Queen Elizabeth II: Britain Mourns the Late Monarch with a Procession
On Mon., UK's Queen Elizabeth II's coffin was taken from the Palace of Holyroodhouse - the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland - to St Giles's Cathedral in Edinburgh. The monarch's children walked behind her hearse, before attending a service of thanksgiving for her life.
Facts
- On Mon., UK's Queen Elizabeth II's coffin was taken from the Palace of Holyroodhouse - the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland - to St Giles's Cathedral in Edinburgh. The monarch's children walked behind her hearse, before attending a service of thanksgiving for her life.
- During the procession, a 22-year-old man heckled Andrew, the Duke of York, who was stripped of his royal titles last year over his relationship with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The protester was reportedly arrested.
- At least two others were charged with breaching the peace during events surrounding the Queen's death and King Charles III's accession on Sunday.
- Members of the public are now allowed access to St Giles's - an official queuing system will be in place to allow mourners to pay their respects until Tues. afternoon local time.
- Thousands lined the streets, flanking Edinburgh's Royal Mile, as the late Queen's hearse passed. Those wanting to visit the coffin in St Giles face a long wait time, with authorities expecting thousands to pass through the cathedral before the coffin is taken to England.
- A state funeral will be held on September 19 at Westminster Abbey in London - a historic church where Britain's kings and queens are crowned, including the Queen's own coronation in 1953.
Sources: Newsbud, Daily Mail, BBC News, and Guardian.
Narratives
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by I News. While the timing and place may be inappropriate, the right to protest is crucial to democracy. By arresting protesters exercising their free speech, British authorities are violating people's rights. Modern, progressive societies benefit from multiple points of views, which are allowed to be expressed peacefully, as was done in this case.
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Independent. The procession of a late monarch is not the time or place for this type of disrespectful conduct. While the right to protest is certainly fundamental to a democratic society, disturbing the peace is a form of disorderly conduct and legally punishable by as much as 12 months in prison. This official mourning period should be respected as a time for personal grief.
