A double rainbow appeared before the crowd gathered outside Buckingham Palace in London when the passing of Queen Elizabeth II was announced on September 8.
The double rainbow vividly appeared amidst the crowd outside Buckingham Palace. When the news of Queen Elizabeth II’s death was announced, after a moment of silence, people began to sing the national anthem “God Save the Queen,” according to the New York Times.
A widely shared photograph by photographer Samir Hussein shows the double rainbow appearing in the gloomy sky above Buckingham Palace.
Peter Barnes, 31, a campaign director working in central London, told the PA news agency: “The mood at Buckingham Palace was very somber.”
“Many people in the crowd also noticed the rainbow, and many recorded this moment.”
The crowd under the double rainbow outside Buckingham Palace in London on September 8. (Photo: Bloomberg).
However, this was not the only place in England where a rainbow appeared. At Balmoral Castle, where the Queen was cared for before her passing, a rainbow also appeared next to the Union Jack.
In Westminster, a double rainbow appeared behind the Elizabeth Tower, named after the Queen in 2012 to mark her Diamond Jubilee. This tower, which houses the Big Ben clock, was built adjacent to Westminster Abbey along the River Thames.
The first bouquet of flowers appeared at the Queen’s central London residence around 5 p.m. on September 8, placed there by a woman, and the crowd outside Buckingham Palace quickly grew to about 1,000 people.
People could hear the sound of a helicopter flying overhead as the crowd fell silent, waiting for news about the Queen’s health.
“The crowd is getting larger. The Queen means a lot to many people not just here in England but across the world,” Barnes shared.
“The world has lost a person who always maintained stability and dignity, placing the country and duty above all else,” Barnes added.
On September 8 (London time), British media reported simultaneously that Queen Elizabeth II had passed away at the age of 96.
After the Queen’s passing, Charles, the former Prince of Wales, became the King of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms.
In his latest statement as the new King of England released by Buckingham Palace, King Charles said: “The passing of my beloved mother, Her Majesty the Queen, is the saddest moment for me and the entire family.”
“We deeply mourn the loss of a cherished monarch and a beloved mother. I know this loss will be felt throughout the nation, across the realms, and the Commonwealth, as well as among countless people around the world,” the new King expressed.
