'I would not miss this for the world', mourner says in queue to see queen's coffin

Record ID: 1689086

  • Title: 'I would not miss this for the world', mourner says in queue to see queen's coffin
  • Date: 14th September 2022
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 14, 2022) (REUTERS) CROWD OF PEOPLE GATHERING ON EMBANKMENT ON SOUTH BANK OF RIVER THAMES PEOPLE WAITING ON EMBANKMENT VARIOUS OF HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT SEEN ACROSS RIVER PRIVATE CARER FROM LONDON MONICA FARAG LOOKING OUT OVER RIVER PAN FROM HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT OVER RIVER TO FARAG LOOKING ON FARAG LOOKING ACROSS RIVER (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRIVATE CARER FROM LONDON, MONICA FARAG, 61, SAYING: "I couldn't give up. I thought 'this is priceless, an experience of a lifetime' and the atmosphere was amazing last night. So I would not have missed this for the world." WRISTBAND AROUND FARAG'S WRIST (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRIVATE CARER FROM LONDON, MONICA FARAG, 61, SAYING: "I queued since 8 o'clock yesterday morning, and there was a limited supply of food from the people that I have built friendships with, and volunteers offered us limited coffee and tea, and we did not sleep so well because we have just been talking and laughing and walking, and time was not, you know, slow. We did not really say 'gosh, five o'clock tomorrow is too far' but we did it beautifully I think. We are now experts in queuing." FARAG AND OTHER PEOPLE STANDING ON EMBANKMENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRIVATE CARER FROM LONDON, MONICA FARAG, 61, SAYING: "Oh the queen, I mean she has successfully run the monarchy. And in the Philippines, we always like pageantry. And to me, the queen, she was very hard-working and she had integrity and she was dignified, and personally, she's a role model." FARAG SPEAKING TO MOURNER FROM LONDON STEPHEN HOLDGATE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRIVATE CARER FROM LONDON, MONICA FARAG, 61, SAYING (ASKED HOW SHE IS FEELING): "Excited. I know it is a very sad occasion but, sorry queen but I'm really excited. This that I will be able just to feel the atmosphere inside there, and I am the envy of my nieces and nephews in the Philippines who are ten years old." FARAG AND HOLDGATE TALKING WITH ANOTHER MOURNER IN THE QUEUE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOURNER FROM LONDON, STEPHEN HOLDGATE, 61, SAYING: "I did feel like wearing long pants (SHOT OF HOLDGATE'S SOCKS WITH LOVEHEARTS) so when I bowed my head in front of the queen I was going to quickly pull them up (to show socks) but I decided against that because I could be in a flood of tears, of grieving. And the kimono jacket represents sleep, which Her Majesty is asleep now. And the Japanese neighbours will understand that perfectly well (HOLDGATE TURNS AROUND TO SHOW BACK OF KIMONO)." WRISTBAND ON HOLDGATE'S WRIST (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOURNER FROM LONDON, STEPHEN HOLDGATE, 61, SAYING: "I haven't had any sleep whatsoever, I'm just going with the energy that's within. I feel very uplifted, very calm and happy. Happy to be able to show my last respects to the queen." HOLDGATE SHOWING SOCKS WITH LOVEHEARTS ON THEM / HOLDGATE AND FARAG STANDING TOGETHER (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOURNER FROM LONDON, STEPHEN HOLDGATE, 61, SAYING: HOLDGATE: "I just feel real serene, I feel really fine. I think it's all going to go one way or another when I see the coffin." OFF-CAMERA JOURNALIST ASKING: "What are you anticipating?" HOLDGATE: "Well either a flood of tears or the stiff upper lip. Whichever emotion overwhelms me will be it. I imagine it'll be the tears." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAITING IN QUEUE
  • Embargoed: 28th September 2022 16:16
  • Keywords: Queen Elizabeth II Westminster Hall lying in state queen's coffin queues
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: UK
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Royals
  • Reuters ID: LVA001533914092022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Mourners waiting on the south bank of the Thames for a chance to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth's coffin on Wednesday (September 14) said they were excited to be able to see her coffin lying in state.
    "I would not miss this for the world," said 61-year-old Monica Farag, 61, originally from the Philippines but a UK resident for more than 30 years.
    Farag said she had queued since 8 a.m. (0700GMT) on Tuesday (September 13) but the time had gone by quickly. She and others waiting in line are now "experts in queuing" she said.
    Stephen Holdgate, also 61, had come wearing socks decorated with love hearts and a kimono jacket, representing his love for Elizabeth and the fact she was at rest, he said.
    Holdgate said he hadn't had any sleep and was happy at the chance to show his respects to the queen.
    But when he stands in front of the coffin, he said it would be "either a flood of tears or the stiff upper lip".
    As many as 750,000 mourners are expected to walk through Westminster Hall to pay their final respects before the funeral on Sept. 19.
    (Production: Stuart McDill, Lucy Marks, Lewis Macdonald)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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