King Charles III, shedding a tear for his nation and for himself, performed last night’s final act of honor for his mother.
The banner of the Queen’s Company of the Grenadier Guards was attached to the oak coffin by him before being lowered into the royal vault.
The Queen slowly sank into St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. This gave millions of mourners an uncomfortable lump and brought an end to 11 days of intense public mourning.
Queen Elizabeth II is now reunited with her ‘strength and stay’ – her beloved husband Prince Philip – and with her parents and her sister Princess Margaret in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor after her coffin was interred overnight in an intimate private ceremony.
In order to allow her to enter her tomb in the royal vault as a simple Christian soul, she had her crown and orb taken out of her coffin.
Yesterday morning, an estimated 4.1billion people around the world watched as presidents, queens and prime minsters joined millions in London to witness Queen Elizabeth II’s historic State Funeral at Westminster Abbey.
As her coffin passed through London, more than 4000 servicemen and ladies and some of Queen Elizabeth’s most faithful subjects displayed pomp and grandeur like nothing else.
The Queen’s coffin was carried by pall bearers up the steep staircases of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. They were praised for their effort.
Charles was unable to contain his tears while he stood solemnly in front of the coffin of his mother, wearing the Royal Standard and the Imperial State Crown.
Westminster Abbey was an important part of the Queen’s story. This is where the Queen was coronated and wed Prince Philip.
The procession that took the Queen’s coffin along The Mall was part of one of largest ever witnessed international events
Shedding a tear, King Charles placed the banner of the Queen’s Company of the Grenadier Guards on her oak coffin before it was lowered into the royal vault
King Charles placed the banner onto the Queen’s coffin, while Prince William and Prince George look on one side. The Wessexes view from the other.
Before the coffin of the Queen is taken in by pall bearers, it is passed by choir boys. It is then lowered into ground where the public can view the remains.
An emotional King gazes towards the coffin of his mother, flanked by Princess Royal and two brothers Prince Andrew & Earl Of Wessex
Coffin of the Queen, draped with Royal Standard and decorated with the Imperial State Crown, sovereign’s orb, and sceptre
Liz Truss was pictured with Hugh O’Leary, her husband, as well as Kwasi Kwarteng, and Therese Coffee, who stood behind ex-Prime Ministers David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair as well as John Major, John Major, and Boris Johnson.
As the hearse passed, the State Hearse was surrounded by mourners. They lined up from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch then to Windsor which is 25 miles away.
In historic scenes in a separate ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Queen Elizabeth II’s incredible 70-year reign came to an end with the symbolic ‘breaking of the wand’, a moving ceremony in which the Lord Chamberlain – her highest ranking official – took apart his wand of office. She will also bury it with him.
Two weeks of intense emotion and turmoil, King Charles, now 73, was exhausted after leading the nation’s goodbye to his Mama.
After the quick committal service ended, the Royal Family stood as the Queen was slowly brought down. Meanwhile the Dean of Windsor stated: “Go forth upon your journey from the world, O Christian Soul.”
St George’s Chapel sang then God Save the King.
This was the striking moment in which the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II was placed into St George’s Chapel’s Royal Vault.
The Queen’s Company’s Bearer Party, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, carried the Queen’s coffin to Westminster Abbey. The emotional Royal Family watches on
After his mother’s funeral, the solemn King left London’s Wellington Arch. He closed his windows and saluted.
As the congregation stands, the Queen’s coffin will be followed by King and Queen Consort.
Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, gave a reading at the Queen’s State Funeral at Westminster Abbey
Members of all ages watched the ceremonial procession in which the Queen’s coffin was carried from London to Windsor.
In the background, the Royal Navy shows Prince Harry and Prince Harry carrying the coffin of their grandmother to Westminster Abbey.
As the Queen’s coffin arrives at iconic Wellington Arch, thousands of people gathered to witness the procession, the Royal Family watches.
Emma, the Queen’s fell horse, was a key part of the ceremony.
To see the Queen’s coffin arrive at Windsor, royal aides brought Muick and Sandy’s corgis out.
A day filled with emotion and beauty:
- Prince George and Princess Charlotte were the great-grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth.
- The coffin from Westminster Abbey was brought to the Duchess Sussex’s eyes and she seemed almost tearful.
- It was estimated that more than one million people traveled to London for the Queen’s commemorations.
- Scotland Yard’s commissioner Sir Mark Rowley sighed with relief as the most significant security operation in British History, which included over 15,000 officers und 1,500 soldiers, was completed.
- As the cortege reached Windsor Castle, one of Queen Elizabeth’s favorite corgis and a horse met her coffin;
- Royals paid tribute to the Queen with jewellery she had given them, including a horseshoe brooch worn by Charlotte and Kate and Meghan’s earrings;
Prince Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is flanked by military-themed family members who salute at him with their hands.
At Westminster Abbey, the Duchess of Sussex was seen in black and a broad-brimmed hat.
The Queen Consort and Princess of Wales follow the 123 year-old State Gun Carriage, with Queen’s coffin on the top.
Sarah Ferguson, ex-wife to the Duke of York and her daughters Princess Beatrice (pictured right) as well as Princess Eugenie was among those present at the Queen’s Funeral.
Beatrice (left) & Eugenie (right), both visibly moved during the funeral of their grandmother at Westminster Abbey.
- Joe Biden was placed 14 rows back inside the abbey as planners battled with the diplomatic puzzle of how to seat hundreds of world leaders and dignitaries;
- Liz Truss played a prominent role at the ceremony before flying off to attend her first global summit as Prime Minister today;
- Adventurer and Chief Scout Bear Grylls and Killing Eve star Sandra Oh were among a small group of celebrities invited to the funeral;
- A little over 200 ordinary heroes, such as a lifeboat volunteer and nurse who gave hundreds of meals to the victims, were able to join world leaders, politicians, royalty and other dignitaries for this service.
- In his funeral sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury said that the Queen’s strong faith meant that her famous assurance during the pandemic that ‘we will meet again’ would also come true in the afterlife;
- Before the funeral began, RAF servicewoman Christina Heerey became the last of the 400,000 people to queue for hours to see the Queen lying in state in Westminster Hall;
- After being stranded due to rail cancellations between Reading Station and Paddington Station in west London, thousands of mourners missed Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
- Britain ground to a halt, with supermarkets, high street chains, offices and factories closed for the bank holiday;
- Nation honored ‘the queen of the world’ with projections of Her Majesty on the Sydney Opera House, and New York’s Times Square lit by footage from the funeral.
- 357 people in London for the Queen’s funeral needed treatment by 3.30pm, of whom 45 were taken to hospital.
Amazing images captured throughout the day the masses that descended upon the Long Walk at Windsor Castle, as part of a procession to deliver the State Hearse to the committal ceremony.
For thousands of people who were unable to view the Queen’s coffin from the Long Walk, barriers kept them behind.
The procession that led Queen’s coffin in Royal Standard draped down to St George’s Chapel was punctuated with flowers.
Amazing shot taken at Windsor Castle, the former home of Queen Elizabeth II, where thousands came to offer their condolences.
Pipe Major Paul Burns, pipe major, concluded Queen’s State funeral which was attended by thousands of foreign dignitaries and leaders around the world
The long road to Her Majesty’s final resting place started in Balmoral, on September 8, and concluded last night at Philip’s private burial. At a private family ceremony, the new King scattered earth on her mother’s coffin. Britain’s longest reigning monarch – who vowed on her 21st birthday to devote her whole life to serve ‘whether it be long or short’ – had been borne by Grenadier Guards pallbearers into St George’s Chapel.
Charles III followed them, as did her children and grandchildren, including Prince William (the new Prince of Wales) and Prince Harry.
More than 2000 mourners attended her state funeral service at Westminster Abbey. Justin Welby, Archbishop and Canterbury, quoted Dame Vera Lynn during his sermon.
The family includes Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Queen Consort Camilla at Westminster Abbey.
As they took to the stage at the funeral of their great-grandmother, the young royals were praised for their contribution.
Young Prince George spends a few moments with the Prince of Wales, his father, during Windsor Castle’s Committal Service.
When Princess Charlotte, daughter of Prince William, and Kate arrived at Windsor Castle she gazed solemnly out the window of her car.
Prince George, Prince Charlotte, Sophie Wessex (their aunt the Duchess) and their mother, Princess Kate stand in Westminster Abbey.
As they grieved for their great-grandmother, the Queen, the young siblings put on a show that was visible to the entire world.
He added, “She was joyful and present to so many, touching an infinite number of lives.”
In his sermon delivered at the Abbey, Archbishop stated: “People who love to serve are scarce in every walk of life. It is still very rare to find leaders who love and serve others.
“But, in all instances those who serve will always be remembered and loved when those who hold on to power or privileges are forgotten.
‘The grief of this day – felt not only by the late Queen’s family but all round the nation, Commonwealth and world – arises from her abundant life and loving service, now gone from us.’
As he stood in the Church where queens and kings are crowned every year since 1066 the Archbishop stated: ‘We all face God’s merciful judgment: we all can share the Queen’s hope, which, in death and life, inspired her servant leadership. Service in life, hope in death.’
According to an official announcement by the Royal Family, last night, Queen Elizabeth was buried at King George VI Memorial Chapel with her husband, the Duke. According to the announcement, the Dean at Windsor performed the ceremony.
Scotland Yard reported that it had detained 67 individuals as part its large-scale policing operation.