Hsien Chew was on a weekend trip with his husband when he received a call from an unknown number. He thought it was a scammer and didn’t answer.

Not long after, it rang again. And again.

– When they called the third time, I thought: “Okay, this must be something serious”, Chew told TV 2.

– I answered, but did not say hello. On the other end a voice said, “Hello?” Then I realized it wasn’t from the call center.

Instead, it was from the Prime Minister’s Office in Great Britain. They have a very special invitation for the 49 year old man.

– They said: “We would like to invite you to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral”. I was completely left out, because I didn’t have a formal relationship with the queen.

– I only saw it on TV, said Chew.

Appreciated for great effort

Chew was part of an exclusive group of 200 “regular” people who had been invited to the Queen’s funeral on Monday 19 September.

Heads of state, heads of government and royalty from around the world have been invited to Westminster Abbey, including King Harald and Queen Sonja.

As many as 2,000 people can be accommodated at Westminster Abbey.

What Chew and his 199 other “regulars” have in common is that they are all honored with royal honors during the Queen’s 70th birthday in June.

All have made an extraordinary effort for their local communities.

Chew received the award for his involvement in the choral community in London’s LGBTQ movement.

Even so, the invitation to the funeral came as a surprise.

– I’m so honored to be able to go to the funeral. This is a privilege.

For the 49-year-old, it means a lot that the queer community is included in this way.

– Being invited to a funeral means this neighborhood is represented at a very large state event. I think it’s really important to involve people who have been traditionally marginalized.

– Within me, I will raise my rainbow flag.

Getting ready to say goodbye

Britain is now preparing to say its final goodbyes to Queen Elizabeth. The day after the funeral, the period of national mourning officially ended.

Tens of thousands of people have marched through London over the past week to parade past the Queen’s casket in Westminster Hall.

People also started camping on The Mall’s parade street to secure a good spot for the funeral procession.

After the ceremony, the coffin containing the late Queen will be carried in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch. From there, the casket was placed on a hearse that would take the Queen to her final resting place in Windsor.

– A distance

Chew is originally from Singapore, and has also lived in Australia for several years. Since the 1990s he has lived in Great Britain.

– The queen has been the queen of these three countries all my life. He has been a thread throughout my life, even if he hasn’t always had such a prominent place, he says.

TV 2 met Chew in Green Park not far from Buckingham Palace, where thousands of people have laid flowers since the Queen’s death.

The day before the funeral, the park is very crowded. People flocked to leave flowers and personal greetings.

– The fact that he is now gone means that there is a visible gap. I don’t think I’m alone in seeking fellowship with others these days, Chew mused.

He was excited about how he himself would react during the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

– I will have an open mind, and accept how I feel. I am so grateful to be able to be there and represent the LGBTQ choir at the funeral.

– For me, this is confirmation that the UK has become a much more diverse and inclusive society.