A Quebecer obsessed with Queen Elizabeth II waited in line for 14 hours to pay his respects to the monarchist icon he has admired for fifteen years.
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“The first day, when she died, I was in a bit of mourning, it was like losing my grandmother”, explains Pierre-Olivier Simard.
A resident of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, the 96-year-old monarch did not hesitate to fly to England with her entourage when she breathed her last after a seven-decade reign.
Mr. Simard had been interested in Elizabeth ever since she made him the subject of an oral presentation in elementary school.
The real estate broker says he is interested in the Queen’s trip because she inherited the throne after her uncle’s abdication and wanted to meet new Prime Minister Liz Truss two days before his death.
“I was […] Her agenda, what she does, who she meets,” he says.
A unique situation
Photo courtesy of Pierre-Olivier Simard
A sign warned citizens that the wait time was more than 14 hours.
Thus, Mr. Simard currently enjoys the unique atmosphere of living in London and leading thousands of people to the Queen’s resting place.
“Everything is done respectfully, people are collecting themselves. We talk to people around us and it’s good to see 10-year-olds and 80-year-olds reducing mobility,” he says.
Once you arrive at Westminster Hall, Ottawa’s equivalent of the House of Commons, “your legs hurt, you’re a little bent, and you’ve forgotten everything,” he says, emphasizing the imposing silence that reigns in the place.
In this highly solemn ceremony, under the supervision of several guards, visitors can meditate with the deceased for about ten seconds.
“It’s very short, but it’s very powerful. You have the Queen a few feet away from you, her coffin, the flag at the top and the imperial crown,” he explains.
Public Baths for Charles III
Photo: AFP
Prince William instilled joy in many fans during his walk on Saturday.
King Charles III and his heir, Prince William, enjoyed a surprise walk on Saturday as people stretched for nautical miles. The waiting time to reach Westminster Hall exceeded 16 hours.
In the evening, eight of the Queen’s grandchildren gathered for a wake of the deceased’s coffin.
– with AFP
►Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire And the rest of the delegation is in London to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday.
