LONDON — Mourners arrive at Westminster Abbey to take the seat for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Guests began entering the Gothic medieval monastery shortly after 8am (0700 GMT; 3am EDT) on Monday.
The dignitaries arrived later and many heads of state gathered at a nearby hospital and took buses to the monastery.
Westminster Abbey is where Elizabeth was married in 1947 and crowned in 1953.
London and Windsor, when the doors of 900-year-old Westminster Hall were closed to mourners after hundreds of thousands lined up in front of her coffin since September 14. A day filled with funeral events has begun.
Main development:
— For Britain and the world to bury Queen Elizabeth II
— Funeral Medal of Queen Elizabeth II
— Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral is a major security challenge
— World leaders head to London for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral
— Even if the times change, the king’s recumbent ceremony continues
— Queen paved the way for the transition to late Charles
— Learn more about AP coverage here
Other developments:
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – Around 300 people are expected to watch the broadcast of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral at her official residence in Australia. On her last visit to her country, Elizabeth II was awakened in the morning by the crowing of a sulfur-crowned parrot.
The doors of Government House, the residence of the British monarch’s representative, Governor David Hurley, in Canberra, Australia’s capital, will be open to registered members of the public for a funeral service.
Hurley is attending the London funeral in person. During her 2011 visit to Australia, where she spent several nights at the Government House, the Queen remarked on the sound of a large white parrot crowing at dawn.
The public solicitations for the chance to see the funeral at the 19th-century mansion set in a 130-acre (54-hectare) park, home to kangaroos and other native wildlife, were overwhelming. Registration closed last Tuesday, a Government House official said.
The Queen has visited Canberra on 14 of her 16 visits to Australia since 1954.
Paris — The Paris Metro renamed one of its stations after Queen Elizabeth II to honor the British monarch on the day of his state funeral.
The metro company tweeted that Georges V station, which serves the French capital’s famous Champs Elysées, was renamed Elizabeth II station for the day on Monday.
LONDON — The last public to see Queen Elizabeth’s coffin lying in the Houses of Parliament was Chrissie Healy, a member of the Royal Air Force from Melton Mowbray.
“I was really honored to be able to do that,” said Heerey.
She said she passed through Westminster Hall twice on Monday.
The experience was “one of the highlights of my life and I feel very honored to be here,” she says.
As the Queen’s four-plus days of repose drew to a close, the stream of mourners slowed slightly. After Healy bowed to her coffin and walked away, the MPs paid their final respects and placed the Queen’s coffin in a 900-year-old hall, with four candles and soldiers in ceremonial uniforms. surrounded by security guards.
Her coffin was taken to Westminster Abbey Monday morning for a state funeral attended by 2,000 people.
LONDON — Prince William and Kate Middleton’s 9-year-old son Prince George and 7-year-old daughter Princess Charlotte attend Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral.
George, now second in line to the throne, and his sister will walk through Westminster Abbey on Monday with the royal family marching behind the Queen’s coffin, which is carried by pallbearers.
The funeral order showed George and Charlotte walking together behind their parents.
Prince Louis, the four-year-old brother of the royal children, is not expected to attend the funeral, which will be attended by around 2,000 people.
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