It’s been over a week since Queen Elizabeth passed away in Balmoral Castle. The death of the Queen has triggered a 12-day mourning period which will be observed by Members of the Royal Family, Royal Household staff, and Representative of the Royal Household on official duties, together with troops committed to ceremonial duties. The funeral will take place on September 19, 2022.
The Queen’s death has affected the whole nation and the ordinary citizens have conveyed their grief through flowers, bouquets, and candles. Citizens are also allowed to visit the Queen’s lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster. Here are the details and rules needed to be covered when citizens visit their Queen for final goodbyes.
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Can Citizens See The Queen Before Her Funeral?
The public can pay respect to the Queen as she lies in state inside Westminster Palace until her funeral on September 19, Monday. Lying-in-state is a rare honor in Britain, previously accorded only nine times mostly for royals. The only three occasions when non-royals have lain in the state were the deaths of Winston Churchill, William Gladstone, and the victims of an air crash in 1930. During this period, Queen Elizabeth’s closed coffin will rest on a catafalque, a raised platform inside Westminster Hall. All corners of the platform will be guarded around the clock by different units. The public is allowed to visit the Hall from September 14, Wednesday to September 19, Monday 6:30 AM. The lying-in-state will be open 24 hours a day.
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Here Are The Rules To Be Followed
There are some codes of conduct to be followed while paying respect to the Queen’s lying-in-state at Westminster Hall. First and foremost the visitors are required to maintain silence at Westminster Hall. They are to dress appropriately, with a ban on items of clothing with offensive or political slogans. The area would be under the patrolling of police and stewards. The people will have to face airport-style security checks. Citizens are not allowed to bring flowers, tributes, candles, flags, or photos into the Hall. They can just carry a single bag with a simple opening. As expected thousands are flocking to the capital to pay tribute to their dear Queen.
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