite a lot for standing and
moving without any chance to cool your legs for a moment. "Very little
opportunity to sit down as the queue will be continuously moving” - the
Government itself cautioned a swelling stream of mourners pouring into London
from across the kingdom day and night. The time taken can easily be 14 hours!
Yet the determination keeps everyone fit as a fiddle.
The calculation doesn't take into account a queue to join the queue that has
come up and the last-minute doubling of the official queue into a double lane.
The masses in the queues looked extremely solemn and serious too and
displayed an amazing natural discipline that illustrated a national character
evolved partly from a thousand years of democratic tradition.
LONDON, Sept 18: Biggest-ever security arrangements were put in place in
London as a stream of Heads of State and Government, like US President Joe Biden, and
royals and other dignitaries from across the world began landing in the city since
Saturday to participate in Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Monday at 11 am
(3:30 pm IST). Around 2,000 guests are expected who will be seated in
Westminster Abbey, the venue for the State funeral, by 8 am. King Charles III
and Prime Minister Liz Truss were scheduled to meet the top leaders separately
on Saturday-Sunday. On Sunday evening Charles hosted a reception for them at
Buckingham Palace. There were 500 dignitaries.
Meanwhile, the long queues of commoners that began swelling by the hour since
Wednesday evening has broken the Guinness World Records. Nearly a million visitors
will have filed past the coffin by the end of time or that is the capacity for
which only arrangements had been made!
Britons are displaying exemplary fortitude in enduring the grueling journey
standing 12 to 14 hours day or night in unending queues wanting to pay respects
to the departed Queen lying-in-state.
Shuffling along the streets of London, it appeared uncertain on Sunday if most
visitors desiring to come will make it, missing out an experience of a lifetime,
attending the Monarch lying-in-state.
The mourners in line are roughing it for the toughest time braving the cold
nights standing in queues for over 12 hours on an average, old and young alike,
from far and near, having come for a last glimpse of their beloved Queen 'waiting'
in the people's house, the centuries old Westminster Hall, before Her Majesty
moves into her final resting place at Wintsor Castle alongside her Prince Consort.
Southwark Park is the entry point for the queue. Queues systematically wind
through a zig-zag section and along the Thames bank passing the Lambeth Bridge
(see image).
Unusual for Westerners, the mourners united in purpose were seen at places
chit-chatting as they willingly embraced the ordeal. Those were positive expressions.
No complaints.
People talking to one another, asking where did they hail from, connecting
with people walking past slowly, on their own, disciplined, absolute silence,
orderly movement, without need for cops to utter a word! Even inside the Hall
they behaved themselves, they could take their own time, if they wanted. There
was pindrop silence as everyone bowed one's head in reverence. It was history
in the making.
30 things you didn’t know about Queen Elizabeth!
The mourners came prepared, dressed to face any weather. On Saturday too like the previous day, queues lengthened to full capacity and it was overwhelming at Southwark Park, the entry point. It was estimated a visitor joining the queue at Southwark Park took 12 hours on an average to reach the entrance. On Sunday the stream of visitors to London only mounted. As the entrance will close at 6:30 am Monday,
joining the queue after 6 pm Sunday will invite only disappointment.
A Government website said, "this is a journey with very little opportunity
to sit down as the queue will be continuously moving”.
It was cloudy on Sunday morning at 8 and the temperature was 11 deg C. The
night before was colder. How did the multitudes manage. According to BBC, blankets
were distributed.
King Charles and Prince William had an unscheduled meeting with mourners in
the queue at points like Lambeth bridge, south London, on Saturday. King
Charles shook their hands. Several people cried after meeting Prince William,
BBC reported.
Some Do's & Don'ts
Authorities had on Saturday warned the public not to undertake travel to join
the queue as the wait time stretched beyond 14 hours standing. Visitors were
told better not to bring children.
According to Daily Telegraph, the visitors are given a coloured wrist band
bearing a number that helps them to leave the line to go to portaloos or for
refreshments if they want and get back to their slot.
There are 500 portable toilets and eight first aid stations run by St John
Ambulance along the route.
Around a 1,000 cops have been drawn to London from across the Kingdom to help
the Scotland Yard, the city police, to assist the public.
The British Film Institute (BFI) has set up an outdoor screen showing footage
from the archives of Queen's life for the those in the queues.
The Government had already warned the people about the physical endurance.
More than 700 people had fallen sick in the queue and had to be treated by
paramedics, till Saturday.
Before reaching the security check at the Victoria Tower Gardens at the Palace
of Westminster, any food or liquid thay may have must be consumed or disposed
of. Flasks and water bottles must be emptied. A small bag of size up to 40 cm
x 30 cm x 20 cm, with one simple opening or zip is allowed in. However, there
is a bag drop facility before check point. Checking is very strict.
No photography is allowed. Flowers, candles etc can be dropped at an identified
tribute area beforehand. That is near Green Park.
No weapons, blankets etc are allowed. One should be ready to spend the night
in the queue.
David Beckham in queue
Renowned soccer star David Beckham preferred to take his turn waiting in line
with the rest of the country's mourners. Beckham was seen in line on Friday
morning. He waited for more than 12 hours to reach the Queen.
Grateful King Charles and Prince William met some mourners in the queue and
shook hands, on Saturday.
Entry to the queues was blocked by authorities on Friday as they were snaking
beyond an unmanageable 8 km at 10 in the morning (IST 2:30 pm Friday), taking
14 hours to reach the entrance. New visitors were not allowed for at least six
hours. They were told to be prepared to spend the night standing in queue.
"Entry (to the queue) will be paused for at least 6 hours. Please do not attempt
to join the queue until it re-opens," the Government's culture department said
on Twitter.
Lying-in-State
The longest-reigning Queen Elizabeth II who died on September 8 was the oldest
monarch at 96. She was on the throne for over 70 years.
The coffin is placed on a catafalque and draped in the Royal Standard, with
the Orb and Sceptre placed on top.
The Queen’s four children - King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew,
Duke of York, and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, will be present at the funeral.
The opening of lying in state was attended by the new British Prime Minister
Liz Truss and Labour Party Opposition leader Keir Starmer.
The new Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, Prince William, and his brother
Duke of Sussex Prince Harry and other royals stood vigil at the Queen's coffin
on Saturday evening. Charles and the Queen Consort did so on Friday.
Prince Harry and Prince Andrew were given permission to wear military uniform
for the vigil. He had relinquished royal functions a few years back over the
scandal relating to Jeffrey Epstein.
The tradition of Lying-in-State for monarchs began in 1910 with Edward VII,
who lay-in-state in Westminster Hall. Three lakh visitors had lined up day and
night in bitter cold to file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II's father
George VI. Elizabeth the Queen Mother lay in state, in 2002. Prince Philip,
Elizabeth II's consort, opted out; he died in 2021. Some Prime Ministers like
Winston Churchill also lay-in-state in Westminster Hall.
A national minute's silence is held across the UK on Sunday at 20:00. A prayer
service will be held at the Kelpies, near Falkirk.
Buckingham Palace said five prime ministers held audiences with the King on
Saturday afternoon. They were Jacinda Ardern, PM of New Zealand, Australian
leader Anthony Albanese, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, The Bahamas' PM Philip
Davis, and the PM of Jamaica Andrew Holiness.
The funeral
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral is the first state funeral in the UK since Winston
Churchill’s in 1965.
The lying-in-state in Westminster Hall ends 6:30 am Monday and the Hall will
be closed. At 10:44 am the coffin will be placed on the gun carriage and moved
to nearby Westminster Abbey at 10.52 am. Pall bearers will lift the coffin from
the carriage and carry to Abbey. Doors will open at 8 am to allow guests like
Biden take their seats.
Heads of state and overseas Government representatives, including foreign royal
families, Governors-General and realm Prime Ministers will gather initially
at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, and travel under “collective arrangements” to
Westminster Abbey, Independent said. Royals other than those in procession will
also take their seats early.
All others like MPs and those from the realms and the Commonwealth will form
the congregation, about 2,000 people, who will also be seated at 8 am.
A life of duty
At 11 am the funeral service will begin. It will be attended by world leaders
and the royal family members present. Funeral will be conducted by Dean of Westminster.
Prime minister Liz Truss and the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth are both
expected to give readings at the service.
At 11:55 Last Post is played and then a national two-minute silence will follow.
The service ends with a piper playing at 12 noon.
Then, starting at midday, the bearer party will lift the coffin from the catafalque
and place on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy which will stop at Wellington
Arch at Hyde Park Corner, at around 1 pm. There the coffin will be transferred
on to the State hearse and driven to Windsor Castle. It will arrive at Windsor
Castle at 3.06 pm. Then starts a walking procession up Windsor Castle's Long
Walk, about 5 km. The King and other royals join the cortege in the Quadrangle
in a procession for the committal service at St George's Chapel.
The three processions
(So there are three processions for the funeral. The first is a short one
from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey for the official State funeral service;
then from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in State Gun Carriage of the
Royal Navy; here the coffin is transferred to the State Hearse for the onward
journey to Windsor Castle. The third procession is within the Castle premises,
to St George's Chapel.)
After a ceremony at 4 pm in St George’s Chapel, the coffin will be lowered
into the Royal Vault.
Queen's coffin will be reunited with Prince Philip’s
At 7:30 pm Queen Elizabeth II's coffin will be reunited with the her husband
of 70 years, Duke of Edinburgh Prince Consort Philip’s coffin and they both
will be interred in the King George VI Memorial Chapel (of the Queen's father)
in a private service. Prince Philip is currently resting in the Royal vault.
(A chapel is a small place of worship which can be anywhere - like even
residences - and without clergymen or priests while a church is a dedicated
building with clergymen or priests managing the prayers. A large church can
also accommodate one or more chapels. A cathedral is bigger than a church and
is run by a bishop. The very ancient Windsor Castle belongs to the monarchy
and has the medieval St George's Chapel which may be used for services like
weddings and burials. The King George VI Memorial Chapel was commissioned by
Queen Elizabeth II as her father's burial place. It is a part of St George's
Chapel. The Castle was the Queen's private residence.)
The incident has triggered a debate on social media whether the officer refused to take orders from a party leader or he was accused of any corruption, some netizens justifying the handling in either case, that Ratnakar was blocking public welfare work! It is true the Govt machinery has been the enemy Number One of the people of this country, existing for itself and for these politicians, for well over seven decades. India will never make an inch of progress - real progress, not make-believe-progress - unless and until this machinery is eliminated.
ANALYSIS: There have been cases of Britons going to Switzerland to get rid of a miserable life. Now once the House of Lords also passes the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, terminally ill Britons can call it quits with the help of a medical practitioner here itself. But the measure when comes into practice, will have very serious social consequences, it is feared. There won't be comparisons, even as tropes in Latin American folklores. The worst case scenario is of those who are not terminally ill also trying to misuse the provision to leave this world early when life with dignity is not available. But that is, in fact, a political question and not a moral imbroglio!
The CCTV footage and the video circulating on social media do not indicate any serious abnormalities in takeoff or descent, it has been confirmed. The disaster is becoming curiouser and curiouser. The flight path was not curvy. And the aircraft maintained a steady, gliding descent with its nose straight and the wings perfectly level. The pilot's distress call does not specify what prevented lift and climb-out. Here are some expert opinions. The sole purpose is to raise travellers' awareness about air travel.
Many of the victims were charred beyond recognition, making identification difficult. Three hundred nineteen body parts have been sent for DNA matching with relatives to determine the identities.
A comment on social media on Kanimozhi's answer on the question of national language read: "Daughter of Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi. Delivered the Birthday Present to her Father!!" (Karunanidhi was born on June 3, 1924)
(Today's headlines )
Trump said, "Elon is not really leaving" and will be "back and forth" to the White House because DOGE is his "baby." "I think he’s going to be doing a lot of things.”
Musk wrote: "My scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end... The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government." Now on it will be on auto-pilot.
PROGNOSIS: DOGE was prematurely born to protect the country by aborting an impending socio-economic disaster which very few people could see coming.
Although its immediate job was to save American taxpayers billions by slashing waste, eliminating fraud, cutting Government bloat and ensuring utmost efficiency in administration for the good of the people.
(Today's headlines )
"Coming from a system like in England, empowering," she says she never had an idea of this sort of experience... being asked to “socialise with middle-aged men” who financed the event...humiliating...
Originally from Junagadh, Gujarat, Pataudi was relocated to Etawah Lion Safari in September 2019 before being transferred to Gorakhpur Zoo in 2021. Recently it was receiving treatment for pancreatic and liver infections. After tigress Shakti died in the zoo on May 7 due to bird flu, Pataudi was shifted to Kanpur. Some birds are also reported to have died mysteriously around Gorakhpur. All zoos in UP are closed for fear of a bird flu outbreak.
Three other animals too had died - a tiger, a leopardess and a female wolf. Wolf Bhairavi died last Saturday, leopardess Mona died the Thursday before that and tiger Kesari died on March 30. Some of them had Shakti's symptoms but the cause of death has not been confirmed yet.
As tourist inflow is an indicator of normalcy returning to an erstwhile terrorist infested Valley, the Government has been trying hard to make everything travel-friendly, launching lot many projects and bringing Kashmir on the national rail map that physically completes the process of Kashmir's integration with the rest of India. And that defeats the designs of Pakistan eyeing Kashmir and simply explains a recrudescence of terrorism in J&K.
"It's a big victory not just for Tamil Nadu but for all Indian States. DMK will continue to struggle for and win State autonomy and Federal polity," Chief Minister MK Stalin said.
Of 2.08 km in length, it features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train services to the holy town of Rameswaram on Pamban island.
ANALYSIS: There is a lot of hue and cry around the world over Trump's tariffs. But tariff, simply put, is a tax. But unlike tax, it affects the exporting country too. Domestic prices will go up for some time. Nothing more will happen, good or bad!
What motivated Trump's newfound policy, apart from being a stunt to justify his existence in the White House, is a false realisation that increased tariff will make foreign goods prohibitive, thereby boosting local production, and create more jobs, and more prosperity will ring in! If that is true, India would have been shining by now: Producing own Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail and Scotch Whiskies! And what about coconut and palm oil by America!
(Today's headlines )
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Suddenly these colonial clerks feel this effortless, little rule will tremendously enhance security and convenience for the railway passengers manifold. More stations will be covered in the next 77 years! (Also See:
New Delhi station stampede... What went wrong?)
) 
