Page 3 - London

President Droupadi Murmu meets King Charles III at Buckingham Palace

Ahead of Queen Elizabeth's state funeral, President Droupadi Murmu met King Charles III at a reception held at Buckingham Palace on Sunday

Joe, Jill Biden among thousands to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II

Thousands of police, hundreds of British troops and an army of officials made final preparations on Sunday for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II a spectacular display of national mourning that will also be the biggest gathering of world leaders for years. US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were among thousands of mourners from locals and tourists to world leaders to pay their respects at Westminster Hall, where the queen is lying in state. The president made the sign of the cross and put his hand to his heart as he stood quietly near the casket in the ornate 900-year-old hall. Biden was also expected to sign the official condolence book and attend a reception Sunday at Buckingham Palace hosted by King Charles III before going to the state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday. He is one of 500 world leaders and royals invited to the funeral, along with hundreds of British charity workers. As the dignitaries poured in, the clock was ticking down for those ...

Camilla hails Queen Elizabeth, 'solitary woman' in a world dominated by men

Britain's new Queen Consort Camilla paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, saying the monarch carved a unique role for herself as a 'solitary woman' in a world dominated by men

Prez Murmu offers tribute to Queen Elizabeth II ahead of her state funeral

Prez Murmu was joined by Acting High Commissioner Sujit Ghosh at Lancaster House in London, where visiting world leaders are stopping by to sign a book of condolence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II

London prepares for 1 mn visitors for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral tomorrow

London's transport authority says it is preparing for around 1 million people to visit the British capital Monday for Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral. Transport for London chief Andy Byford said Sunday the capital has seen huge numbers of additional passengers since the queen died on Sept. 8. But he said demand will reach a climax on Monday. Across the country some 250 extra train services will run, including some overnight trains. Peter Hendy, chairman of Network Rail, said Monday will see the biggest public transport operation since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. More than 100 Heathrow Airport flights will be canceled to prevent aircraft noise disturbing the funeral at Westminster Abbey Monday morning and the queen's committal service at Windsor Castle afterward. The west London airport said 15 per cent of its 1,200 flights due to take off or land on Monday will be disrupted.

By the numbers: Facts and figures about Queen Elizabeth II's funeral

Events surrounding Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral on Monday cap 10 days of national mourning and are expected to be watched by hundreds of thousands of people packed onto the streets of London and millions around the world. Those are just a few of the staggering array of numbers generated by the death of the 96-year-old monarch after a 70-year-reign. Here are some figures that have swirled around London and the rest of the United Kingdom in the aftermath of death on September 8 at her summer retreat in Scotland of the only monarch most Britons have ever known. 2,000: Dignitaries and guests in Westminster Abbey for the the state funeral, ranging from King Charles III and other royals to world leaders including US President Joe Biden to members of the British public who helped battle the COVID-19 pandemic. 800: Guests at a committal service later in the day at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. 5,949: Military personnel deployed throughout the meticulously choreographed operat

World leaders head to London for Queen Elizabeth II funeral on Monday

Thousands of police, hundreds of troops and an army of officials made final preparations Sunday for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II a spectacular display of national mourning that will also be the biggest gathering of world leaders for years. U.S. President Joe Biden and other dignitaries are arriving in London for the funeral, to which around 500 royals, heads of state and heads of government from around the globe have been invited. Thousands of people continued to line up around the clock to file past the queen's coffin as it lies in state at Parliament's Westminster Hall, braving chilly overnight temperatures and waits of up to 17 hours. The queen's eight grandchildren, led by heir to the throne Prince William, circled the coffin and stood with heads bowed during a silent vigil on Saturday evening. The miles-long queue is expected to be closed to new arrivals later Sunday so that everyone in line can file past the coffin before Monday morning, when it will be borne on a

US Prez Joe Biden arrives in London for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral

US President Joe Biden has arrived in London to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth II. The president was expected to sign the official condolence book and attend a reception Sunday at Buckingham Palace hosted by King Charles III before attending the queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday. Biden is among many world leaders travelling to the United Kingdom to honour Queen Elizabeth's long reign. Biden and first lady Jill Biden were greeted at the airport by UK Ambassador Jane Hartley, Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jennifer Tolhurst and others. After the queen's death, Biden issued a proclamation directing that all American flags be flown at half staff as a mark of respect for the memory of Queen Elizabeth II until sunset on the day of her interment. Before coming to London, he spoke with the king to offer his condolences and went to the British Embassy as well.

President Murmu leaves for London to attend funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

President Droupadi Murmu left for London on Saturday to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and to offer condolences on behalf of the Indian government. Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 at her summer residence Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, will be laid to rest at Westminster Abbey on September 19. "President Droupadi Murmu emplanes for London, United Kingdom, to attend the state funeral of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II and offer condolences on behalf of the Government of India," the Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted along with a picture of Murmu. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had visited the British High Commission here on September 12 to convey the country's condolences. India had also observed a day of national mourning on Sunday. In the 70 years of reign of Queen Elizabeth II, India-UK ties have evolved, flourished and strengthened immensely. She played an important role in the welfare of millions of people around the world as Head of the Commonwealth,

Queen's reign saw ages of British rule leave Middle East with mixed legacy

The long reign of Queen Elizabeth II saw large swaths of the world cast off London's rule, but after her death a handful of British-installed monarchies still endure in the Middle East. They have survived decades of war and turmoil and are now seen as bastions of a certain kind of authoritarian stability. When popular uprisings erupted across the region a decade ago in what was known as the Arab Spring, sweeping away regimes with anti-colonial roots, hereditary rulers were largely unscathed. The days of imperial pomp and gunships may be over, but the region's emotional and financial ties to England run deep. Emirs, sultans and kings attend the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Gulf Arab sovereign wealth has helped reshaped London's skyline. As the son of a British mother, Jordan's King Abdullah II also has familial and cultural ties to Britain. Jordan's ruling Hashemites, who come from the Arabian Peninsula and claim descent from the Prophet Muhammad, launched the revolt agains

Thousands gather to pay homage to Queen Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall

One of the biggest logistical events ever witnessed in London is underway on Thursday as the first few thousand members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament complex in the heart of the UK capital. A week since the 96-year-old monarch died peacefully at her Scottish summer residence of Balmoral Castle, her coffin has been part of a historic journey by road and air until it was conveyed in a grand procession from Buckingham Palace to lie in state in the historic hall within the Palace of Westminster. The ancient ceremony of Lying-in-State, dating back to the 19th century, involves the coffin resting on a raised platform called catafalque in the middle of Westminster Hall as members of the queuing public are allowed in to walk briskly past. Within hours of the Lying-in-State ceremony opening to the public at 5pm local time on Wednesday evening, the queue was said to be over 4-km-long winding around the

Queen's coffin Lying-in-State after final journey from Buckingham Palace

The coffin of Britain's longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, is Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall after its final journey from Buckingham Palace in London on Wednesday. King Charles III and his sons, Princes William and Harry, joined a sombre procession as the coffin of the late monarch left her official London residence to be conveyed to the historic hall in the Houses of Parliament complex to lie in state until the state funeral at Westminster Abbey nearby on Monday. Members of the public began filing past at 5pm local time and will have until 6.30am on the day of the funeral, by which time several thousands are expected to have queued for hours to pay their respects to the Queen. At 2.22 pm local time on Wednesday, the coffin placed on a horse-drawn gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery began its ceremonial procession of under two kilometres to the Palace of Westminster. The Queen's heir, Charles, and her grandchildren William and Harry walked side by

President Murmu to join 500 world leaders at Queen's funeral in London

President Droupadi Murmu will visit London from September 17 to 19 to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and offer condolences on behalf of the Indian government, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Wednesday. Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8. President Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed condolences at her demise. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited the British High Commission here on September 12 to convey India's condolences. India also observed a day of national mourning on Sunday. In the 70 years of reign of Queen Elizabeth II, India-UK ties have evolved, flourished and strengthened immensely. She played an important role in the welfare of millions of people around the world as Head of the Commonwealth, the MEA said in a statement. Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 at her Balmoral Castle summer residence in Scotland on September 8, will be laid to rest at a state funeral at ...

Crowds gather in London to see Queen Elizabeth II's coffin procession

Queen Elizabeth II's coffin will leave Buckingham Palace for the last time Wednesday as it is taken amid somber pageantry on a horse-drawn gun carriage past crowds of mourners to the Houses of Parliament, where the late monarch will lie in state for four days. Crowds began massing early along the flag-lined road outside the palace for the procession from the monarch's official London residence to the historic Westminster Hall at Parliament. King Charles III and other members of the royal family will walk behind the coffin. Thousands of people are gathering on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace and along the banks of the River Thames hours before the coffin procession begins. The crowds are the latest manifestation of a nationwide outpouring of grief and respect for the only monarch most Britons have ever known, who died at her beloved Balmoral summer retreat on Thursday at age 96, ending a 70-year reign. It's a very sad day, but it's our last opportunity to do our duty for the quee

Queen Elizabeth II's coffin leaves Edinburgh cathedral for London return

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II was carried out of St. Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh on Tuesday to begin her final journey through Scotland to a Royal Air Force plane that will carry her back to London. A bagpiper played as the flag-draped coffin was carried out of the cathedral and crowds again lined the Royal Mile through the historic heart of Edinburgh to watch as the coffin, accompanied by the queen's daughter, Princess Anne, was driven away. Crowds again lined the Royal Mile through the historic heart of Edinburgh as the coffin, accompanied by the queen's daughter, Princess Anne, was driven away. Thousands of people filed silently past the coffin as it lay in the cathedral for 24 hours after being brought to Edinburgh from the queen's beloved Balmoral Estate, where she died Thursday at age 96, ending her 70-year reign. King Charles III departed Belfast to receive his mother's coffin in London, where it will stay overnight at Buckingham Palace. The coffin will be taken Wednesd

King Charles III reaffirms vow to follow mother's 'shining example'

Britain's King Charles III on Tuesday reaffirmed his vow to follow the "shining example" set by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in a speech at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland during his state mourning tour of all parts of the United Kingdom. The 73-year-old monarch went on a brief walkabout in Hillsborough shortly after landing in Belfast for what is the first visit to the devolved nation by a British King in nearly 80 years. Joined by his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, Charles shook hands and greeted crowds before heading to St. Anne's Cathedral for a service of reflection for the Queen's life. "At the very beginning of her life of service, the Queen made a pledge to dedicate herself to her country and her people and to maintain the principles of constitutional government. This promise she kept with steadfast faith," he said in a speech in response to the customary message of condolence by the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Alex Maskey. "Now, with that shinin

London flight, hotel fares surge ahead of Queen's funeral

Average rate for a hotel up to $384 from $244 per night; high-end hotels sold out for Sunday night; average prices for a return flight from US over $950

King Charles in Belfast, Queen Elizabeth II's coffin to return to London

King Charles III flew to Northern Ireland on Tuesday on the latest leg of his tour of the four parts of the United Kingdom, where crowds of well wishers gathered to greet him in a region with a contested British and Irish identity that is deeply divided over the British monarchy. In the latest outpouring of affection since Queen Elizabeth II's death last Thursday, hundreds of people were lining the street leading to Hillsborough Castle, the royal family's official residence in Northern Ireland, just outside Belfast. The area in front of the gates to the castle was carpeted with hundreds of floral tributes. On Monday night, Charles and his siblings, Anne, Andrew and Edward, their heads bowed, briefly stood vigil around their mother's flag-draped coffin in St. Giles' Cathedral as members of the public filed past. Earlier, a man wearing a suit adorned with medals stood silently, bowed his head and moved on. A woman dabbed away tears with a handkerchief. Another woman with two young ...

S Korean President to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral in London next week

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol plans to attend the funeral of Britain's late Queen Elizabeth II set to be held in London next week, his office has announced

World lost extraordinary leader, I lost Grannie: Prince William

Britain's Prince William said on Saturday that he knew the day would come when his "Grannie" Queen Elizabeth II would be no more but that it would take some time for the reality to sink in, as he reflected upon how the world had lost an extraordinary leader. In his first statement as the Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne, posted on Instagram, the 40-year-old said he would honour the memory of the late monarch by supporting his father, the new monarch. I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without Grannie will truly feel real, William said in his short statement. On Thursday, the world lost an extraordinary leader, whose commitment to the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth was absolute I, however, have lost a grandmother. And while I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful. I have had the benefit of The Queen's wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade, he said. My wife has had twenty years of her guidance