Local photographer Maggie Jackson joined thousands of mourners on Wednesday morning laying floral tributes in Green Park, near Buckingham Palace, before Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin departed the palace for Westminster Hall to lie in state.
Jackson, speaking with the Cayman Compass from London, said she and her friend were staying close to the palace and decided to walk to the park to leave a floral tribute earlier that day.
The floral tribute garden in Green Park is the main location for laying flowers near to Buckingham Palace.
“We were there early and were able to walk through the park towards the palace. People had been there for hours waiting, families old and young,” she said, adding that the crowd also included tourists and locals.
She said it was an emotional scene at the park and palace as there were a lot of people in tears.
Jackson said flowers had been cleared from the front of the palace for the departure of the Queen’s coffin, but almost every tree in the park was surrounded by flowers.
“It is a very momentous time to be in London,” she said.
Some mourners had left marmalade sandwiches – in tribute to a video created for the Platinum Jubilee, which showed the Queen and Paddington Bear having tea at the palace.
Jackson added that her friend Nancy, a full time Cayman resident, is the same age as Princess Margaret and her late sister was the same age as Queen Elizabeth II and they grew up in that era watching them.
“She felt she knew them, so it was really important and emotional for her to pay her respects,” she added.
Lying in state begins
On Wednesday the Queen’s coffin, draped in the Royal Standard flag, was taken in procession to Westminster Hall where she will lie in state until her funeral on Monday.
Hundred of thousands of people lined the streets as the procession, which include King Charles III and the Royal Family, made its way to the hall. People queued for miles to be able to pay their respects to the Queen.
Draped in the Royal Standard, Her Majesty The Queen’s coffin is taken in Procession to Westminster Hall. pic.twitter.com/m19YFYQuWv
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 14, 2022
In Cayman, on Wednesday afternoon, local churches tolled bells for 96 seconds; 1 second for each year of Queen Elizabeth II’s life.
This as the islands continue to mark a period of mourning for the late monarch.
“Although the number of Cayman Islands churches with bells has reduced significantly over the past few decades, some still proudly toll bells on certain occasions. Churches that tolled their bells in tribute to Her Late Majesty included Church of God (Chapel), Church of God (Universal,) both in George Town, East End United Church, First Assembly of God, and Old Stake Bay Baptist Church,” a Government Information Services statement said.
The bells were also rung at the District Administration Building in Cayman Brac.
Paying homage to Queen in UK
Hours after news of the Queen’s death, George Town West MP David Wight, his brother Chris, together with friends and relatives joined with thousands of mourners in laying floral tributes at Buckingham Palace gates last Friday.
Speaking with the Compass about his experience, the MP said it was surreal watching the news of the Queen’s death unfold in the UK.
He said making the trip into London to honour the Queen at the palace was a must for him and his relatives.
“We decided that we wanted to really pay our respects… as Caymanians we love the Queen and we love the Monarchy. We’ve grown up with only one person as our Queen and I know anytime she came here our parents used to make sure that we would somehow get to see her and both times that we went looking for her we saw her and it wasn’t that we spoke to her or got close to her, but we just made sure we were there,” he said.
Wight said they were out watching a football match when they interrupted transmission to announce that the Queen had died.
“The whole crowd made a gasp… When we heard [the announcement] we said without a doubt, we’re going to buy some flowers and lay them… [not only did] we just want to do it personally, but also as Caymanians showing respect for the Queen,” he said.
The morning they arrived, he said, the crowd had already started from Green Park station and they tried to get a Cayman flag from the UK office there, but it was too early in the morning and the office was closed.
His brother Chris recalled that the whole atmosphere in London had changed when the announcement was made.
“It was very sad, you could tell it in the people. Some were crying but those who weren’t even crying, they were very serious and mournful about it… It was an honour to be there at the time in London because then we were able to go by Buckingham Palace and pay our respects on behalf of the people of Cayman,” he said.
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