LONDON –
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stopped to view Queen Elizabeth’s coffin and met King Charles III in London on Saturday, as people from around the world gather ahead of the Queen’s funeral.
The Royal Family confirmed that King Charles had met Trudeau as well as Anthony Albanese from Australia, Philip Davis from the Bahamas, Andrew Holness from Jamaica and Jacinda Ardern from New Zealand.
The press release included a photo of Trudeau and King Charles sitting in front of a fireplace.
The king’s office also confirmed that he met governors-general from around the world at a lunch reception.
Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau, attended the Queen’s enthronement ceremony earlier today and signed a book of condolences for the late monarch.
Live footage from Westminster Hall briefly showed Trudeau and his wife as they paused in front of the Queen’s flag-draped coffin.
Trudeau is one of dozens of world leaders who are in London ahead of Monday’s royal funeral.
Canada’s delegation to London also includes Governor General Mary Simon and her husband, former Governors General Michaelle Jean and David Johnston, and former Prime Ministers Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin and Stephen Harper.
Canadian First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders will also attend the funeral, as will several recipients of the Order of Canada, including former swimmer Mark Tewksbury and actress Sandra Oh.
World leaders and members of the public converge on London ahead of Monday’s funeral.
On Saturday, people could already be seen setting up camping chairs to mark out prime spots along the flag-lined road leading to Buckingham Palace, where the Queen’s coffin will pass in a military procession after Monday’s funeral.
Crowds were also large around Buckingham Palace and Green Park, where people paid floral tributes to the Queen.
The gate to Green Park was closed on Saturday morning causing confusion as hundreds of people were trapped in a narrow passage outside the barricade.
The government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport also announced on Saturday afternoon that the queue for members of the public to see the Queen lying in state lasted until 11 a.m. from 5 p.m., compared to 24 hours earlier in the day.
The accessible line, for people with reduced mobility, was permanently closed after reaching capacity, the department tweeted.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on September 17, 2022.