- Title: Well-wishers moved to see King Charles keeping vigil around Queen's coffin
- Date: 16th September 2022
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 16, 2022) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WAITING BY GATES OUTSIDE WESTMINSTER HALL VARIOUS OF CARS CARRYING MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY ARRIVING AT WESTMINSTER HALL MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY ARRIVING PEOPLE WALKING PAST AFTER LEAVING WESTMINSTER HALL (SOUNDBITE) (English) ESTATE AGENT, SARAH BONIFACE, 60, SAYING "Very difficult to describe because, you know, I just went in on the steps and then we had to stop and then they walked in. They are amazing to be standing in front of their mother like that. Gosh. Yeah, absolutely amazing. And I'm so pleased I stood there for, I think about 14 hours, but it's been worth every minute. Every minute." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SALES MANAGER, HELEN DAWDRY, 43, SAYING: "Yes, we did. Yeah. I mean, our timing was amazing. So, very emotional, actually, and very respectful of what everyone's doing there and how they must be feeling. So yeah, it's amazing really." BIG BEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF MEMBER FROM SUSSEX, ROSIE BEDDOWS, 57, SAYING: "I saw the whole family. I can't believe it. We came into the chamber about three minutes before the end of the vigil. Absolutely amazing. So moving, just so beautiful, so beautifully done. And then to see the change of the guard as well. It was, it was absolutely awesome. It's been incredibly long day. We left home at half past four this morning. But we saw the King, I can't believe it, and saw the Queen, can't believe that either." (SOUNDBITE) (English) WELL-WISHER, NICI MACSEPHNUY, 51, SAYING: "Was just amazing and it was very emotional seeing the royal family in there. Amazing. I'm still a bit shaken up." POLICE MOTORCYCLES DRIVING PAST / KING CHARLES AND THE QUEEN CONSORT, CAMILLA, IN CAR DRIVING PAST CAR DRIVING PAST WITH PRINCE EDWARD, THE EARL OF WESSEX, AND SOPHIE, THE COUNTESS OF WESSEX AND THEIR CHILDREN LADY LOUISE WINDSOR AND JAMES, VISCOUNT SEVERN CROWD WAITING OUTSIDE
- Embargoed: 30th September 2022 21:49
- Keywords: Britain King Charles London Queen Elizabeth II Queen death Westminster Hall lying in state royal family vigil
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: UK
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Royals
- Reuters ID: LVA001598216092022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Well-wishers were moved to tears after seeing King Charles and his siblings standing vigil by the coffin of their late mother Queen Elizabeth on Friday (September 16).
Charles, Princess Anne, Princes Andrew and Edward, attired in military uniforms, stood in silence with their heads bowed for the 15-minute vigil at the historic Westminster Hall where the coffin of the late monarch has been lying since Wednesday (September 14).
Most of the other members of the British royal family, including some of the queen's great-grandchildren, watched from a gallery.
Tens of thousands of people of all ages and from all walks of life have already filed past the coffin in a constant, solemn stream to pay tribute to the queen, who died in Scotland on Sept. 8 at the age of 96 after a 70-year reign.
Estate agent Sarah Boniface, 60, said she had waited for 14 hours in the queue but she had no regrets after getting to see Charles and his siblings.
"They are amazing to be standing in front of their mother like that," she said, with tears in her eyes.
"I'm so pleased I stood there for, I think about 14 hours... it's been worth every minute," she added.
Rosie Beddows, 57, from Sussex, had queued with her husband and son, and happened to pass by the coffin when it was being guarded by the royal family.
"I can't believe it. We came into the chamber about three minutes before the end of the vigil. Absolutely amazing. So moving, just so beautiful, so beautifully done," she said, sounding elated.
Despite the warning of lengthy queues - repeated across local rail stations - people had flooded into Southwark Park to join the line, many in high spirits. In contrast, those who emerged from the Lying-In-State were quiet, reflective, and a little stiff.
(Production: Gerry Mey, Mindy Burrows) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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