A final tribute to the Queen before dawn at an English pub in Washington

This Monday the “Queen Vic”, the Washington pub that has become an institution for British expats across the Atlantic, opened its doors at an exceptional 5:30am. He soon begins pouring his first glass of Pimms and Bloody Marys as wall-mounted televisions broadcast the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Thirty clients brave the early hours to attend this solemn meeting before they return to work. Some are Americans who are fans of the royal family, while others are true Brits.

A few girls wear a floral dress and an elegant hat, some consumers wear a dark shirt and tie, and some wear a more casual football jersey.

“It’s huge, the loss of our Queen, we want to mark the moment of her funeral and show our respect,” said Julie Muir, 41, an American-British whose family is from Watford, north London.

“I religiously follow news of royals. Mostly about dramas and issues about them. But today, everything revolves around this wonderful woman, her life, her sense of duty, and we have to say goodbye to him”, she continues.

– “The Queen’s Tipple” –

For this historic occasion, due to the time difference between London and Washington, the pub has received a special dispensation to serve spirits at such an unusual time.

Among the cocktails on offer is the “Queen’s Tipple”, known to be the late monarch’s favorite drink: a mix of Dubonnet vermouth and Beefeater gin, garnished with a lemon wedge.

“A lot of people were surprised by his death and their sense of loss,” said restaurant owner Ronika Gordon from Liverpool.

“We want to provide a place where the bereaved can follow the funeral in solidarity with others. We hope that British food and traditional cuisine will provide our customers with added comfort.”

Decked out in an impeccable US Navy uniform, US Navy lawyer Delorean Forbes orders himself a “full English breakfast”: sausage, bacon, eggs, toast, mushrooms, tomatoes and the inevitable white beans cooked in tomato sauce.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime event and I wanted to be here with some British friends,” he said, holding out a cup of coffee.

“My mother is a big fan of the monarchy. I really enjoy the beauty of today’s ceremony, its grandeur and grandeur. I know the importance of the alliance between our countries, and as a sailor, I am happy to see the royal. Navy carrying the coffin,” he added, referring to the Royal used in royal funerals. Refers to the horse-drawn gun carriage of the navy.

The name Queen Victoria lasted for 63 years until 1901.

Opened 12 years ago across from Capitol Hill, it serves typical English beers like London Pride and Bombardier as well as “fish and chips” or sausages and mash.

“I don’t drink very often at this point,” says Jen Barry, who lives in the neighborhood. “Seeing and hearing this funeral is very unusual, so I asked my husband to drop the kids off at school this morning,” adds the American, wearing boots emblazoned with the Union Jack.