Prince William has said taking part in the procession of Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin on Wednesday was “challenging” because it “brought back a few memories”.
The new Prince and Princess of Wales spent time at Sandringham estate to view flowers and tributes left in memory of the late Queen.
Prince William told one mourner that he was “overwhelmed” by support, while Princess Kate said that she couldn’t read all the cards left for the Queen for fear of crying.
In London, members of the public are filing past the late Queen’s coffin to pay their respects after queuing for hours, as her lying-in-state began at Westminster Hall.
The queue currently stretches back 4.3 miles past Tower Bridge, with some mourners saying they waited for nine hours to reach her coffin.
Buckingham Palace has announced that there will be a national two minutes silence at the end of the Queen’s funeral on Monday.
They have also said that the King and other senior members of the royal family will walk behind the coffin when it leaves Westminister Abbey.
King Charles III is taking a day of rest and reflection today and is not taking part in any events.
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Queen’s birthday honours’ recipients invited to funeral
Nearly 200 people recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours have been invited to attend the Queen’s state funeral on Monday, Downing Street has said.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said: “I can confirm that among the guests who have been invited to attend will be almost 200 people who were recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours this year, that was in June.
“These individuals drawn from across the UK were recognised for their extraordinary contributions in areas including the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, people who volunteered in their communities, charity workers and those who work in healthcare, education and the wider public sector”.
Holly Bancroft15 September 2022 16:00
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Queueing time reaches nine hours
The length of the queue to see the Queen lying in state has reached 4.2 miles long.
The estimated queueing time is at least nine hours, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has said.
The start of the queue is currently near Bermondsey Beach.
Holly Bancroft15 September 2022 15:50
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115,000 more Tube journeys near Westminster, TfL says
Transport for London (TfL) said nearly 115,000 more Tube journeys were made to or from eight stations in the centre of the capital on Wednesday compared with the same day last week.
A total of 696,468 entries and exits were recorded at Charing Cross, Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, London Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, St James’s Park, Victoria and Westminster stations on Wednesday.
That was up 20% on the total of 581,740 during the previous Tuesday.
Holly Bancroft15 September 2022 15:44
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Watch: Earl and Countess of Wessex meet mourners and read cards for the Queen
Earl and Countess of Wessex meet mourners and read cards for the Queen in Manchester
Holly Bancroft15 September 2022 15:22
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Union calls on Clarence House to halt redundancies
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) has written to the head of staff of King Charles’ former household asking him to halt planned redundancies.
Up to 100 employees on Tuesday received notification they could lose their jobs at Clarence House.
Now PCS has sent a letter to Principal Private Secretary Sir Clive Alderton, asking him to stop the plans and meet with the union ahead of any future consultation.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “To issue a notice of redundancy during the period of mourning is shocking and insensitive. We call on Sir Clive to think again, to withdraw his letter and engage with us on any future staffing plans.”
Holly Bancroft15 September 2022 14:58
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Prince William ‘overwhelmed’ by support from well-wishers
Prince William has said he is “overwhelmed” by the support from mourners at Sandringham who came to pay their respects to the Queen.
He was accompanied on his visit by his wife Kate, who told one mourner she couldn’t read all the tributes left for the Queen for fear of crying.
Fran Morgan, 62, spoke to Kate as she inspected the sea of flowers left at the Norwich gate.
Ms Morgan recounted her conversation with the new Princess of Wales, saying: “She said she couldn’t believe how many cards and flowers there were. But she also said ‘I can’t read them all or I would cry’.”
(PA)
Holly Bancroft15 September 2022 14:53
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‘He collapsed right in front of me – how guard fainted as I paid my respects to the Queen’
Thousands of people queued into the small hours to see Her Majesty lying in state – and my colleague Maryam Zakir-Hussain was among them.
She witnessed the moment when a member of the Queen’s guard fainted while on duty.
Read her account of what happened here:
‘I queued 8 hours to see the Queen – and then guard fainted as I got to the coffin’
Thousands of people queued into the small hours to see Her Majesty lying in state – and Maryam Zakir-Hussain was among them
Holly Bancroft15 September 2022 14:33
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Bahamas PM signals referendum to remove Charles III as head of state
The prime minister of Bahamas has said he will hold a referendum to remove King Charles III as head of state and become a republic.
Phillip Davis said the decision on the country’s involvement with the British monarchy was a matter for the Bahamian public to decide upon.
Speaking to reporters after signing the book of condolence at the Senate on Tuesday, following the death of Queen Elizabeth, the PM confirmed that having a public vote was on the table, telling reporters “for me, it always is but again it is our people who will have to decide”.
“The only challenge with us moving to a republic is that I can’t, as much as I would wish to do it, I cannot do it without your consent,” he continued, adding “I will have to have a referendum and the Bahamian people will have to say to me, ‘yes’.”
Read the full story from our Race correspondent Nadine White:
Bahamas PM signals referendum to remove Charles III as head of state
Phillip Davis said the decision on the country’s involvement with the British monarchy is a matter for the Bahamian public to decide upon.
Holly Bancroft15 September 2022 14:17
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Watch: Police who arrested protesters don’t understand the law, Met Federation admits
Police who arrested protesters don’t understand the law, Ken Marsh of Met Federation admits
Holly Bancroft15 September 2022 14:03
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Queen’s queue: Top tips and what to expect as mourners face eight hour waits
If you are hoping to join the queue to see the Queen’s coffin, you should be prepared for a long wait.
Some mourners, who queued through the night, had to wait for at least eight hours before they got access to the Palace of Westminister – where the Queen is lying in rest.
Find everything you need to know about how to find the back of the queue, what you can and can’t take into the Palace of Westminister, and more here:
Top tips for people queuing to see Queen’s coffin as mourners face eight hour waits
How do I find the back and how long will I have to wait? All the tips for the Queen’s queue
Holly Bancroft15 September 2022 13:38
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/queen-funeral-westminster-hall-charles-latest-b2167634.html
