Thousands of people come to pay their last respects to Karel Schwarzenberg

People have been paying their respects to the late Karel Schwarzenberg, a member of the Czech nobility and one of the country’s most prominent post-1989 politicians, whose coffin has been put on display for the public at the Church of the Knights of Malta of Our Lady Beneath the Chain in central Prague. Close to 3,000 people came to bid him a last farewell on Wednesday. More people have been lining up outside the church today. The coffin will remain on display for the public until Friday.

The former foreign minister is to have a funeral with state honours at St. Vitus Cathedral on Saturday.

The funeral mass will be followed by a private funeral for family and friends at Orlík nad Vltavou Castle, after which Schwarzenberg’s remains will be placed to rest in the family tomb in the castle park.

Mr. Schwarzenberg passed away on November 12 in Vienna at the age of 85.