Tens of thousands of people lined up on the south bank of the River Thames, in London, this Wednesday to pass the urn of Queen Elizabeth II of England, in a queue that authorities say could reach 10 miles.
The waiting time to enter the hall of the Palace of Westminster, where the body of the monarch who died on September 8 is located, could be 30 hours if the queue reaches its maximum length, according to the British press, but security, volunteers and police are not giving any estimates to journalists or people who join.
Just before 5pm, when Westminster Hall entrance opened to the public and the first people walked in to see Elizabeth II’s urn, the line reached 2.8 miles, still a long way from the roughly 10 miles that authorities said. British companies consider it to be the upper limit.
The wristbands handed out shortly after 3 p.m. to the last to join the line numbered nearly 86,000, and the first people to receive them had already spent their last night there.
But also the last ones in line in the middle of the afternoon today were already mentally and prepared for a night in line, such as Stefan Conway, 31, born in the United States to a British family and who has lived in London since 2010.
He arrived just before 3 p.m. and, like most people in line, took food, water, a book he started reading on the floor, a hobby book, three charged batteries to refresh his cell phone, and a raincoat.
He wanted to honor Elizabeth II, a person “who embodies a nation” and chose the passage through Westminster Hall, which requires a long wait, because the other possibility he considered was the funeral, next Monday, and he doesn’t know how it will be. environment, crowd management or whether you have time that day.
Contrary to what happens to the crowds that have gathered near Buckingham Palace since Elizabeth II’s death, in this line for Wesminster there are few if any tourists, there are few ‘selfies’, only English is heard and most importantly , about the monarch and her 70-year reign.
This is the case of a group of four people, sitting on the ground at Westminster Bridge, a mile from the front of the row, telling funny stories about the Queen. They came from different parts of England and the only man in the group, Barry, 57, is from Northern Ireland.
They didn’t know each other and started talking today around 10am, when they lined up, expecting to be on their way home “by 10pm”.
Christine, 73, explains that in 10 days of mourning and ceremonies, there are many opportunities to honor the Queen, but she chose this one because it allows for “a very personal, more spiritual moment,” unlike what happens under the crowd, always with a lot of people “with mobile phones in their hands, taking ‘selfies'”.
“There are no cell phones here, nothing, we will have our moment and our own space,” he said, summarizing the sentiment and explanations of the entire group.
Catherine, 60, explains the willingness of so many to wait a few seconds in a line like this in front of Elizabeth II’s urn, as the monarch represents a generation of Britons who lived through World War II and was “more than a queen.” “, but also “a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother” to many and the head of the Anglican Church, among other roles and symbols of British identity.
About 500 portable toilets and water points have been set up along the route of the line, as well as first aid posts.
Volunteers from the British Red Cross also line up to ask people if they are okay and provide information about the rules and restrictions that await them further down the line as they approach the Westminster entrance.
The coffin containing the monarch’s body will be in the Palace of Westminster, the building that houses the English Parliament, until 6:30 a.m. on Monday (the same time in Lisbon), the day of the state funeral. , which starts at 11 a.m.
Along the route from the queue to the Palace of Westminster, entities such as the Southbank Centre, National Theater and Shakespeare’s Globe Theater will operate continuously to sell food and facilitate the use of toilets.
Cafes and other local businesses will also be open after hours.
When they are at the front of the queue, people are led across Lambeth Bridge to Victoria Tower Gardens, where they must pass security checks before entering the Palace of Westminster.
Once inside the Palace of Westminster, people can walk past the coffin, but without stopping, and cannot take flowers or other gifts with them.
Filming or photographing is also prohibited.
Authorities warned people of the risk of having to “stand for many hours, possibly overnight, with very few opportunities to sit down because the line is constantly moving”.
The rules allow small bags, one per person, with an easy opening for inspection, and no one is allowed to enter the Palace of Westminster with food or drink – to be “consumed in line” – flowers, stuffed animals. , photos, folding chairs, blankets, sleeping bags or flags.
The urn containing the body of Queen Elizabeth II is in Westminster Hall [Westminster Hall]the oldest part of the building housing the British Parliament, whose origins date back to the 11th century.
Queen Elizabeth II died last Thursday at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, after more than 70 years of the longest reign in British history.
Source: DN
