The Queen is coming home - and hundreds of thousands could be disappointed

Everything is well planned. At 22 minutes past two on Wednesday afternoon, the gun carriage leaves Buckingham Palace, carrying the coffin containing the Queen's body. The funeral procession, led by King Charles III. across the Mall, Horse Guards Parade and finally Whitehall towards Parliament Square. Tens of thousands then line the streets. At 3pm sharp, arrival at Westminster Hall in the shadow of Big Ben, where the coffin is laid out on a catafalque. Two hours later the gates open to the public.

The British have until Monday morning at 6.30 a.m. to say goodbye to their monarch. Paying her respect and expressing sorrow 24 hours a day. However, if you want to do that, you need to have stamina and a good rain suit. Typical English weather awaits those willing to wait up to 38 hours.

In Edinburgh, 33,000 citizens filed past the coffin. Government officials speculate that there could be around 350,000 people in the capital. However, the British media suspect that up to a million will line up. The queue could be eight kilometers long, from Westminster along the south side of the Thames to behind Tower Bridge. The organizers have already announced that they will send those waiting home for free. Their disappointment will be huge.

Those who get in line early enough will have to exercise modesty on Parliament grounds. Only transparent bottles with water are allowed, no snacks, also no flowers. Photography and filming are not permitted in the 900-year-old hall itself.

Nevertheless, the first monarchists have been queuing since Monday, although they were not officially there until Tuesday evening. In Westminster, where the Palace of Westminster with the House of Commons and House of Lords is located, barriers were erected, cables laid, toilet blocks erected right up to the last moment. Within hours, a large tent was erected on the north side of Parliament, in which security checks are carried out.

Chris Imafidon was one of the first in line. "It's the least I can do for her. She has done so much more for us,” says the retired Essex University Lecturer, who was born in Benin. "My students met the Queen, who said to them: No matter where you come from - you can achieve anything." That the royal family is racist, as Meghan Markle claims, "I can only laugh about it".

The images that will go around the world from London in the coming days will bring back memories. The death of the Queen Mother in 2002, and especially the funeral ceremonies for Princess Diana in 1997. A new era began with the death of the Queen. The Elizabethan era is over.

The coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II is back in London. This is to be carried through the streets of the capital with a solemn procession. The British can now say goodbye for four days.

Source: WORLD