Follow Us on Google
By Emma Emeozor with agency reports
Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin arrived at Windsor Castle, her final resting place, yesterday after a day of matchless pageantry that drew world leaders to her funeral and hundreds of thousands of well-wishers wanting to say farewell to a revered monarch.
And her lying-in-state came to an end, after a four-and-a-half-day period that saw huge crowds queue through London for several hours to see the monarch’s coffin. The doors to Westminster Hall, where the Queen’s coffin was displayed to the public, shut at 6:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m. ET) ahead of her funeral.
“The Queue,” which stretched for miles along the River Thames towards east London, became a national phenomenon and one of the enduring images of Elizabeth’s passing. Waiting times of more than 12 hours were recorded on several occasions and the entrance to the queue was briefly paused when it reached capacity.
The Queen’s hearse, draped in flowers and surrounded by marching guards, turned onto the Long Walk leading to Windsor Castle. As the funeral procession arrived at Windsor Castle, it approached the bottom of the West Steps of St. George’s Chapel in Horseshoe Cloister, where it was joined by members of the Queen’s family.
The Queen’s funeral inspired a mix of emotions in crowds waiting to see the procession. Mourners were seen crying, singing the British national anthem, observing silence and throwing flowers at the Queen’s hearse.
First, there was sadness over the Queen’s death, and then the poignant symbolism of the funeral crowd singing the British national anthem ‘God Save the King,’ as Charles III has become the new monarch.
The procession
King Charles III led a sombre procession behind his mother’s coffin from Westminster Hall to the abbey. A small committal ceremony, attended by about 800 guests was held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
Guns were fired and bells tolled to mark the Queen’s arrival in Windsor after it travelled there from London. King Charles, Princess Anne, Princes Andrew and Edward, as well as Princes William and Harry, walked behind the hearse in the final procession. The Queen was buried with her husband of more than 70 years at a private family service on Monday evening.
Later, the procession slowly moved along that stretch, met with huge crowds that have waited hours to bid farewell. The picturesque avenue running from Windsor Castle to Windsor Great Park was earlier declared to be at capacity with spectators, according to a public announcement system. The bearer party lifted the coffin from the state hearse soon, from where it was carried in procession up the West Steps. Earlier,
Sceptre, crown separated from Queen
One of the most momentous pieces of pageantry of the day was the separation of her crown jewels from the Queen. The Imperial State Crown, the Orb and Sceptre were removed from their place on her coffin by the Crown Jeweller. They will ultimately be returned to the Tower of London, but for now are passed to the Dean of Windsor who places them carefully on the altar.
The coffin
The Queen’s coffin was draped with the Royal Standard, and the Instruments of State, the Imperial State Crown and regalia were laid upon it along with a flower wreath.
The wreath which has been made in a sustainable manner contained flowers and foliage cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove House at the request of King Charles III.
It sat in a nest of English moss and oak branches. The flowers included were: scented pelargoniums; garden roses; autumnal hydrangea; sedum; dahlias; and scabious. They are all in shades of gold, pink and deep burgundy, with white elements to reflect the Royal Standard.
The foliage that has been included in the wreath was selected for its symbolism: rosemary (for remembrance), myrtle (an ancient symbol of a happy marriage), and English oak (symbolic of the strength of love). The myrtle was cut from a plant grown from a sprig of myrtle that featured in the Queen’s wedding bouquet when she married Prince Philip in 1947.
Queen’s dogs mourn
Two of the Queen’s beloved corgis (small dogs) also waited for the arrival of Elizabeth II’s coffin.
Throughout her life, the monarch was regularly photographed with one of her many Welsh corgis at her feet. The Queen’s passion for corgis dated back to her childhood, when she fell in love with her father King George VI’s dog, Dookie.
In 1944, on her 18th birthday, she was given a Pembroke Welsh corgi puppy named Susan. Such was her attachment to Susan, she reportedly took her on her honeymoon in 1947. Susan died in January 1959. Her surviving corgis will now live with the Duke and Duchess of York, Andrew and Sarah, a source close to the Duke of York told CNN last week.
…‘Lifelong sense of duty’ remembered
The Dean of Westminster, who led the service, expressed gratitude to a congregation of 2,000 people including world leaders and royalty.
The Very Rev David Hoyle, began the morning service at the Abbey by speaking of the Queen’s “unswerving commitment to a high calling over so many years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth”.
“With admiration we recall her lifelong sense of duty and dedication to her people,” he said.
The congregation sang The Lord’s My Shepherd, a hymn sung at the wedding of the Queen to the late Duke of Edinburgh, which was also held at the abbey.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, said the Queen “touched a multitude of lives” and quoting singer Dame Vera Lynn said “we will meet again” as he gave the sermon. The phrase was used by the Queen in a rare address to the nation at the beginning of the Covid pandemic.
The archbishop said: “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 the abbey service came towards its end the Last Post was played by the same musicians who performed it at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral before the nation came to a standstill for two minutes’ silence.
King Charles thanks all
King Charles III siad he was “moved beyond measure” by the numbers of people who came to pay their respects to his mother.
“As we all prepare to say our last farewell, I wanted simply to take this opportunity to say thank you to all those countless people who have been such a support and comfort to my family and myself in this time of grief.
“Over the last 10 days, my wife and I have been so deeply touched by the many messages of condolence and support we have received from this country and across the world,” he said.
“In London, Edinburgh, Hillsborough and Cardiff we were moved beyond measure by everyone who took the trouble to come and pay their respects to the lifelong service of my dear mother, the late Queen.”
Bell tolls 96 times in her honour
A bell in Westminster Abbey toll 96 times, counting out the years of the Queen’s long life.
Inside the abbey, it was bristling with uniforms, famous faces and clusters of dignitaries were ushered into pews below the statues and memorials.
15 PMs during her reign
The Queen had 15 prime ministers during her long reign: From Winston Churchill, who was in office when she ascended the throne, through to Liz Truss, who she appointed at Balmoral just two days before she died. Some of those who survive her attended her funeral: John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson, with their spouses.
