Thousands of people flock to Buckingham Palace to pay their respects to the late Queen. But life in the metropolis does not stop.

People put flowers in Buckingham Palace, shop owners re-decorate their windows. London bids farewell to the Queen.

Thousands flock to Buckingham Palace. They walk along “The Mall” boulevard, in silence, without crowds, many with a bouquet of flowers in their arms. Just like Kay.

“I have always loved the Queen. I have seen her twice. It is really great. I also remember the coronation and her father. It was wonderful,” says the old woman who is Queen Elizabeth II who has seen the years on the throne. .

Crowds flock to the palace

She has traveled with her husband and children from a town 60 kilometers from London. And in a card attached to the bouquet, she wrote:

Below, many have already deposited the flowers. In sight of the palace. Also Jane.

“We wanted to be in London today. We want to go to the palace. But the queues are very long. We want to leave our flowers. It’s very emotional,” says the woman, her daughter lovingly admonishes her: don’t cry. .

Crowds pass in front of the palace, not really much to see. The king has already arrived in the morning, the policemen and the barriers are standing in front of the palace. The coffin containing the Queen’s body is still in Scotland. Still, take lots of photos. They want to capture this historic moment, take photos for the photo album, for Instagram.

“The rock on which Britain is built”

It’s the end of an icon that people are witnessing here, an icon that brought stability for decades, represented continuity, a rock on which Britain was built, as Prime Minister Liz Truss said. “What she has done for England is second to none. No one else in the world has a queen.” Many here see it that way.

A mother is photographed with her son in her arms, with the palace in the background. A little further in Green Park, people are laying flowers. The meadows are full, hundreds of bouquets, a sea of ​​​​flowers, cards. In somewhat uncertain childish handwriting it reads:

Shop windows with curtains, bright advertising

A few meters away someone has put a stuffed animal. This is Paddington Bear, a character from children’s books, who received the Queen at Buckingham Palace on the occasion of her 70th anniversary. A touching short film in which Paddington acts somewhat awkwardly and both realize that they always carry a toast with jam.

A few meters further on, in the “Piccadilly” shopping street, some shops have darkened windows, such as the famous “Fortnum and Mason” tea merchant, which otherwise attracts attention with its original and noble decoration. The windows remain covered out of respect for the extraordinary life of the Queen, it is written there. Up the road at Piccadilly Circus, the big advertising monitors are lit up. Automakers and fashion brands aren’t impressed. Life goes on here.