After 10 days receiving the condolences of the British people, King Charles III was embraced by world leaders before Monday’s funeral for the Queen, after which he will finally lay his mother to rest in a private ceremony in a Windsor chapel.
The King’s black Rolls-Royce swept on to the forecourt of Buckingham Palace on Sunday morning as prime ministers and presidents from the US to Rwanda gathered. He waved to cheering crowds which have followed him around Britain over the last week on his “accession tour”, before holding his second meeting with Liz Truss, the prime minister.
That was followed by meetings with prime ministers of countries where he is also head of state. They include Kausea Natano, prime minister of Tuvalu, Gaston Alphonso Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and James Marape, prime minister of Papua New Guinea.
The King had met other leaders of the realms on Saturday including the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand premiers, Justin Trudeau, Anthony Albanese and Jacinda Ardern. The meetings with realm leaders came amid speculation about further countries choosing to become republics after the Queen’s death. On Sunday Ardern said she has no intention of instigating that process for New Zealand, but said “there will continue to be an evolution in our relationship”.
On Sunday night Charles issued a statement expressing how he and Camilla, the Queen Consort, have been “deeply touched by the many messages of condolence and support we have received” and “moved beyond measure” by the crowds who came to pay their respects to the Queen in London, Edinburgh, Hillsborough in Northern Ireland, and Cardiff.
He said “thank you to all those countless people who have been such a support and comfort to my family and myself in this time of grief”.
Monday’s funeral at Westminster Abbey, followed by a committal service and burial in Windsor, brings to an end the King’s 1,900-mile tour of the UK. He has had only one day out of the public eye since the Queen’s death, when he retreated to Highgrove in Gloucestershire, where he has built a garden sanctuary from local stone, timber and bricks made from Highgrove clay. It has been reported that he prayed inside what is effectively a private chapel.
After hosting a reception for hundreds of heads of state, senior world leaders and diplomats at Buckingham Palace, the King and Camilla, Queen Consort, were expected to stay overnight in London before Monday’s state funeral starting at 11am at Westminster Abbey. The Prince and Princess of Wales were expected to be staying at Adelaide Cottage, a house on the Windsor Estate, their new home after moving from London just a few weeks ago.
It was confirmed on Sunday night that their two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will attend the Queen’s state funeral. The nine-year-old future king and his seven-year-old sister will gather with 2,000 people in Westminster Abbey.
After they “stepped back” as senior members of the royal family in January 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ceased to be working royals and so were not invited to the diplomatic reception. It was reported that they had to be disinvited after earlier having been asked to attend, in what may be seen as a fresh cause of division between Prince Harry and the royal family. Buckingham Palace did not respond to a request for comment.
The Duke of York was also not invited to the reception, after he was stripped of royal duties over his relationship with the convicted sexual abuser Jeffrey Epstein.
On Sunday he paid his own tribute to the Queen in an emotional statement on the eve of her funeral that began: “Dear Mummy, Mother, Your Majesty, three in one.”
The Queen’s second-eldest son said: “Your Majesty, it has been an honour and privilege to serve you. Mother of the nation, your devotion and personal service to our nation is unique and singular; your people show their love and respect in so many different ways and I know you are looking on, honouring their respect. Mummy, your love for a son, your compassion, your care, your confidence I will treasure forever. I have found your knowledge and wisdom infinite, with no boundary or containment. I will miss your insights, advice and humour.”
Alongside the statement his spokesperson sent a photograph by Cecil Beaton of the Queen holding the infant Andrew shortly after his birth in 1960, her cheek resting on his head.
At 8pm the country was invited to observe a minute’s silence with people invited to mark the occasion privately at home, on their doorstep or street, or at community events and vigils.
An interview with the Queen Consort was also broadcast on the BBC in which she described how Queen Elizabeth II was a “solitary woman” in a male-dominated world. She said: “I can’t remember anyone except the Queen being there.”
Giant screens were also being erected in various locations across the UK to broadcast the service, including in London’s Hyde Park and at Coleraine town hall in Northern Ireland. About 125 cinemas will also screen the event.
