September 19, 2022
Mourners in silence as Queen’s funeral nears
Thousands of mourners have queued for up to 24 hours to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II, who is lying in state at Parliament’s Westminster Hall.
Te Karere reporter Harata Brown says there’s a sizable contingent of Māori in London for tonight’s funeral ceremony at Westminster Abbey, including Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, Ngāi Tahu kaumātua Sir Tipene O’Regan, opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Victoria Cross holder Willie Apiata.
She says while the black worn by many of the mourners is familiar, what seems odd is the lack of sound around the coffin.
“It’s even silent, even by her grandchildren, they’re all silent, whereas if this were te ao Maori we would hear the wails, we would hear the karanga, we would hear the whaikorero and things like that,” Ms Brown says.
The funeral is set to start at about 10pm tonight New Zealand time.