The crowds gathered in their tens of thousands in Edinburgh to pay their final respects to the Queen. More lined the route from RAF Northolt in west London to Buckingham Palace as Her Majesty made her way home. And today, our city will again pay its respects to our departed monarch.
Many more people were gathering along The Mall and Whitehall to observe the procession from the Palace to Westminster Hall, with the royal family, led by King Charles, walking behind the coffin.
Once it reaches Parliament, the Queen will lie in state for four days, granting Londoners and mourners from around the Commonwealth the opportunity to pay their respects. The queues are expected to stretch along the Thames, from Albert Embankment in the west toSouthwark Park in the east. The weather is forecast to improve from this afternoon, providing some respite for mourners.
It will be an all-city affair. Additional train services are being rolled out to help people reach the capital, and the queue itself will be supported by hundreds of volunteers providing information, first aid and refreshments.
Queen Elizabeth made London her home, and this is our moment to say our final goodbye and thank you.
Inflation in focus
The good news is that the headline rate of inflation has fallen. The bad news is it was not by much — it remains at a 40-year high and is predicted to rise in coming months.
The Office for National Statistics says inflation eased to 9.9 per cent in August, following July’s 10.1 per cent. This represents the first drop in the rate since September 2021, attributed to the slight dip in the cost of motor fuel, which has been falling in recent months.
But with food and clothing prices continuing to rise, analysts warn that it will be some time before inflation truly starts dropping. Indeed, it is yet to peak. As a result, we can expect further interest rate rises from the Bank of England, adding further strain on borrowers, including government debt.
As a result of all this pain, living standards are falling, as inflation outpaces wage growth. The Government’s action on domestic fuel bills will help millions, but this remains an exceptionally difficult time for millions.
All this is further evidence that when politics restarts, issues surrounding the cost of living crisis will continue to dominate.
The all-stars can wait
An all-star game? Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly has raised hackles in certain quarters by suggesting a Premier League north versus south match.
While such an American import would not be as controversial as getting rid of promotion and relegation, it nonetheless presents difficulties.
Not least fixture congestion — every year English football has to try and fit in the league, multiple domestic cups and European competitions.
And as London’s paper, we must also worry about what a win for the south would say about the Government’s flagship policy of levelling up.
