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CNN Live At Daybreak

Queen Mother Mourned

Aired April 01, 2002 - 05:18   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now for more on Britain's beloved Queen Mother. Remembrances were held in churches across England on Easter Sunday and admirers lined up at royal palaces to leave flowers and sign books of condolences. This is the royal family attending a private service at Windsor Castle.

Here's CNN's Matthew Chance.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Draped in the royal standard, the coffin is carried to the Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park. Members of the royal family have been gathering here to mourn their loss. Whatever the sense of public sympathy, it's also a time of family grief, for Prince Charles, a favorite grandson of the Queen Mother, perhaps more than anyone else. Arriving from Switzerland with his two sons, William and Harry, the heir to the British throne has already spoken of being devastated at his grandmother's death.

This entire royal family has suffered a tragic loss, if not an unexpected one.

HUGO VICKERS, ROYAL HISTORIAN: It will affect them very much because there was nobody that doesn't remember the Queen Mother. She's been such a figure in their lives, in our lives, in everyone's lives. And also she's been so alert and so very much a character in the family right up until just very, very recently. And so therefore she will, of course, you know, her personality will be a huge loss to the family.

CHANCE: Outside the gates of Windsor Castle, hundreds gathered to pay their own respects and to offer sympathy to the royal family inside.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was a very lovely lady.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's been really nice to our country and she's helped us a lot.

CHANCE (on camera): This small town with its ancient castle really has become the focal point for the royal family and others marking the death of the Queen Mother. Among the hundreds of people who have turned out, many are locals. Others have made a special journey to pay their respects. But the large numbers of people here are an indication of the genuine popularity of the Queen Mother. More public displays of respect are planned in the days ahead.

Special services have already been held in churches across the country. A final ceremony at Westminster Abbey in just over a week could attract thousands to honor a figure of royalty who for many will be sadly missed.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Windsor.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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