After an emotional day that saw Queen Elizabeth II finally be put to rest beside her loving husband Prince Philip, Prince Harry was spotted puffing his cheeks as he got into a vehicle with his wife, Meghan.
Following a solemn committal ceremony for the late king, the Duke of Sussex and other royals, including King Charles III and the Queen Consort, Camilla, were spotted leaving St. George’s Chapel in Windsor late this afternoon.
Family members of the Queen have returned to Windsor Castle to rest before going to St. George’s Chapel for a private burial ceremony at 7.30 p.m. today, which is expected to be the longest day ever for the royal family.
With billions of people believed to have seen at least a portion of today’s parade and ceremonies in Her Majesty’s honour, it will be one of the few events that are not being aired.
At the start of the day, hundreds of global leaders and international dignitaries gathered at Westminster Abbey for the late monarch’s memorial ceremony, along with members of the royal family, including Prince George, 9, and Princess Charlotte, 7.
Both during the parade and inside the cathedral, Harry, who is grieving the loss of his cherished grandmother, was obviously moved. His wife, the Duchess of Sussex, was also spotted wiping away tears.
The Duke was afterwards spotted talking with his aunt Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence while strolling gravely on the lawn in front of St. George’s Chapel in Windsor in preparation for the Queen’s funeral ceremony.
Her Majesty’s 70-year reign came to an end during the ceremony when her crown, orb, and sceptre were removed from her casket together with Prince Philip, as well as her husband, father, mother, and sister.
King Charles III, her oldest son and the next king seemed to be quite touched when his mother’s bones were brought to Windsor on the day she passed away. She was the 12th British monarch to be interred there.
Later tonight, a smaller, more intimate funeral will be held at which the Queen’s family will have the opportunity to attend and grieve her passing away in secret.
Up to 2 million people flocked to central London on that day to view the casket following the state funeral at Westminster Abbey, which was attended by 200 members of the public in addition to 2,000 royals and leaders of the state. After the queen was taken past Buckingham Palace for the last time this afternoon, mourners showered the royal hearse in flowers as it made its way to Windsor.
The last of the 400,000 visitors who came to see the Queen lie in the state this morning and paid their respects before she was taken from Westminster Hall on a gun carriage to the cathedral where she was wedded and crowned.
The Dean of Windsor stated, “Go out upon thy journey from this earth, O Christian soul,” as the Royal Family stood at the conclusion of the brief committal ceremony while the Queen was gradually lowered into the royal crypt.
He also offered the commendation, a prayer in which God’s kindness is invoked for the benefit of the departed.
Prior to the Lord Chamberlain snapping his staff of office and disconnecting the Queen from her public duties in death, the Dean had just put her crown and other royal jewels on the altar.
Following the pronouncement of the Queen’s styles and titles, the Garter King of Arms transferred all authority to her son, the King. As the coffin was lowered to the lament of a lone piper, Britain and the rest of the world bid the late monarch, who had served the country for 70 years, a tender farewell.
Her Majesty’s long journey to her final resting place and to be with the Duke of Edinburgh began in Balmoral on the day of her death 11 days ago and will conclude with her private interment next to her “strength and stay Philip” this evening. At a private family service at 7.30 p.m., the King will scatter earth on his mother’s coffin.
Following Charles III, the longest reigning monarch in British history, her children, and grandchildren, including Prince Harry and Prince William, were brought inside the ancient church.
In one of the most moving photos of the evening, the Queen was seen sitting by alone in St. George’s Church, where she had also enjoyed worshiping for many years when living at Windsor. She had also attended Prince Philip’s burial there last year.
Following the Queen’s funeral ceremony at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, members of the Royal Family quietly departed.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte, together with their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, drove away from the church.
Shortly later, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left individually.
During the ceremony, the Rev. David Conner, Dean of Windsor, read from Revelation 21.1–7.
The identical verse was spoken during the funerals of the Queen’s grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary, in 1936 and 1953, as well as her father, King George VI, in 1952.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the reading concludes. I will freely share the spring of life to anybody who is thirsty for it.
He who overcomes will get everything; I will be his God, and he will become my son.
When the flower-draped hearse came, the late Queen’s two devoted companions, her corgis Muick and Sandy were there to greet her.
The casket was received at the castle following a procession through Windsor’s crowded Long Walk by the King, Princess Royal, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of Sussex.
The King’s Troop fired Minute Guns as the hearse neared the West Steps of St. George’s Chapel to announce that the king had arrived home. As the State Hearse came to a halt to the music of bagpipes, the Sebastopol bell of the Castle rang—an event that only occurs when a British monarch dies.
A flower-covered hearse carrying the late sovereign’s body slowly made its way towards her Berkshire palace, where she spent most of her last years before her death, including seclusion with Prince Philip, while tens of thousands of people lined The Long Walk and cheered.
The Dean of Windsor opened the bidding by saying, “We have gathered to surrender the soul of God’s servant Queen Elizabeth into his hands.
We must think of someone here in St. George’s Chapel, where she often attended services, whose simple but deep Christian faith produced such a great deal of fruit. Fruit, but also (and particularly to be remembered in this spot) in compassion, concern, and comforting care for her family, friends, and neighbours. Fruit, in a life of unceasing service to the Nation, the Commonwealth, and the broader globe.
The late Queen’s “calm and dignified presence” was lauded by the Dean, who spoke of the “rapidly changing and sometimes disturbing world.”
‘We now feel confident to face the future, as she did, with bravery and optimism,’ he added, referring to the monarch’s mood.
In his closing remarks, he said, “As, with grateful hearts, we reflect on these and all the many other ways in which her long life has been a blessing to us, we pray that God will give us the grace to honour her memory by following her example, and that, with our sister Elizabeth, in the end, we shall know the joys of life eternal.”
The passage of the Queen’s coffin up the Long Walk towards St George’s Chapel caused thousands of people to pause, hold their phones high, and wave flags.
Those at the rear could only see the parade via their phones raised aloft on selfie sticks due to the crowd’s denseness.
While the parade passed, some kids clapped while others perched on their parent’s shoulders.
The congregation includes the late monarch’s close family and friends, as well as current and former members of her domestic staff.
Near the chapel’s entrance is a wreath from Number 10 that is inscribed with the words “For a lifetime of commitment and responsibility we give our profound and heartfelt thanks.” Prime Minister Liz Truss signed the wreath.
The area around the church is covered with bouquets of red roses, pink lilies, potted plants, and wreaths from foreign royals, among other types of flowers.
An arrangement of white flowers is in full bloom inside one of the chapel’s major doors.
Lilies, dahlias, roses, and other flowers and foliage from Home Park were also used in the chapel’s decorations.
The ceremony, which has a strong history running it, was discussed with the Queen over a period of time, and she selected all of the prayers and songs with the exception of one.
One hymn was left up for selection at the time by the Queen, and Westminster Abbey, an adaptation of the Alleluias from Purcell’s O God, Thou are my God, was selected following a debate between the King and the Dean of Windsor David Conner.
Prior to now, mourners in Windsor had been instructed to place their bouquets alongside the “grass moat” next to Windsor Castle rather than throwing flowers at the hearse carrying the Queen’s corpse. The flowers might frighten horses, cause safety issues, provide a tripping hazard, and be difficult to clean up if they are crushed into the ground, according to security authorities and event organizers.
Her Majesty will be interred beside her late husband Prince Philip in the King George VI Memorial Chapel after the last component of her funeral that is open to the public. This evening, the King and other members of the royal family will attend a special funeral ceremony.
In a funeral attended by some 800 people this afternoon, the royal family said goodbye to their cherished grandmother in the Gothic church on the grounds of Windsor Castle. As the state hearse carrying the Queen’s corpse made its last turn along the Long Walk, a hush descended over the thousands of mourners.
As the drumming in the procession became louder, the groups of people of all ages that surrounded the Long Walk became silent. People attempted to catch a peek at the event as children were carried on parents’ shoulders and camera phones were raised in the air.
During the parade, Muick, Sandy, and one of the Queen’s all-time favourite horses made a very touching appearance at Windsor.
Two pages in red tailcoats led the young dogs, one on a red lead and the other on a blue lead, into the courtyard in preparation for the arrival of the Queen’s coffin. The Queen’s Fell Pony, Emma, had welcomed the procession by standing on some grass between flower memorials to her late owner along the Long Walk.
The majority of the ceremony will have a mood of reflection, repetition of the past, and coming full circle, maybe with a sense of the consistency and constancy for which the Queen will always be known.
The Imperial State Crown, the Orb, and the Sceptre will be taken out of the coffin by the Crown Jeweller before the last song, and they will be delivered to the Dean, who will set them on the altar, together with the Bargemaster and Serjeants-at-Arms.
Since the crown was removed from the altar at Westminster Abbey in 1953 and put on the Queen’s head to begin a 70-year reign, the transfer of the crown from the coffin to the altar is painful.
The King will drape The Queen’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards over the casket after the last hymn.
The Lord Chamberlain will “break” his Wand of Office at the same moment and lay it on the coffin.
This is done to make the three Instruments of State that have been removed symmetrically.
The Dean of Windsor will pronounce: “Go out upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul,” as the coffin, which will be put on a catafalque covered in purple velvet, is gradually lowered down into the royal crypt.
From the doorway between the Chapel and the Dean’s Cloister, the Sovereign’s Piper will play a lament, “A Salute to the Royal Fendersmith,” as he slowly makes his way towards the Deanery in the Cloister, causing the music within the Chapel to gradually diminish.
The King will be seated during the service in the Queen’s old seat, which was closest to the altar when she first entered the chapel.
The music of the service will be characterized by tradition, as it will include a number of songs that were also played at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral and other significant royal occasions.
While the mourners wait for the ceremony to start, the organ work Schmucke Dich, O Liebe Seele – Adorn Yourself, O Dear Soul – (BWV 654) by J.S. Bach will be performed, among other pieces.
Another will be Rhosymedre by Vaughan Williams, which has become a royal family staple after being played at both Philip’s death and Diana, Princess of Wales, and Charles’ wedding.
Nimrod, a composition by Sir Edward Elgar, will also be performed before to the commitment. Nimrod was heard during the Queen’s coronation in 1953.
The former Archbishop of York, Lord Sentamu, is said to have been a member of the group that came up with the initial order of ceremony for the Queen’s royal burial.
The minister informed BBC News that the Queen knew the psalms by memory and that Psalm 121, which was also chanted during the Queen Mother’s funeral in 2002, will be recited at the burial of the monarch.
The national song, which was also performed at the conclusion of Philip’s burial, will be followed by Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C Minor (BWV 546) as the ceremony comes to a close.
The Dean of Windsor, the Minister of Crathie Kirk, the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park, and the Rector of Sandringham will all offer prayers.
James Vivian, director of music, will lead the choir of St. George’s Chapel, which consists of 11 men, 1 woman, and 13 boys, in singing throughout the service. Luke Bond, assistant director of music, will play the organ.
The majority of the music played during the ceremony was written by Sir William Harris, who played the organ at St. George’s Chapel from 1933 until 1961, through most of the Queen’s formative years.
It is thought that Sir William taught the young Princess Elizabeth how to play the piano when she often visited the organ loft to see him perform.
The lines “here, in St George’s Chapel, where she so frequently worshipped, we are forced to put to mind someone whose straightforward but deep Christian faith yielded such great fruit” are part of the Dean of Windsor’s bidding, which was written after the Queen’s passing.
“Fruit” lived a life of selfless devotion to the country, the Commonwealth, and the rest of the globe, but she also showed love, care, and consoling concern for her family, friends, and neighbours—something that will be remembered here more than anywhere else.
“Her serene and dignified presence has given us the confidence to face the future, as she did, with bravery and with hope,” the author writes, “in the middle of our fast-changing and sometimes turbulent world.”
As the Queen was brought back to Windsor Castle today to be reunited with her beloved Prince Philip and her parents in the ancient splendour of St George’s Chapel, crowds dropped flowers in front of her coffin and cheered her on for the last time.
Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in the history of the United Kingdom, was bid farewell by an estimated 2 million people in extraordinary and moving scenes. Bouquet showers greeted her hearse as it travelled from West London to Berkshire.
At his mother’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey, which was followed by two minutes of silence, the Last Post, and the national song, King Charles had been visibly moved. When his mother exited Wellington Arch in a hearse this afternoon, the monarch saluted while also seeming to be overcome with grief.
The features of Charles, his brothers, and children, as well of the massive throng who swarmed The Mall, Whitehall, and Parliament Square to bid the adored queen goodbye as her coffin was brought from the Abbey on a gun carriage, were etched with anguish on a day of grandeur and heartbreaking symbolism.
The Prince of Wales, her children George and Charlotte, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex all observed the people as they passed them in cars, while other members of the Royal Family, such as the King, marched somberly behind.
The moving events came after a remarkable and dramatic state funeral that was attended by 2,000 dignitaries, royals, prime ministers, and several hundred regular Britons who were selected by the Queen, who passed away 11 days before. The Queen, according to the Archbishop of Canterbury, had a profound impact on “a multiplicity of lives” and was a “joyful” figure for many.