Macron Pays Respects To The Queen

By David Averre and Tom Brown For Mailonline

Published: 11:28 EDT, 18 September 2022 | Updated: 07:47 EDT, 19 September 2022

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have been spotted in Westminster walking around 'incognito' in sunglasses and trainers to see the queue and share the pain of the British people before changing into formal attire to visit Westminster hall.

Mr Macron, who is seldom seen out of his trademark blue suit, was seen in a more understated dark navy jacket, charcoal grey trousers and black trainers alongside his wife, who dressed in a similar fashion.

French press reported he was going 'incognito' to gauge the mood of the British public before changing back into his more formal wear.

The pair donned sunglasses and trainers as they strolled through central London, flanked by aides and security guards as they viewed the queue of people waiting to see the Queen, who is lying-in-state before funeral ceremonies tomorrow.

The French president and his wife then changed into more formal wear before visiting the Queen at the historic Westminster Hall.

After paying their respects to the late monarch, the French President and First Lady will join King Charles and scores of other world leaders and royals for a reception at Buckingham Palace, where they will present the new king with a book of pictures celebrating the Queen's visits to France.

'From her coronation on, she knew and spoke with all of our presidents. No other country had the privilege of welcoming her as many times as we did,' Macron said last week in a tribute to the queen, whose last official visit to France took place in 2014.

People from all walks of life and from around the world have been filing past in a constant, emotional stream, many queuing overnight to see Her Majesty.

French President Emmanuel Macron (C-L) and his wife Brigitte Macron (C-R) arrive at Westminster Hall to pay their respects to Britain's late Queen Elizabeth II in London, Britain, 18 September 2022. The queen's funeral will be held on 19 September, following four days of lying in state inside Westminster Hall

Mr Macron, who is seldom seen out of his trademark blue suit, was seen in a more understated dark navy jacket, charcoal grey trousers and trainers alongside his wife, who dressed in a similar fashion

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France's President Emmanuel Macron and first lady Brigitte Macron view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster

Royal guards stand by Queen Elizabeth II's flag-draped coffin lying in state on the catafalque at Westminster Hall on September 18, 2022 in London, England

The Queen's coffin lies on a dias on the floor of Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster

The Macrons donned sunglasses as they strolled through central London, flanked by aides and security guards

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla are preparing to host up to 1,000 VIPs at the Buckingham Palace reception this evening.

Those expected to attend include US President Joe Biden, New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern and Canadian premier Justin Trudeau, alongside European royalty and senior members of the British royal family,

Most are expected to view the Queen's coffin, which will lie in state until tomorrow morning, in the ancient heart of Parliament today after being given a VIP timeslot.

But the list of dignitaries also includes a string of controversial strongmen, including Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was filmed today giving a thunderous speech from the windows of the Brazilian Embassy in London to a cheering crowd waving the national flag.

And today the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia confirmed that Mohammed Bin Salman, known by the abbreviation MBS, had been invited to attend the funeral.

He is set to hold talks with British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Sunday evening, but his presence at the Queen's funeral tomorrow sparked outrage after Saudi agents brutally murdered and dismembered jounralist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey in 2018.

China has also announced it will send its vice-president, Wang Qishan, to the funeral.

Due to strained ties, the UK opted to invite ambassadors, not heads of state, from Iran, Nicaragua and North Korea. Meanwhile, Russia and Belarus are among a small group of nations excluded altogether following Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

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