Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin was given a solemn reception by tens of thousands of mourners in central London on Monday, as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch made her final journey home.
There was hardly breathing room along The Mall as crowds of loyal admirers took up every inch of space on pavements lining the route leading to Buckingham Palace.
The sun emerged from behind the clouds shortly after the funeral service at Westminster Abbey concluded at noon, and mourners, some of whom had camped out overnight, prepared for the climax of the day’s events.
A young child wailed in the distance, a sign that the hours of standing had taken a toll on tiny feet. Other children were hoisted up on their parents’ shoulders and afforded a bird’s-eye view of the historic procession.
The throngs dutifully observed a strict silence as they watched the sovereign's coffin being carried along the road on the state gun carriage. The coffin was draped in the Royal Standard and topped with the Imperial State Crown and the sovereign's orb and sceptre.
After the coffin had made its way through The Mall, the crowds erupted in applause as they watched the procession proceed towards the palace.
More than a hundred royal household staff members, dressed in black, formed a guard of honour outside the late queen’s official home. They stood shoulder to shoulder as their former boss was carried past them and up Constitution Hill before being transported to Windsor for burial.
King Charles III was supported by his brothers Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and sister Princess Anne in following the coffin on foot. Prince William and Prince Harry appeared united in grief as they marched side by side. The scene was reminiscent of the brothers’ walk behind their mother Princess Diana’s coffin 25 years ago.
Kate, Princess of Wales followed the procession in a car with Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The princess, wearing an elaborate black hat with netting over her face, appeared to be in deep thought as she observed the thousands of mourners along The Mall.
Prince George, second in line to the throne, looked somewhat awestruck by the sheer number of people who turned out to honour his great-grandmother.
Queen Consort Camilla was sitting beside the Princess of Wales, while Prince Harry’s wife Meghan travelled in a car behind them. Sophie, Countess of Wessex, was in a car behind them with her daughter Lady Louise while her husband Prince Edward made the sombre journey on foot.
“The queen and the crown mean so much to us so we had to come over and pay our respects,” Samantha Tate, from Northern Ireland, told The National. “The monarchy represents our county across the world. I think it’s important to show our support by coming to this and coming out when the royals visit Northern Ireland.”
The 24-year-old was accompanied by her mother, Gale Tate, and boyfriend Andrew Hoey. The trio proudly sported the Northern Irish flag, which stood out among the sea of Union Jacks.
“She’s worth it,” Ms Tate said, referring to the journey they had made across the Irish Sea to attend the queen’s funeral procession. “She’s our queen, too. A lot of people forget that because were in Northern Ireland. I’m here representing my community.”
The younger Ms Tate urged other young people to get behind the king as he takes on his new role.
“Charles has done so much charity work, especially with young people through the Prince’s Trust,” she said. “That’s something to be admired. He has 100 per cent of my support.”
A contemplative silence had hung over The Mall on Monday morning, with crowds already six-deep by 8am.
Some of the more ardent fans of the royal family had camped out in tents and on folding chairs overnight, refusing to risk losing their prime spots on the front row. Other bleary-eyed mourners had got up before dawn to make the journey to central London for the historic day.
Extended families and groups of friends chatted over cups of coffee and tea poured from giant flasks while children were kept entertained on iPads and phones.
At 11am, as the funeral began in Westminster Abbey, the chattering crowds on The Mall fell silent as the audio of the service played on loudspeakers. Restless children were reined in by their parents and crying babies were shushed as the hymns in the abbey could be heard outside the palace, the historic seat of the monarchy.
After the procession had drawn to a close, the crowds retreated to St James’s Park to bask in the sun and tuck into picnics. The sombre atmosphere gave way to a more relaxed vibe as people huddled in groups on the grass to eat and drink.
Sisters Elizabeth Jones, 72, and Anne Fieldhouse, 68, cracked open a bottle of champagne, saying the funeral was as much a celebration of the queen’s life as it was a mournful send-off.
“It’s been amazing,” said Ms Fieldhouse from Worcestershire. “We’ve met such beautiful and respectful people.”
Ms Jones, whose parents named her after the queen, joked that she had a marriage like the late monarch’s as her husband is also called Philip.
“We always loved the queen,” she said. “She’s been there for almost all of my life.”
A Chelsea Pensioner from Leeds, Yorkshire, said he turned up to pay his respects to the queen whom he met “many years ago” while working as a bus driver.
“She visited Leeds and I introduced her to local children,” he recalled. “She was a lovely lady. It’s a very sad day.”
Royal family members mourn Queen Elizabeth II — in pictures
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Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
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Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
HOW DO SIM CARD SCAMS WORK?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards, often by claiming their phone has been lost or stolen
They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.
How to increase your savings
- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
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8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
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The National selections:
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7.05pm Ekhtiyaar
7.40pm First View
8.15pm Benbatl
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10pm: Chasing Dreams
10.35pm: Good Fortune
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
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Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
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More on animal trafficking
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Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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