Many are crowding round the presidential palace in Warsaw to show their respect and wish their farewells to the presidential couple.

Meanwhile, in Poland’s southern city of Krakow, two minutes after noon the traditional ‘Hejnal’ bugle call, played from one of the spires of St. Mary’s Basilica on the Main market Square, was replaced by the tune of ‘Lzy Matki’, or ‘Mother’s Tears’, a lament played by two firefighters for the occasion.

The same religious song was played in Krakow at the funeral of the late Polish Pontiff John Paul II in 2005. (jb)