Africa-Press – Eswatini. Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Masuku yesterday joined more than 2 000 official guests, including USA President Joe Biden and other world leaders together with grieving royals inside Westminster Abbey for the hour-long funeral service of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Masuku, who was accompanied by British High Commissioner Thandazile Mbuyisa, led the delegation which represented His Majesty King Mswati III at the state funeral as Britain and the world laid the beloved and longest-reigning monarch to rest.
The 96-year-old monarch made her final journey to and from Westminster Abbey where the Queen was married and crowned for her state funeral service yesterday morning.
The New York Post reported that the newly crowned King Charles III and his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, were among those who marched solemnly behind her coffin in a brief procession from Westminster Hall to the Abbey where other members of the grieving royal family had already gathered.
It was mentioned that Queen Consort Camilla Parker Bowles, the Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7 and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle joined the procession when the coffin was brought into the church.
“Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from across the nation, from the Commonwealth and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service and in sure confidence to commit her to the mercy of God our maker and redeemer,” the dean of the Abbey, David Hoyle, told mourners during the service.
Masuku said all went according to plan as assigned by His Majesty King Mswati III. He disclosed that as part of the mourning process they had been able to attend to the ritual of viewing the Queen’s body, penned Eswatini’s message on the condolence book and also paid a courtesy call to King Charles III.
“The visit to grieve with the British royals and entire world on the passing on of Queen Elizabeth II was successful. We also had the opportunity to meet King Charles III to wish him well during his reign as instructed by His Majesty King Mswati III,” said Masuku.
The New York Post also reported that King Charles could be seen fighting back tears as the national anthem, “God Save the King,” played towards the end of the service and a two-minute silence was observed across the United Kingdom.
Following the funeral, the Queen’s coffin was escorted through London, accompanied by ashen-faced members of her family as up to a million people lined the streets to pay their respects amid scenes of matchless pageantry.
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