King Charles III and Crown Prince William of the UK Surprise Visit to the Queen's Memorial Procession

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] King Charles III of the United Kingdom and Prince William made a surprise visit without prior notice to people paying their respects at Queen Elizabeth II's coffin, drawing attention.

According to the BBC on the 17th (local time), Charles III, along with Prince William, approached the mourners waiting near Lambeth Bridge to enter Westminster Hall in London, where the Queen's coffin lies, shaking hands and talking with them. Citizens cheered and applauded when the royal father and son appeared, and some took commemorative photos.

Charles III asked how long they had been waiting and if they were cold, shaking hands with them. One woman said, "It's worth waiting for this." Prince William said, "The Queen would not be able to believe all of this either." The BBC reported on Charles III's unplanned visit of about 20 minutes, emphasizing that "he will be a king who is easily approachable by the people."

There was also an interpretation that the royal family's visit near the memorial wall honoring COVID-19 victims carried a message of comfort to the British people who have suffered hardships due to the pandemic.

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, lying in Westminster Hall, has been open to the public since 5 p.m. on the 14th. Despite having to wait up to 16 hours to pay respects, the public's fervor to bid a final farewell to the Queen remains strong. According to the AP News, although nighttime temperatures recently dropped to as low as 6 degrees Celsius, the line of mourners extends from Westminster Hall to Southwark Park, 8 km away. The total number of mourners is expected to reach 350,000.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.