Cheers for King Charles in Wales as miles-long London queue pauses
Crowds cheered for King Charles III in Wales on Friday despite some opposition to his ascent to the throne, as miles-long queues to see his late mother’s coffin reached capacity.
In Cardiff, Charles was to meet Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, an avowed republican. Protests had been threatened after the new monarch was quick to declare his son William the new Prince of Wales.
But Drakeford said questions over the future of the monarchy would “be a footnote to the dominant feelings of the day”.
A large crowd chanted “God save the king” as Charles shook hands with the public following a multi-faith service in Cardiff’s Llandaff Cathedral on what is the last of his visits to the UK’s four nations.
Charles then attended the Welsh parliament to receive politicians’ condolences following the death on September 8 of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96.
In a speech alternating between English and Welsh, he vowed to follow the “selfless example” of Britain’s longest-serving monarch.
Charles said William’s “love for this corner of the Earth is made all the greater by the years he himself has spent here” — after his heir trained as a Royal Air Force helicopter pilot in Anglesey.
Britain’s King Charles III is pictured through Welsh flags as he arrives by car to visit Cardiff Castle, in south Wales on September 16, 2022. – King Charles III heads to Wales for the last of his visits to the four nations of the United Kingdom as preparations for the queen’s state funeral gather pace. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)
Outside his next stop at Cardiff Castle, a few protesters held up banners declaring “Abolish the Monarchy”, “Citizen not subject” and “Democracy now”.
Ahead of the late queen’s state funeral on Monday, Charles and his siblings — Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward — were due to hold a family vigil before the flag-shrouded casket as it lies in state in London.
– ‘Timeless‘ –
The “Vigil of the Princes”, with all four royals in ceremonial military uniform, will last for 15 minutes from 1830 GMT.
Eight of the queen’s grandchildren, including William and his brother Harry, will hold a similar vigil on Saturday evening, royal sources confirmed.
Elizabeth’s death has triggered an outpouring of emotion, with tens of thousands queueing for hours, many through the night, to pay their respects in Westminster Hall.
The queue was paused for “at least” six hours on Friday after a park at the end of the line along the River Thames reached capacity, the government said.
At Westminster Abbey on Monday morning, the queen will be honoured with Britain’s first state funeral in nearly six decades, with more than 2,000 guests expected.
Lance Corporal Shenkin IV, the regimental mascot goat of the Third Battalion of the Royal Welsh regiment, prepare for the arrival of the King and Queen Consort at Cardiff Castle, in south Wales on September 16, 2022. – King Charles III heads to Wales for the last of his visits to the four nations of the United Kingdom as preparations for the queen’s state funeral gather pace. (Photo by Ben Birchall / POOL / AFP)
After the televised service, the coffin will be transferred by royal hearse to Windsor Castle, west of London, for a family-only burial in which the queen will be laid to rest alongside her late husband Philip, parents, and sister.
US President Joe Biden, Australian leader Anthony Albanese, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and French President Emmanuel Macron have all confirmed their attendance at the funeral, as have Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and numerous other royals.
“The queen held a unique and timeless position in all our lives,” said the Duke of Norfolk Edward Fitzalan-Howard, also known as the Earl Marshal, who is organising the funeral.
“The next few days will unite people across the globe and resonate with people of all faiths, whilst fulfilling Her Majesty and her family’s wishes to pay a fitting tribute to an extraordinary reign,” he told reporters.
