Final respects will be paid to the last towering figure of her era at a state funeral of inimitable pageantry
People camp out a day before the funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, following her death, in London, Britain, on September 18. Picture: REUTERS/MARKO DJURICA
Among the 2,000 in the congregation will be about 500 world leaders, from Biden and Emperor Naruhito of Japan to President Cyril Ramaphosa and Mark Brown, prime minister of the Cook Islands. This is a one-off. We would only be here for the queen. We just felt we had to be here. She was what we always needed in a time of crisisSuch was her longevity and her inextricable link with Britain that even her own family found her passing a shock.The 40th sovereign in a line that traces its lineage back to 1066, Elizabeth came to the throne in 1952, Britain's first post-imperial monarch.
“Queen Elizabeth II was without any shadow of a doubt the best-known figure in the world, the most photographed person in history, the most recognisable person, and the fact that world leaders are going to be pouring into London for the funeral … is saying a lot about this iconic figure,” historian Anthony Seldon said.Transport chiefs said 1-million people were expected in central London for the funeral, while police say it will be the biggest security operation ever in the capital.
“This is a one-off. We would only be here for the queen. We just felt we had to be here. She was what we always needed in a time of crisis.” In addition to dignitaries, the congregation will include those awarded Britain's highest military and civilian medals for gallantry, representatives from charities supported by the queen, and those who made “extraordinary contributions” to dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.Tens of millions in Britain and abroad are expected to watch the funeral of the monarch, something that has never been televised before.
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