On Friday afternoon, over 100 Chelsea Pensioners paid their final respects at Queen Elizabeth II’s lying-in-state.
Veterans were seen entering Westminster Hall in their recognizable scarlet jackets, tricorn hats, and white gloves to pay homage to Her Majesty.
The Chelsea Pensioners removed their hats while entering the Hall to pay their final respects to the deceased monarch.
As they exited the Palace of Westminster, people greeted them with cheers and enthusiasm.
On Friday afternoon, approximately 100 Chelsea Pensioners wearing their recognizable scarlet uniforms were seen in line to enter Westminster Hall.
Pensioners from Chelsea seen leaving the Palace of Westminster after paying homage to the Queen.
On Friday afternoon, over one hundred Chelsea Pensioners clothed in their recognizable scarlet uniforms paid their respects to the Queen at her lying-in-state.
On Friday, the Chelsea Pensioners filled the majority of Westminster Hall to bid farewell to the late monarch.
On Friday afternoon, over one hundred Chelsea Pensioners clothed in their recognizable scarlet uniforms paid their respects to the Queen at her lying-in-state.
Members of the public complimented the Chelsea Pensioners for passing the Queen’s coffin “without halting and holding up the line”
One individual said, “Look how respectful the Chelsea Pensioners were; they were able to pay their respects without holding up the line.”
A second user remarked, “Oh how great, they’ve allowed all the Chelsea Pensioners in at once….#QueenLyingInState.”
Another individual commented that the line was “extremely special for many reasons” and that it was a “plus to witness the Chelsea Pensioners and the changing of the guard.”
On Friday afternoon, people reacted to the Chelsea Pensioners paying their respects to the Queen.
This past week, the Chelsea Pensioners held a Drumhead Service of Remembrance in honor of the late queen while donning navy blue instead of their usual red costumes.
On Tuesday, some 150 men and women gathered at the Royal Chelsea Hospital to honor their commander-in-chief, who commanded the British Armed Forces for seven decades.
During the ceremony, the Pensioners stood while a bugler played “The Last Post,” a British tradition for military funerals, followed by a minute of silence.
The Chelsea Pensioners finished the service by singing “God Save the King.”
Following the passing of the Queen on Thursday, the governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, stated that the veterans ‘held their Queen in the highest regard’ and were ‘proud to have served and protected their country over her 70-year reign’
Her first investiture as monarch was with Bill Speakman, a Korean War hero who later became a Chelsea Pensioner.
They remained friends throughout his lifetime, till his death in 2018.
On Friday afternoon, over one hundred Chelsea Pensioners clothed in their recognizable scarlet uniforms paid their respects to the Queen at her lying-in-state.
On Friday afternoon, over one hundred Chelsea Pensioners clothed in their recognizable scarlet uniforms paid their respects to the Queen at her lying-in-state.
Having first visited the Royal Chelsea Hospital as Princess Elizabeth in 1947, the Queen has a long-standing friendship with the Chelsea Pensioners.
General Sir Adrian Bradshaw characterized the late king as a’regular and much-loved visitor to the Royal Hospital,’ having first been as sovereign at an army luncheon in 1956, and then on multiple times to watch the Chelsea Pensioners at Founder’s Day.
In 2014, Her Majesty attended the London Regiment World War I Commemoration.
Her extended family also routinely attended the annual RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which is held at the hospital.
Sir Bradshaw remarked, “Her Majesty The Queen will be sorely missed by our community here at the Royal Hospital