Huge Ben had a steady presence within the background of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Monday. The long-lasting clock, which is a part of the Palace of Westminster in London, tolled as soon as each minute for 96 minutes – symbolizing the 96 years of the queen's life.
Because the queen's coffin made its manner from Westminster Corridor to Westminster Abbey for a service, then to Hyde Park to a hearse, and its ultimate journey by way of London, the bells of the clock chimed.
"Huge Ben ringing behind us, and you'll hear that each minute," CBS Night Information anchor Norah O'Donnell stated as King Charles III and Prince William arrived on the funeral service collectively.
"For the subsequent 96 minutes," CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King added.
At 11:55 a.m., the bell tolled to indicate a two-minute nation-wide second of silence to honor the queen.
On Sunday, simply at some point earlier than the funeral, the bell skilled a "minor technical situation" – however parliament officers had been assured it will be fastened for the procession, BBC Information reviews.
When Queen Elizabeth II's father, King George VI, died in 1952, the bell tolled 56 instances – as soon as for yearly of his life. At the moment, the bell was manually struck by a group that included Ron Witty, BBC Information reviews. The retired clockmaker, who's now 92, stated the top of London Dent, which made Huge Ben, counted down the seconds for the subsequent chime.
"When there have been 10 seconds to go, he stated, 'life,' and we lifted and when it received to 5, he would go, '5, 4, three, two, one,' and we let go," Witty stated. "It was very, very crude really the way in which it was achieved however that was the one factor we might do."
He stated the "environment was implausible."
For Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, Military Signallers will ensure the proceedings are operating on time – all the way down to the second, the British Military stated.
Not solely do Huge Ben's chimes mark the time through the funeral, however a gun salute marks the start and finish of the funeral procession.
Troopers from the ten Sign Regiment, which makes a speciality of communication, stood on the high of Elizabeth Tower, the place the clock is. From there, they synchronized the chimes of Huge Ben with the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery's gun salutes utilizing safe telecommunications and flag alerts through the procession.
They use flag alerts, as an alternative of ready to listen to the chimes, as a result of "perfection is the one possibility. Reacting to Huge Ben's well-known toll would imply being a stroke too late," the military stated.