A long wait, no big bags, no photos: the hundreds of thousands of people expected to gather outside Elizabeth II’s coffin at the Palace of Westminster in London from Wednesday will have to follow strict rules.
The Queen’s remains are due to be flown from Scotland to London on Wednesday. After her passage through Buckingham Palace, her coffin will be exhibited at the Palace of Westminster where the public will be able to pay tribute to her from 4:00 p.m. GMT and, uninterruptedly, until 5:30 p.m. GMT Monday morning.
His funeral will take place shortly after, at 10:00 GMT, in Westminster Abbey.
More than 200,000 people came in 2002 to parade in front of the coffin of “Queen Mama”, the mother of Elizabeth II. This time, 750,000, according to the newspaper The timeshe could try to approach the coffin of the deceased queen, placed on a dais and draped with the royal standard.
Few opportunities to sit
They will have to be patient, with probably miles of queues in the streets around the palace, just as the police face a logistical challenge to ensure the smooth running of this tribute.
“The queue is likely to be very long. There will be many hours to wait, sometimes at night and with little opportunity to sit down,” the British government warned in a document that sets out the rules to be respected.
Therefore, it recommends wearing clothing adapted to all possible weather conditions, food and drinks to consume “before entering” the control area, as well as an external charging battery for mobile phones.
An “airport-type” security system will be deployed, with “draconian restrictions” on what everyone can take with them.
no candle
Each person will be given a bracelet, which must be removed when leaving.
Inside the palace, “only one small bag per person” will be allowed and with “simple opening or zipper to be able to quickly pass” the different control points present on the route.
Those who have a bag that is too big will have to leave it at the entrance, but “no guarantee” that there will be enough space, the document warns.
Flowers, candles, small toys or stuffed animals cannot be deposited in the palace, reminding the government that this can be done in several other places in the capital.
It will also not be possible to take photos or make videos with your mobile phone. The government finally calls on everyone to “dress appropriately for the occasion”, without clothing displaying “political or offensive slogans”.
Source: BFM TV
