LIVE - The world says goodbye to Elizabeth II

Europe 1 with AFP 11:18 a.m., September 19, 2022, modified at 11:19 a.m., September 19, 2022

With a meticulous and tirelessly prepared pomp, this religious funeral in front of 2,000 guests at Westminster Abbey completes a national mourning marked by an immense wave of collective emotion since the death on September 8 of Elizabeth II in her Scottish castle in Balmoral.

Information to remember:

• 2,000 guests are expected at Westminster Abbey

• Spectators gathered before 7 a.m. in the vicinity of Buckingham Palace

• Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron have arrived

The British and the tourists at the rendezvous

To live "a piece of history" or to be able to say "I was there": Many Britons and tourists who sometimes came from far away got up at dawn on Monday to attend the funeral of Elizabeth II in London at the best squares.

Despite the cool morning temperatures in the British capital, spectators gathered before 7 a.m. in the vicinity of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, where the religious ceremony takes place.

"I wanted to be part (of the celebrations). It's a great day in our history, it's part of our life," said Susan Davies, 53, who arrived at 6:30 a.m. at Hyde Park Corner from Essex. , east London, with her husband and their two teenagers.

On Whitehall but also along the Mall, the wide avenue that leads to Buckingham Palace, young and old take their troubles patiently.

Union Jacks but also Australian or Canadian flags were hung.

The best prepared have breakfast and coffee.

The best vantage points are already occupied.

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Also in Windsor, where Queen Elizabeth's coffin will arrive only in the afternoon, spectators were already beginning to gather around the "Long Walk", a straight path that leads to the castle and where the procession will pass.

Giant screens have been installed.

Hundreds of leaders expected

Hundreds of foreign dignitaries and crowned heads are expected in London on Monday for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, a security and diplomatic puzzle between privileges granted to certain and controversial guests.

With Westminster Abbey only able to accommodate around 2,000 people, only heads of state and one or two guests per country have been invited to Britain's first state funeral since 1965.

Many crowned heads have confirmed their presence at the funeral of the sovereign, who reigned for more than 70 years.

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will come on their first overseas trip since assuming the throne in 2019.

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Prince Albert II of Monaco, his wife Charlene, King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Princess Beatrix, King Philippe of the Belgians and King Harald V of Norway will all be present, as will Queen Margrethe of Denmark, now the sole reigning queen of Europe.

The King of Spain Felipe VI will be there, but also his father Juan Carlos I, who abdicated in 2014 and now lives in the United Arab Emirates.

Arrived Saturday evening in London, US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden gathered on Sunday afternoon in front of the coffin of the sovereign.

Unlike other leaders who were asked to come to the Abbey on buses chartered by the authorities, Joe Biden was granted permission to use his armored presidential limousine, "The Beast".

Sometimes contested guests expected

Sometimes disputed personalities are expected.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took advantage of his visit to deliver a virulent electoral speech on the balcony of the residence of the Brazilian Embassy.

A long-awaited time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in New York, was represented.

Saudi Arabia is expected to be represented by Prince Turki bin Mohammed Al Saud, according to a diplomatic source.

Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), whose possible visit made people cringe, was sidelined from the international scene after the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey in 2018.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will be absent, but his Vice President Wang Qishan will attend the funeral.

The latter was able to gather on Saturday afternoon in front of the coffin of the sovereign, although deputies tried to ban any Chinese delegation to Westminster.

The source of their anger: the sanctions imposed by China against British parliamentarians who had criticized its human rights record.