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Queen Elizabeth II Funeral Set For September 19; King Charles III Formally Proclaimed In Somber Ceremony; Princes William And Harry Reunite; Ukrainian Troops Enter Izyum As Russian Forces Retreat; King Charles III To Visit Scottish Parliament On Monday; Thousands Gather In London To Pay Respects To Royal Family; Royal Horticulture Society Ambassador Designed Flowers For Royal Family; British Expats And Americans Remember The Queen; Netflix's "The Crown" Pauses Production After Elizabeth's Death. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired September 11, 2022 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): A very good morning, I'm Becky Anderson, just outside of Buckingham Palace in London. It is 7:00 am here. And in just a few hours, a funeral procession is set to get underway for Queen Elizabeth II.
Details of the late monarch's funeral were finally unveiled on Saturday, with her service at Westminster Abbey now set for September the 19th, eight days from now. The queen's casket is expected to leave Balmoral Castle in Scotland in about three hours.
It will be the first leg of what will be a solemn final journey back to London, where she will lie in state at Westminster Hall until that funeral. Let's get more on this, with CNN's Nada Bashir.
And you see the queen's casket leaves Balmoral, as I understand, but it will take 6 hours.
NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely. There is going to be a set of stops on the way. It will be passing through the cities of Aberdeen and Dundee, where it will eventually arrive at the official residence of the royal family, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
There the coffin will taken to rest in that Throne Room but there will be several steps before the queen is returned to London. At Windsor we will see tomorrow, of course, pretty significant, Charles will be traveling up to Edinburgh, where he will be meeting with the Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
And also we will see the coffin carried through in a procession through central Edinburgh, down the Royal Mile, to St. Giles' Cathedral, where she will be left to lie in state for a full 24 hours before the queen is returned to London.
Then, of course, we will expect to see, eventually, the queen taking a procession down to the Palace of Westminster from Buckingham Palace, where she will lie in state for a full four days. This is set to be a huge and historic event for the British people.
There will be hundreds, thousands lining up to pay their respects over the course of this four days. It is a moment of history, some that many, few have ever seen before. Of course, a very solemn moment of paying the respects of mourning for people across the country.
We do expect the funeral be taking place on Monday, the 19th. It will be a hugely significant event, not only for the United Kingdom but a hugely significant global event. We expect world leaders to be attending, 2,000 dignitaries are to be arriving here to pay their respects to the queen.
She will eventually be taken to Windsor, where she will be laid to rest, where her mother and father were laid to rest also at St. George's Chapel. That is where she will have her final resting place.
ANDERSON: With her late husband, Prince Philip, of course. Nada, thank you.
A somber atmosphere surrounding the queen's death has lifted at times for moments of bright pageantry. Have a look at this.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): The trumpet fanfare Saturday heralded King Charles III as the new sovereign of the United Kingdom and its Commonwealth.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three cheers for His Majesty, the king.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hip, hip --
CROWD: Hurray.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hip, hip --
CROWD: Hurray.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice-over): This led to a very long-standing tradition following the proclamation, the second, that was made about an hour later, at the Royal Exchange in the heart of London's financial district.
Now even though Charles automatically became king on the death of his mum, the title was officially bestowed in an accession ceremony at St. James' Palace just 100 yards or so from where we sit here outside Buckingham Palace.
Afterwards, the king spoke about the daunting responsibilities that lie ahead. Have a listen.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CHARLES III, KING OF ENGLAND: I am deeply aware of the inheritance and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of sovereignty, which have now passed to me.
In taking up these responsibilities, I shall strive to follow the inspiring example I have been set in upholding constitutional government and to seek the peace, harmony and prosperity of the peoples of these islands and of the Commonwealth realms and territories throughout the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: One of Saturday's most memorable moments did not involve the new king, though, but his sons; the relationship, as you will be well aware, between Princes William and Harry seemed strained for some time.
Now just days after losing their Grannie, the queen, the brothers made a surprise and important show of unity. William and Catherine, the new Prince and Princess of Wales, invited Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to join them for a walkabout on Saturday to greet well-wishers paying tribute to the queen outside Windsor Castle.
They spent about 45 minutes with the crowd, accepting flowers, letters and toys. One young girl even got a hug from the Duchess of Sussex.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were just waiting for her to come and she came in and asked my name and how my day was, how long I was waiting and I asked her if I could have a hug and we -- she hugged me back.
So that was just quite an amazing moment. I'm still shaking now. I can't really explain what the feeling was when she did it. But it was really nice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why did you feel like you wanted to hug her?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because I don't know. It just went through my mind, like, everyone was kind of cheering the (INAUDIBLE) and I guess I just felt like I needed to, in a way. Like I just really wanted to at least hug her because I look up to her in some ways. And it just felt like it was the right thing to do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, like she's going through a lot.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, exactly because it's such -- it's still such a sad thing like that is happening now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do you feel a bit of sympathy her?
Just because the queen's passing or because of her whole relationship with the royal family?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I guess I both. So because of the queen died and also because of everything. But I did see that -- I felt like she -- it was quite nice to see William and Kate and Meghan and Harry together.
And it was fine. But yes, I just want to say like -- show her that she is like welcome here, I guess. And I wanted to hug her after everything that's happened really now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Were you surprised to -- I mean, it's probably less surprising to see Will and Kate.
Was it -- were you surprised to see Meghan and Harry with them?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was really surprised. As soon as I saw -- because as I saw Meghan and Harry over there and (INAUDIBLE) with them. I was, like, oh my, gosh, because I was not expecting them to be here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Journalist Sandro Monetti is a veteran of covering the royal family. He joins us from Los Angeles.
I was reminded this morning that is the first time that we have seen those two couples together at a public engagement since Commonwealth Day back in 2020. There couldn't be a better time to sort of heal this rift, Sandro, if that is what we are seeing now.
SANDRO MONETTI, JOURNALIST: Reunited and it feels so weird. This was a total surprise, that, out of grief comes a positive. These brothers were miles apart in every sense.
Now they are walking shoulder to shoulder. It was an extraordinary moment and it will be so interesting now, if we are showing these same pictures, when Harry's bombshell book comes out in a few months.
ANDERSON: You make a very good point. That is certainly what has been promised, a bombshell book about the royal family. Let's see what happens with that. As we understand it, it was an invitation extended by Prince William to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, just an hour or so before what was a scheduled sort of walkabout by Prince William and his wife.
For them and I guess the British public, it's an important moment in that there is a grieving process at this point. They both had an extremely close relationship with Queen Elizabeth II, who they called their Grannie.
So I guess any sort of coming together at this point is an important one for them, as they go through their grief, as it is for the British public, who are, in this sort of slightly weird moment now, which is a grieving process but also a sense of what happens next.
We are getting a bit more of a sense of that from the new King Charles III.
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ANDERSON: What is your sense of what happens next? MONETTI: First of all, King Charles III has more than risen to expectations. He has relaxed the nation. Ah, yes. He is the king. He is going to be great. You hear anybody moaning or complaining about it, he has risen to the occasion. He has surpassed expectations.
As for the walkabout, it was so fascinating to me. I have never seen Meghan look so anxious at the start of this walkabout, because she did not know what kind of reaction she was going to get.
Her personal popularity rating with the British public has dipped as low as 8 percent at one point with all of these bombshell interviews. But grief does strange things. And William offered the surprising olive branch.
And I think he was clearly influenced by his late grandmother, because the queen would always see the best in people and would never give up on something and would always talk about, whatever happened, Harry and Meghan were always loved and always welcome.
And he really carried on that message by making that call. Didn't have to do it; did it.
Was it a strategic move?
We will see. But it certainly was an important one. And it has been embraced by the public.
ANDERSON: We know the details of the funeral plans now. The casket carrying Queen Elizabeth II will leave Balmoral today. And there is an eight-day journey, effectively, through Scotland and then down back here to Buckingham Palace and then to Westminster Hall, ahead of a funeral on Monday at Westminster Abbey.
And that will likely be attended by leaders from around the world, not least Joe Biden.
Who else might make up the U.S. delegation?
Is it clear at this point?
MONETTI: Well, it is not clear, actually. You would expect to see former presidents there. There may be a congressional delegation. It's interesting, because, with the British end of things, the planning has been in place for decades.
America seems to have been caught on a hop a bit. They didn't know when this was going to happen, what the delegation would be. And it's not like there is precedent for this.
She was on the throne for 70 years. So it is not like there is a recent royal funeral they can use as an example here. So it remains to be seen. And it is one of the most fascinating things to follow.
But this will be the most A list guest list of anything, since, I expect, Charles and Diana's wedding. So it is going to be one of the most watched events in the history of the world. And there has been so much affection for the queen from around the
world. So I am sure that there is plenty of American leaders who will want to be there; who actually gets those golden tickets, we will see.
ANDERSON: Finally, how does the new King Charles III provide value for the U.S.-U.K., quote, "special relationship" going forward?
Certainly, the role that Queen Elizabeth II played in sustaining that was an important one.
What are your thoughts?
MONETTI: He loves America. I first met him in the '90s at a movie premiere, of all things. Charles came to Los Angeles for the premiere of Kenneth Branagh's movie, "Frankenstein."
He was greeted like he never had been before, like a red carpet celebrity. People were offering autograph books for him. That doesn't happen in the rest of the world. The celebrities at the afterparty were slapping him on the back.
Danny DeVito, I remember, exchanging his phone number; Michael Richards from "Seinfeld" was trying to explain to the prince who he was. It was all very bizarre and informal. And Charles absolutely loved it.
And so, he loosened that stiff upper lip, he showed his human side that night. He has really shown it in the speech. And as I said, he has risen to expectations. He has a great example from his mother. He will continue that special relationship. He will make it thrive (ph).
ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating. Sandro Monetti, it's always good to have you on. Thank you very much indeed.
Sandro Monetti, in Los Angeles for you.
I will have more from London for you in a few moments. First, let's bring in my colleague Michael Holmes, in Atlanta. Michael.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): All right, Becky, we will check back in with you shortly. After the break, Russia may have just suffered one of its worst defeats yet in Ukraine.
Coming up, how Russia's president might respond as his forces are forced to retreat from key eastern cities. We will be right back.
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HOLMES: Welcome back. Amid a blistering counter offensive, Ukraine is claiming major gains
against Russia in the east of the country. Ukrainian troops on Saturday rolled into Izyum, driving out Kremlin forces after more than five months of occupation. Izyum looks to be the most significant defeat for Moscow since the battle for Kyiv.
And as the blue and yellow flags went up in nearby towns, even pro Russian officials had to admit they were evacuating into Russian territory. Izyum could open up a new front against Russian forces in the Donbas. And Ukraine's president is already naming which cities could be liberated next.
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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): (INAUDIBLE), the city in the Donetsk region, is still waiting for our flag and it is inevitable. Ukraine always comes back. We show this clearly. The entire Donetsk region will be liberated, safe and happy again, as it should be in Ukraine. It should be everywhere in our land.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Reaching the top of Vladimir Putin's enemies list isn't for the squeamish. And as his troops advance in Eastern Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains defiant. Here is what he told CNN's Fareed Zakaria about the deadly threat from his Russian counterpart.
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FAREED ZAKARIA, CNN HOST: So I feel like every time I have talked to you in the past, you have been in a bunker. Now here we are -- we did the interview in the presidential palace on the grounds.
Is this a confidence that Putin can't hit you here?
ZELENSKYY: Nobody knows where he want to push rocket from the mining (ph) these days. Nobody, I think, understand it until they begin to do. Each morning and in the night, the rockets can come from even Belarusian territory, from Russia, from occupied territories.
It doesn't matter for me because I -- what -- we can't afraid or can't be afraid of him. And I don't afraid.
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HOLMES: And you can catch that exclusive interview later today on "FAREED ZAKARIA GPS."
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HOLMES: Retired major general Mick Ryan of the Australian Army joins me now from Brisbane, Australia. He is the author of "War Transformed: The Future of 21st Century Great Power Competition and Conflict." He's also former commander of the Australian Defense College.
So a good voice to have to analyze what has been going on. Significant battlefield advances for Ukraine.
What is it the Ukrainians have done, in a strategic science, to achieve these gains?
What have they done right and what have the Russians done wrong?
MAJ. GEN. MICK RYAN (RET.), AUSTRALIAN ARMY: Good day, Michael. What the Ukrainians have done is sequence their battles across their country in a way that gives them the advantage and puts the Russians at a great disadvantage.
They started their campaign in the south, which drew in a lot of Russian forces. And then what the Ukrainians did was launched a further offensive in the north, where the Russians had really pulled out a lot of forces.
So the Ukrainians attacked them in the north, where the Russians were weak, and have managed to penetrate deep behind Russian lines.
HOLMES: I was going to ask you as well -- you write that the Kharkiv offensive has tactical and operational implications for the region and the war more broadly.
Briefly, how so?
RYAN: Kharkiv is now resulting in the Ukrainians' capturing areas that are critical to Russian operations throughout the east of Ukraine. Kupyansk in particular is a major rail and transportation hub, which the Russians used to supply their operations in the east.
So the Russians are not only going to have to reorient their forces in the east; it's going to be increasingly difficult to support them. At the same time, the Russians are probably going to have to re-deploy forces from the south and other areas. And this will create other opportunities for the Ukrainians across the entirety of southern Ukraine.
HOLMES: Yes, they were having difficult issues anyway. This is going to make that even tougher.
The Russians have lost the momentum, clearly.
How important in is, in what's known in warfare as operational tempo, I think?
And do the Ukrainians have that now, especially with winter months approaching?
RYAN: Well, tempo is very important. Because what you seek to do is get inside the enemy's decision cycle. So every time they are reacting to you, they are reacting to old information that is irrelevant. The Ukrainians have certainly done this in the north. They have a
different style of commanding, very much like the United States, Australia and other Western countries, where they delegate down.
The Russians are slow to respond because they have a more centralized form of command and control. It's very difficult to see the Russians catching up with what the Ukrainians are doing in the coming days.
HOLMES: In your latest Twitter thread -- and they are always informative -- there was one comment that was important but, frankly, frightening.
You say this, quote, "The Russians, while not beaten, are in real trouble at the moment. Because of this, we should watch for some unexpected reaction from Putin. He has shown no signs of wanting to pull back from this invasion."
It is worrying.
What could he do?
RYAN: Well, that is the real thing; we have seen some missile strikes today on major Ukrainian cities. And right from the very beginning of this invasion, Ukraine hasn't been seen as a real country by Putin.
He could do lots of dastardly things because he is losing face in this invasion. So more missile attacks, more attacks that kill innocent Ukrainian civilians and, potentially, attacks on the supply routes into Western Ukraine, where many of these Western supplies are coming in.
HOLMES: Yes. Morale is vital, of course, in conflict; not always decisive but vital.
How damaging would these losses be to Russian troops on the ground?
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HOLMES: Many of whom, we know, don't want to be there, have perhaps lost as many 80,000 comrades dead or wounded and who don't have the motivation that the Ukrainians have, as they defend their homeland.
RYAN: That's right, Michael. As you have seen, the Russian morale on the ground has suffered for some time. They suffer from a lack of purpose. Many of these soldiers were deceived about the very reasons they were in Ukraine for.
On the other side of things, the Ukrainian morale will be pretty high as a result of these battlefield victories. And victory, quite often, can be infectious. So we will see them maintain this momentum for some time to come, given the great disparities between the Russian and Ukrainians at the moment.
HOLMES: What might be the -- and I know we need crystal balls here.
But what might be the domestic consequences for Putin, if images of Russian retreats and defeats circulate widely within Russia?
They are circulating on Telegram, certainly.
But within Russia?
RYAN: Well, that is if they are able to circulate widely but certainly will cause him some domestic issues. I'm not sure whether it's fatal to his regime at this point in time. But we are seeing some evidence that town councils and even some senior military officers are starting to question his direction in this war.
So he's going to have to play very carefully in the coming days, weeks and months.
HOLMES: Terrific analysis as always.
Check out Mick Ryan's Twitter thread if you want to keep up on things.
Thanks so much for taking the time.
RYAN: Thanks, Michael. Great to talk to you.
HOLMES: And Becky Anderson picks up our continuing coverage after a short break. She will have the latest details from Buckingham Palace on the late queen's final journey. Do stay with us.
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ANDERSON: Welcome back, at 7:30 in the morning here in London.
And on Monday, King Charles III will visit Scotland's Parliament in Edinburgh, for the first time as monarch. He will hear a motion of condolence for Queen Elizabeth II. She was at her beloved residence in Balmoral Castle in Scotland when she died, of course, on Thursday.
And, this morning, she begins her final journey home. CNN international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson has the details.
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NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: At approximately 10:00 am local time on Sunday, the queen's body will be driven in a hearse slowly, a six-hour journey, beginning in Balmoral, passing through the villages of Ballater, then Banchory, then the city of Aberdeen, turning south through Stonehaven, Brechin, Forfar, Dundee, Perth, before passing along the streets here in Edinburgh, past the castle, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the monarch's official residence in Scotland, where she will be placed in the Throne Room.
On Monday, she'll be taken by procession to St. Giles' Cathedral, where there will be a service attended by King Charles III, by other members of the royal family and by the British prime minister, Liz Truss.
On Tuesday, the queen's body will be taken from London, taken to Buckingham Palace. And then, on Wednesday, taken to Westminster Hall, one of the oldest buildings in Westminster Abbey, where the queen will lie in state for four days in a chance for the people of Britain to pay their last respects.
On Monday, the 19th of September, there will be a funeral service at Westminster Abbey. Following that, the queen's final journey to Windsor Castle, where she will be laid to rest -- Nic Robertson, CNN, Edinburgh, Scotland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Across Britain, there's been a tremendous amount of sadness over the queen's passing. Here in London, a countless number of people quickly gathered outside Buckingham Palace to pay their respects, with hundreds of thousands more expected over the coming days. CNN's Anna Stewart reports.
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ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hours after the news broke, the mourners came. Flowers left at Buckingham Palace and pinned to the gates. So many in fact that the palace have moved them to a new home across the road, a memorial of flowers.
STEWART: This is just the beginning of this loyal tribute so you can imagine how many flowers will be here in the coming days.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to turn up to Buckingham Palace and come here to Green Park to pay their respects to the queen. It's an opportunity to reflect on her reign and what she meant to people and a chance for people to show the queen and the royal family how much she meant to them.
STEWART (voice-over): Whether it's a letters of gratitude or pictures of corgis, it's an individual expression of grief expressed in public for all to see and share.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was kind.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And caring.
STEWART (voice-over): Notes from children who celebrated the queen's Platinum Jubilee just three months ago.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But you're going to remember the sight here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're older.
STEWART (voice-over): For many the emotions are still raw. For others, it's a storm that's passing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really, really sad. You almost saw it coming through the afternoon but then when they cut to the announcement, there were tears in our house. Then you have to sort of process it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's some flowers for the queen because she was such an amazing person. I felt very sad because she's the only queen or person I have ever had.
STEWART (voice-over): A sentiment shared by those far older than Annabelle (ph). Few can member life before the queen's 70year reign. Here there are also messages for the king, one from 9 year-old William Morris (ph), saying he's grieving, too, and understands how the king must feel; his grandmother recently passed away.
Crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of King Charles III as he returned to Buckingham Palace after his formal proclamation at king.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- leave flowers for the queen (INAUDIBLE) and it has been such an honor to see King Charles as well.
STEWART: (INAUDIBLE) I would say.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it's (INAUDIBLE) the flowers and the country to give Charles a chance and it's lovely.
[02:35:00]
STEWART: Well, as you can see, this period of national mourning isn't just about looking back; it's also about looking forward.
STEWART (voice-over): Anna Stewart, CNN, Buckingham Palace, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: You saw those images of Buckingham Palace and Green Park here, inundated with flowers and tributes.
I would like to welcome Simon Lycett. He's the Royal Horticultural Society floral ambassador and has designed floral arrangements for the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II herself.
Flowers, as I understand, it are selling out across London at present. How is the industry going to cope with the demand over the next eight days or so?
SIMON LYCETT, ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY FLORAL AMBASSADOR: Well, it's quite strange because obviously a lot of events have been canceled, out of respect. I think the flowers that might have been decorating parties and events are quickly being rushed into shops and retailers.
And it's wonderful that local flower shops are being so supported by the public as they demonstrate their tribute to Her Majesty. ANDERSON: And they continue to do so. You met Her Majesty, as I
understand, it quite recently. Tell us.
LYCETT: Yes, I've been fortunate enough to meet her several times at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show. This year they asked me to design their Platinum Jubilee tribute to the queen, which was a steel structure with her silhouette, with 70 pops of lily of the valley that she revealed to be her favorite flower.
And I was presented to her, which was for the last time, which is very poignant.
ANDERSON: Amazing. You also did some of the flowers for Charles and Camilla when they got married, back in 2005. I covered that with my colleague, Anderson Cooper. It seems an awful long time ago.
Back then, we were talking about the potential for Charles to become king. But it felt like it was a long way, a long time ago, and it was a long time in the future.
LYCETT: Yes. And it did feel like it would be a really large leap for his then wife to become a queen. I think Queen Consort was what Her Majesty declared she would like to Camilla to be. And I think it's so exciting and fitting that we now have a new king and queen consort.
ANDERSON: Tell me about your involvement in doing the flowers for that.
LYCETT: I was really lucky. I was asked to create some of the flowers for the reception within Windsor Castle. And it was just so exciting to be playing a teeny, tiny part in history.
We had 30,000 narcissine daffodils, daffodils being the flower that represents Wales. And it being the wedding of the Prince of Wales, we had to have them. And it was just a really exciting occasion, a huge privilege and honor.
ANDERSON: When I consider what I have seen here and people leaving flowers in tribute, it, of course, reminds me of and has echoes of the passing of Princess Diana. We saw a sea of flowers as tribute all the way through Hyde Park.
I think some people might be slightly surprised at the difference here. You have certainly seen those tributes. But they are being sort of, I don't know, managed to a certain extent.
LYCETT: I think that the royal family and the royal household have an understanding that people wish to have an outpouring and to demonstrate their grief and sorrow and place a tribute. But that is now being managed.
So we will -- see some details into each of the royal residences. There is a protocol for where flowers are to be placed so they don't become this vast, slightly monolithic and then ultimately quite problematic mound of flowers. So flowers brought to Buckingham Palace are placed within a
remembrance garden in Green Park and Hyde Park; at Windsor Castle, flowers are invited to be placed at Cambridge Gate and each evening are taken into the precincts of the castle.
So that you really feel there is some lovely inclusion and an attempt to allow people to really demonstrate their own feelings for the loss of the queen.
ANDERSON: How young were you when you realized that this was an industry that you want to get into?
LYCETT: I was 7. It's all I have ever wanted to do, is work with flowers. And I'm really lucky. I'm 55 and I still get to do it.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: You look amazing for it. Just explain to me, what you believe is the importance of a floral tribute.
LYCETT: I think flowers are one of the only things that can absolutely resonate with people immediately. It is often the scent but we will have a memory that is sparked by the fragrance or look of a flower, a particular bloom.
You walk past a lily, it can transport you back quicker than almost anything. We all have a connection.
[02:40:00]
LYCETT: And also, we also know now that being among flowers and plants and plant material is so good for our mental health and well- being, that just having some of that around you is great. So for people to choose and pick out flowers -- and it can be whatever they want. And I think if you are --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: I would ask, what's most appropriate?
LYCETT: Well, if you are giving towers in a tribute to anybody, I think, give them what you would like as a demonstration of, these are mine; I left them there for you.
Or what would they have wanted?
So it's an easy way for people to choose. And I don't think anyone should have any judgment on it because, actually, it is a single stem cut from the garden. It's the most lavish bunch flown in from, goodness knows, which hothouse. It doesn't matter. It's the gesture.
ANDERSON: It's a pleasure having you on, sir, thank you.
LYCETT: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Simon Lycett joining me here outside Buckingham Palace. That is it for the time being from us. Do stay with us. More to come.
For the time being, let me get you to Michael Holmes in Atlanta for more coverage.
HOLMES: Fabulous interview. Enjoyed that. And I enjoyed the mustache. Thank very much, Becky, we will check in with you later.
And our coverage of the new royal era continues in just a moment. Just ahead, Australia has officially declared King Charles its head of state. A live report from Sydney when we come back.
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HOLMES: In New York, expatriate Britons and Americans alike have been gathering at a tea house to mourn and remember Queen Elizabeth II. CNN's Polo Sandoval has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: If you spend some time on this New York city sidewalk and you certainly get a sense of that international reach that Queen Elizabeth II.
It's one of the reasons why for the last several days here at Tea and Sympathy, folks have actually stopped by at this local cafe here dropping off flowers, perhaps sharing a few memories.
[02:45:00]
SANDOVAL: It's known as the unofficial British consulate around here.
When you hear from the owner, Sean Kavanagh-Dowsett, he'll tell you that it's not only people that have been coming together to mourn but also to celebrate the legacy of Queen Elizabeth and also with big questions about what may happen next for the institution.
SEAN KAVANAGH-DOWSETT, OWNERM TEA & SYMPATHY: It's just been a constant stream of people coming by dropping off flowers to show that they're supporting us and, you know, feeling the sense of loss.
I can but hope that the love that -- just even a proportion of the love that was for the queen carries on with Charles and I think he has every chance to do that. I think, you know, I thought his speech was really great.
SANDOVAL: And no doubt folks here in New York City will certainly be watching ahead of funeral events that are scheduled in the coming days -- Polo Sandoval, CNN, New York.
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HOLMES: Australia has now officially proclaimed King Charles III the new head of state in a ceremony just a short time ago. CNN's Angus Watson is in Sydney, Australia. He joins me now live.
Good to see you, Angus. The proclamation has happened.
How have Australians viewed all the pomp and circumstance?
We are not a pomp and circumstance kind of crowd, are we?
ANGUS WATSON, CNN PRODUCER: Michael, that's right. I think it's been important for people here to put an Australian stamp on all this pomp and circumstance.
We had the governor general today in Canberra proclaim King Charles III as Australia's head of state. It was incredibly important there as well. It was a welcome to the country from First Nations Australians.
They are the indigenous custodians of the land, with the smoking ceremony really underscoring the fact that Australia has had a 65,000- year culture here ongoing, unbroken.
It's an old place, much older than the modern nation of Australia or the British colony -- the British arrived here just 200 years ago. So, Michael, when Austrians have listened through this proclamation ceremonies, they have done so with a slight tension.
Australia is a modern democracy but parts of our constitution hark back to that colonial era. We were here in Sydney to listen to one of these proclamation ceremonies. And the band played "God Save the King," as the crowd of thousands here was invited to sing along.
But I must say, not many did. Right after the Australian anthem played and everyone sung with gusto.
HOLMES: Interesting. The queen did say she would always respect the will of Australians and stay apolitical. There was the whole golf Whitman (ph) thing but Australians confident that Charles will do the same.
WATSON: Well, the queen has been lauded for this, Michael, for especially at the time of the referendum on monarchy, in 1999, when Australians were asked whether they wanted to keep her as head of state or whether they wanted to put an Australian at that position.
The queen was asked for her thoughts of this and se said she would always respect where Australians wanted to go with their own country. She would always respect the wishes of Australia.
That's been something that's been remembered since she passed. Now Anthony Albanese, the prime minister, is a Republican. There will be a referendum on Australia's constitutional future at some stage, during his reign.
The prime minister wants one. He's put one of his MPs in charge of looking into that. It is something that will come up. And, Michael, it is something that would challenge the monarchy here. And Australians hope that King Charles will have the same view as his mother, Queen Elizabeth, that it's an Australian decision, Michael. HOLMES: Yes, absolutely. Angus, good to see you, my friend. Angus
Watson there in Sydney.
A dangerous wildfire in northern California is spreading rapidly. The Mosquito fire has burned over 37,000 acres, growing significantly from the day before. It is 0 percent contained.
Fire officials say, despite a bit more humidity, vegetation remains critically dry and burning easily. More than 1,700 personnel working to put out the flames. A number of areas are under evacuation order.
The blaze started Tuesday evening. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Still to come here on the program, Becky Anderson will be back with more of our continuing coverage of the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the royal succession.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): A 21-gun salute for King Charles III boomed out in the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
They heralded the new monarch at the Tower of London and in Hyde Park, at Edinburgh in Scotland, Cardiff Castle in Wales and Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland. Queen Elizabeth's passing is even giving athletes pause.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): Golfers went silent for two minutes at the BMW PGA championship on Saturday in Wentworth in England. Many more black ribbons as flags flew at half staff. The tournament was suspended after the queen died on Thursday before resuming yesterday, as a 54 hole event.
Netflix says, as a mark of respect, it paused production of its historical drama of "The Crown," following the death of Queen Elizabeth. The award winning series also plans to go dark on Monday, September the 19th, the day of the queen's funeral.
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ANDERSON: Three actresses have portrayed the queen during different decades of her reign, from Olivia Colman and Claire Foy, to most recently Imelda Staunton. The fifth season is expected to cover events in the '90s, including the divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
It's released the schedule in November with the sixth and final season now in production.
Souvenirs of the British royal family have always been a favorite for U.K. visitors and residents alike. Now since her passing, merchandise featuring the queen is more popular than ever.
The owner of a shop that sits next to the gates of Windsor Castle says that the souvenirs are flying off the shelves. He says he's trying to replenish the stock quickly, because he wants to help people preserve memories of the queen.
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MUTHUCUMARASAMY KESAVAN, WINDSOR SHOP OWNER: This is not just about business or money but people going to carry something with the queen on it. So it's like a service as well.
So we like to do it but we are trying but still we couldn't find anything. And because of the pandemic and things, bringing things from outside not easy, making inside, it's very expensive. And not many people doing it nowadays.
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ANDERSON: The shopkeeper says he has met the queen and several members of the royal family over the past 11 years since he has been running his shop there in Windsor.
I'm Becky Anderson at Buckingham Palace. I will be back with much more of our special coverage here on CNN in just a moment. Stay with us.
