President Droupadi Murmu paid a visit to Westminster Hall in London on Sunday, where Queen Elizabeth II’s corpse is on display. The president also paid respect to the departed soul on her and the people of India’s behalf, news agency PTI reported.
Murmu, who is in London for three days to attend Elizabeth II’s state burial on Monday, also signed a condolence book on behalf of the Indian government.
Murmu was accompanied by acting high commissioner Sujit Ghosh at Lancaster House in London, where visiting global leaders are signing a book of condolence in honour of Elizabeth II, who died on September 8 at the age of 96 in Scotland, ANI reported.
The United Kingdom | President Drupadi Murmu signed the Condolence Book in the memory of Queen Elizabeth II at Lancaster House, London. pic.twitter.com/u5PzFmRIZX
— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2022
The Indian president, who landed on Saturday evening, will join approximately 500 international leaders and royals in a gathering of around 2,000 anticipated at the Abbey for a solemn service beginning at 11 a.m. local time and closing with a two-minute silence about an hour later.
The president has been invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace given by King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla ahead of Monday’s burial ceremony. All visiting heads of state, governments, and official international visitors are anticipated at the “official state event.”
According to Zaki Cooper, who served in the Queen’s Royal Household from 2009 to 2012 and has written extensively on the monarchy, the Queen had an “affectionate relationship with India” and was essential in the transition from empire to Commonwealth.
“By recognising the desire for many countries to self-determination, she embraced the Commonwealth,” Cooper was quoted by PTI in its report.
The Queen’s Lying-in-State will be closed to the general public hours before the event. Weekend delays of up to 24 hours are anticipated as the line stretches to about 10 kilometres long.
The gates to Abbey will unlock at 8 a.m. local time on Monday for the dignitaries and attendees invited to the funeral.
Among them will be hundreds of people who were honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours earlier this year, many of whom were chosen by the late monarch for their extraordinary contributions to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and volunteer work in their local communities.
(With Inputs From Agencies)