Emmanuel Macron is one of the 2,000 guests at the national funeral of Elizabeth II in London at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022. A historic event, in view of the seventy-year reign of the sovereign, in which the French president participates in the side of his wife Brigitte Macron. Installed in the building for a few minutes, they quietly queued before being placed with dignitaries from around the world, while US President Joe Biden arrives with his famous vehicle “The Beast”.
The President of the Republic, who repeatedly recalled the country’s strong ties with this Francophile queen, displayed a very focused face. He knows that the moment he lives with his wife is of great intensity, it was also palpable when they went to collect themselves in front of the catafalque.
For this event, Brigitte Macron displays an outfit of rare elegance, marked by a pair of black gloves and a hat accompanied by a veil. The first lady bets on distinction and sobriety like other great personalities such as Letizia of Spain and Rania of Jordan. We are far from the attacks received for so-called sneakers worn to pay homage to the Queen, when it was only a casual outfit for walking the streets of London. Invited to Buckingham Palace the day before, they went to this reception respecting the traditions and dared to be presented in front of the catafalque of Elizabeth II in all elegance, marked by the emotion of the moment.
On several occasions since the announcement of the death of Elizabeth II on September 8, Emmanuel Macron has recalled the strong ties between France and the British monarchy. The latter met all the presidents of the Fifth Republic, witness to the history of the world like no one else. The French leader presented the Crown with a souvenir photo album of the moments the Queen spent with the presidents of the UK. Legend has it that the one who particularly appreciated French culture and spoke the language of Molière with great ease particularly enjoyed discussing with François Mitterrand.
An intense day for his final trip
After the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, scheduled to last an hour and during which dozens of flights were canceled so that noise did not disturb the solemnity of the moment, the country will freeze for two minutes of silence. The coffin will leave the Abbey followed by King Charles III, Queen Consort Camilla and members of the Royal Family, and will again be placed on a Royal Navy gun carriage before a historic procession, with great fanfare, through the streets of central London, to Wellington’s Arch, from where he will leave by hearse for Windsor Castle.
Elizabeth II will be buried Monday evening in privacy, in the George VI Memorial, annex of the chapel of the castle where she had lived her last years. She will rest close to her parents and Prince Philip who died in April 2021. They had been married for 73 years.