The United Kingdom and the world bid farewell to Elizabeth II at the “funeral of the century”
Icon of an entire era, Elizabeth II, who died after 70 years of historic reign, receives the last goodbye on Monday at the “funeral of the century”, in the presence of leaders from around the world, before being buried privately in Windsor. From the American president Joe Biden to the Brazilian Jair Bolsonaro, from the king and queen of Spain – Felipe and Letizia, but also the emeritus Juan Carlos and Sofía – to Emperor Naruhito of Japan, some 500 political leaders and monarchs are invited to a ceremony that has become the biggest security “challenge” for the UK. Pope Francis, who will not attend, will be represented by the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Paul Gallagher. In the last five days, hundreds of thousands of people passed through the funeral chapel, installed in the oldest part of the British Parliament, which will close at 06:30 (05:30 GMT), putting an end to the long queue, of up to 24 hours of waiting, that meandered through the center of London, along the banks of the River Thames.