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CNN Live Today

Queen Mum's Funereal Procession Marches Through London

Aired April 05, 2002 - 13:41   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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: In Britain today, the body of Queen Elizabeth, the queen mother, is lying in state at Westminster after a somber yet highly ceremonial procession through the heart of London. CNN's Diana Muriel was there.

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DIANA MURIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Private grief and public pageantry. His pain clearly etched on his face, Prince Charles remaining tight-lipped as he followed the coffin of his grandmother from Saint James's Palace to the ancient medieval hall of Westminster, where she now lies in state. With him marched his sons. Prince William, also heir to the throne, and Prince Harry, who clearly felt the emotion of the day. It was not long ago that these boys marched behind the coffin of their mother, Diana, princess of Wales.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The memory of their mother's funeral here, five years ago almost this summer, will obviously come flooding back to them, and it will evoke all those memories and all that sadness.

MURIEL: As the procession marched, guns were fired every minute from nearby Green Park (ph) by the King's Troop Royal Artillery. It was very much a military show. Commander-in-chief of eight regiments, the queen mother was regarded with great affection by many in the military. More than 2,500 of them were involved in the military.

The 1st Battalion Irish Guards were chosen to be the pall bearers. Accompanying the gun carriage first used 50 years ago to carry the coffin of her husband, King George VI. Twelve guardsmen were selected according to their height at the shoulder. The coffin was brought in from the gun carriage to Westminster Hall, and placed on the catafalque seven feet high and covered in (UNINTELLIGIBLE) velvet and gold braid.

After prayer from the archbishop of Canterbury, four officers of the Household Cavalry took up their positions for the vigil around her coffin that will last until her funeral.

Outside, the crowd gathered, stretching along the river banks on both sides of the Thames and across three bridges. Thousands waited in the spring sunshine to enter Westminster Hall.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We didn't want to go back again until we had gone past the coffin and paid our last tributes to the queen mother, who was a wonderful lady and I don't think there will be anyone else quite so marvelous.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was a very kind lady. You know, she was very good to the country and in the war times and things like that. She was a people's person. And I think this is how she will definitely be remembered.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have never met any of the royals, only the queen mum, so that's why I have come here today.

MURIEL (on camera): As the vigil gets under way at Westminster, the queen has returned to Buckingham Palace with members of her family. The next few days, we will see final arrangements made for the ceremonial funeral on Tuesday, where once again the crowds will gather to pay their final respects to the lady who came to be known as the queen mum.

Diana Muriel, CNN, London.

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