Entire Britain held a moment of silence for Queen Elizabeth II at 8 p.m. local time. The Queen’s funeral is preserved today as the coffin remains in the state from Wednesday.
President Biden and other dignitaries arrived in London for the funeral, to which around 500 royals, heads of state and heads of government from around the globe were invited.
Biden and first lady Jill Biden paid their respects at Westminster Hall on Sunday, where they were joined by Jane Hartley, U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.
The president and first lady signed the official condolence book for the Queen at Lancaster House.
The queues outside Westminster Hall continue to double up to 4 miles. People are waiting in lines for more than 17 hours to pay their respects to the late Monarch.
Crowds also gathered Sunday near Windsor Castle, where the Queen will be laid to rest at a private family ceremony on Monday evening.
Camilla, the news Queen consort, paid tribute to the longest serving Monarch through a video message saying the monarch “carved her own role” as a “solitary woman” on a world stage dominated by men.
“I will always remember her smile. That smile is unforgettable,” said Camilla, King Charles III’s wife.
The massive gathering of people continued to flow into Westminster Hall, where the Queen’s coffin was lying in state. The Queen’s coffin is draped in the Royal Standard and capped with a diamond-studded crown.
The number of grievers has grown steadily since the public was first admitted on Wednesday, with a queue that stretches for at least five miles along the River Thames and into Southwark Park in the city’s southeast.
Praising their patience, new King Charles III and Prince William made an unannounced visit Saturday to welcome people in the line, shaking hands and thanking mourners in the queue near Lambeth Bridge.
