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<\/p>\n\n\n\nCrowds cheered for King Charles III in Wales on Friday despite some opposition to his ascent to the throne, as miles-long queues to see his late mother\u2019s coffin reached capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Cardiff, Charles was to meet Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, an avowed republican. Protests had been threatened after the new monarch was quick to declare his son William the new Prince of Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Drakeford said questions over the future of the monarchy would \u201cbe a footnote to the dominant feelings of the day\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Britain\u2019s King Charles III is pictured through Welsh flags as he arrives by car to visit Cardiff Castle, in south Wales on September 16, 2022. \u2013 King Charles III heads to Wales for the last of his visits to the four nations of the United Kingdom as preparations for the queen\u2019s state funeral gather pace. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS \/ AFP)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A large crowd chanted \u201cGod save the king\u201d as Charles shook hands with the public following a multi-faith service in Cardiff\u2019s Llandaff Cathedral on what is the last of his visits to the UK\u2019s four nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charles then attended the Welsh parliament to receive politicians\u2019 condolences following the death on September 8 of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a speech alternating between English and Welsh, he vowed to follow the \u201cselfless example\u201d of Britain\u2019s longest-serving monarch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charles said William\u2019s \u201clove for this corner of the Earth is made all the greater by the years he himself has spent here\u201d \u2014 after his heir trained as a Royal Air Force helicopter pilot in Anglesey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Britain\u2019s King Charles III is pictured through Welsh flags as he arrives by car to visit Cardiff Castle, in south Wales on September 16, 2022. \u2013 King Charles III heads to Wales for the last of his visits to the four nations of the United Kingdom as preparations for the queen\u2019s state funeral gather pace. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS \/ AFP)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Outside his next stop at Cardiff Castle, a few protesters held up banners declaring \u201cAbolish the Monarchy\u201d, \u201cCitizen not subject\u201d and \u201cDemocracy now\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ahead of the late queen\u2019s state funeral on Monday, Charles and his siblings \u2014 Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward \u2014 were due to hold a family vigil before the flag-shrouded casket as it lies in state in London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 \u2018Timeless<\/strong>\u2018 \u2013 Eight of the queen\u2019s grandchildren, including William and his brother Harry, will hold a similar vigil on Saturday evening, royal sources confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elizabeth\u2019s death has triggered an outpouring of emotion, with tens of thousands queueing for hours, many through the night, to pay their respects in Westminster Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The queue was paused for \u201cat least\u201d six hours on Friday after a park at the end of the line along the River Thames reached capacity, the government said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Westminster Abbey on Monday morning, the queen will be honoured with Britain\u2019s first state funeral in nearly six decades, with more than 2,000 guests expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lance Corporal Shenkin IV, the regimental mascot goat of the Third Battalion of the Royal Welsh regiment, prepare for the arrival of the King and Queen Consort at Cardiff Castle, in south Wales on September 16, 2022. \u2013 King Charles III heads to Wales for the last of his visits to the four nations of the United Kingdom as preparations for the queen\u2019s state funeral gather pace. (Photo by Ben Birchall \/ POOL \/ AFP)<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the televised service, the coffin will be transferred by royal hearse to Windsor Castle, west of London, for a family-only burial in which the queen will be laid to rest alongside her late husband Philip, parents, and sister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n US President Joe Biden, Australian leader Anthony Albanese, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and French President Emmanuel Macron have all confirmed their attendance at the funeral, as have Japan\u2019s Emperor Naruhito and numerous other royals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe queen held a unique and timeless position in all our lives,\u201d said the Duke of Norfolk Edward Fitzalan-Howard, also known as the Earl Marshal, who is organising the funeral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe next few days will unite people across the globe and resonate with people of all faiths, whilst fulfilling Her Majesty and her family\u2019s wishes to pay a fitting tribute to an extraordinary reign,\u201d he told reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 Police stabbed<\/strong> \u2013 Early Friday, two police officers were stabbed in central London, one suffering \u201clife-changing\u201d injuries, the Metropolitan force said, but it ruled out any link to terrorism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An official delegation from China has been banned from attending the lying-in-state following an intervention by House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, parliamentary sources said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It comes after China sanctioned several British lawmakers over their criticism of the country\u2019s human rights record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs the hosts, the British side should uphold both diplomatic courtesy and gracious hospitality,\u201d foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Downing Street refused to comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The line to enter the vast Westminster Hall, where Elizabeth\u2019s casket has been lying in state since late Wednesday has attracted an endless stream of mourners. On Friday, the government said that those at the end faced a wait of at least 14 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The casket is draped in the Royal Standard flag, with the Imperial State Crown, her ceremonial Orb and Sceptre on top, with tall, flickering candles at each corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 \u2018Waste of money <\/strong>\u2013 Mourners marked their moment in front of the coffin in various ways, from bows or curtsies to the sign of the cross or by simply removing their hats, an AFP reporter observed Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some wiped away tears. Others brought infants in pushchairs. Old soldiers stopped and gave one last salute to their former commander-in-chief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, in Cardiff, many had waited for hours ahead of Charles\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomething like this won\u2019t happen again,\u201d said barman Jack Grimshaw, 27, who turned out with his young son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe royal family has been around for so many years (but) we didn\u2019t have a new king for so long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not everyone was happy to see the new monarch in Wales. Zahra Ameri, 22, said the funeral was a \u201cwaste of money\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m hoping that Wales becomes independent. Of course, it would be a disturbance in our economy because we do rely on the UK, but I strongly believe in independence,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The \u201cVigil of the Princes\u201d, with all four royals in ceremonial military uniform, will last for 15 minutes from 1830 GMT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/32JH92N-Preview_W-e1663335775507.jpg\")
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Police are mounting Britain\u2019s biggest-ever security operation ahead of the funeral, as crowds file past the queen\u2019s casket round the clock all weekend and global dignitaries jet in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sombre atmosphere is completed with guards in ceremonial uniforms posted around the podium in a constant vigil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n