TheCable

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has paid his respects at Queen Elizabeth II’s lying-in-state in Westminster Hall, London, United Kingdom.

The monarch, who died on September 8 at the age of 96, is scheduled to be buried on Monday.

Osinbajo had departed Nigeria on Saturday for London to represent the country at the queen’s funeral.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Laolu Akande, senior special assistant on media to Osinbajo, said the vice-president described Queen Elizabeth II as a “monarch of all seasons” while signing the condolence register.

“VP Osinbajo paid respects at Queen’s Lying in State at Westminster. He also signed condolence register, noting ‘Nigeria joins government, people of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and rest of the world in expressing our sincere condolence to the royal family on the passing of a monarch for all seasons. May the Lord bless her memory’,” the statement reads.

According to the spokesperson, Osinbajo was received by James Cleverly, UK foreign secretary, where the latter expressed gratitude for Nigeria’s solidarity with the United Kingdom.

The vice-president and the foreign secretary also reportedly discussed Prime Minister Liz Truss’ interest in deepening UK’s relationship with Nigeria.

Several world leaders and monarchs are already arriving London to pay their respects and attend the funeral.

US President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, reportedly paid their respects at Westminster Hall on Sunday. They have also each signed the official condolence register for the queen.

Meanwhile, thousands of people are to lined up around the clock to file past the queen’s coffin as it lies in state at the Westminster Hall.