London: As the 10-day national mourning ends in the United Kingdom, the country prepares to bid farewell to its longest reigning monarch who breathed last on September 9th. The funeral, first in the history of the Royal to be featured on television will begin at 11 A.M. The Abbey’s tenor bell has been struck and shall be ranged for 96 times, each toll marking the length of the Queen’s life.
“As we all prepare to say our last farewell, I wanted simply to take this opportunity to say 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,” King Charles said in a thank you message on the eve of the funeral, as he once again paid tribute to his dear mother.
More than 2,000 guests including world leaders and high profile dignitaries are attending the funeral. Earlier today Biden and US First lady signed the condolences book. In the evening, the queen will be buried alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, at the King George VI Memorial Chapel in a private royal ceremony.
Over 5,000 military personnel have been deployed throughout the meticulously choreographed operation that began on September 8 at the queen’s Balmoral Estate in the Scottish Highlands. There are 4,416 army personnel, 847 navy personnel, and 686 air force personnel. In addition, approximately 175 Commonwealth armed forces personnel are involved. Around 6,000 representatives from all three of the United Kingdom’s armed forces, with 98 Royal Navy sailors towing the 123-year-old gun carriage that will transport the Queen’s royal oak coffin to Westminster Abbey.