Leading New Zealanders in London are gearing up for a string of busy days ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday.
Her Majesty has left Buckingham Palace for the last time, and silence fell on the solemn streets of central London as her coffin was taken by a horse-drawn-cart to Westminster Hall.
It will lie-in-state there for the next four days.
The central city streets were packed, with people queuing for hours to watch a procession that started at 2.22pm (local time) and finished 38 minutes later – just as was planned.
Big Ben loomed over the proceedings, ringing once every minute.
The public pressed into the gates lining the streets to see what they could of the procession on a warm London afternoon – a number of crowdgoers labelling the day “emotional” and “surreal”.
Members of the public join the queue on Westminster Bridge, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, Lying-in-State in the Palace of Westminster in London on 14 September, 2022. Photo: Odd Andersen / various sources / AFP
Jenny Miles and her husband, Stephen, had originally come to town for their wedding anniversary – something they had booked “months ago”.
“The Queen actually passed away on my birthday, then it was our anniversary – we were going to be here, and then she’s getting buried on his birthday,” she said.
“So we thought ‘I think there’s probably a reason we should be coming up here’.”
It was also special for people like Jane, who did not give her last name. Her son was on duty in Parliament Square – outside Westminster Hall – with the Queen’s Colour Squadron, a unit of United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force.
“He was in the Queen’s Jubilee earlier this year in June … obviously it’s a thrill being part of it,” she said.
“He’s very proud, I’m very proud of him.”
Pallbearers from The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards carry the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II past Camilla, Queen Consort, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, as they arrive at Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster in London on 14 September, 2022, where the coffin will to Lie in State. Photo: Oli Scarff / various sources / AFP
Later at Kinnaird House – where the New Zealand High Commission is based, acting High Commissioner Shannon Austin said it had been a big week – especially because she had only been in the job for one week before the Queen died.
“It is quite nervewracking and stressful but when you join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a diplomat, maybe you don’t expect this but you expect to be put in this kind of position – it goes with the job.”
New Zealand acting High Commissioner in London, Shannon Austin. Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro
Austin has already had an audience with King Charles III and she said he asked about the people of New Zealand – in particular about recent flooding and the Omicron outbreak.
“I think we have to keep reminding ourselves that he has lost his mum and is also having to do all this duty, which must be really really tough,” she said.
“I’m not sure I could do it.”
The London Māori Club, Ngāti Ranana, then welcomed media to its weekly meet-up at the House.
Ngāti Ranana at New Zealand House High Commission, Esther Jessop pictured in the middle. Photo: Ngāti Ranana
Ngāti Ranana honourary president Esther Jessop had a unique relationship with the Queen and will attend Monday’s funeral.
Upon receiving the call, Jessop said she “had no idea” and questioned it multiple times – “why me?”.
Ultimately, she felt humbled to be invited, she said.
“I really do feel that I’m there for all our people.”
For Ngāti Ranana to gather at a time like this was reassuring because, while they all lived in London, “home is so far away”, Jessop said.
“I think people are subdued, I think … in one way or another we’re all affected really by her passing.”
She knew people wanted to talk about the future of the New Zealand’s relationship with the monarchy but that was something for another day, she said.
“Let’s just honour the Royal Family in their loss, and I just hope that’s the way people feel,” she said.
“There will be time for dialogue.”
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