In a Sunday interview, the former Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, stated that Queen Elizabeth II told him she did not want a “long, boring” funeral service.
The conversation broadcast on BBC’s “Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg” prior to the funeral of the late king on Monday morning. Sentamu, who served as Archbishop of York from 2005 to 2020, stated that he has participated in the planning of the Queen’s burial for the past seventeen years.
“The Queen did not and does not desire what you call lengthy and tedious services,” he stated.
When questioned if the monarch told him this explicitly, he responded, “Oh yes, yes, yes,” according to The Telegraph.
Sentamu provided additional information about the planned event, stating that viewers will be able to hear “angelic voices of the choir of the Abbey and the Chapels Royal” and “beautiful English at its finest” from funeral prayer books published in 1662. The former archbishop stated that he does not believe the burial will be dull, but will instead “raise them to glory”
On April 5, 2012, Queen Elizabeth II, the then-Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, and Prince Philip attended the Royal Maundy Service at York Minster.
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Sentamu also disclosed that the Queen, who was married to Prince Philip for 73 years, wrote him a letter four weeks after his funeral. He stated that she thanked him for his support and concluded the letter by stating, “When you are grieving someone you love sincerely, it is difficult to do it in public.”
“My advice to the incoming king and the entire Royal Family would be to grieve publicly and find a place to do so,” he said.
In conclusion, the clergyman recounted his 2018 plea to the Queen for permission to resign as archbishop. He stated that he begged the Queen to pray for him, and for three minutes she stood with her hands around his.
“On July 12, 2018, I would tell the Queen, ‘Ma’am, you eased my weight on that day.’”
On September 18, 2022, members of the public pay their condolences as they pass Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin at Westminster Hall.
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Monday will mark the conclusion of the Queen’s lying-in-state period before to her burial, which is expected to gather 2,000 people to Westminster Abbey in London. The burial will also be broadcast on television, with billions of viewers anticipated to tune in.
Since her death on September 8 at the age of 96, members of the royal family have expressed their sorrow.
Prince William stated in a statement released on September 10 that he is “very grateful” despite his grief over the loss of his grandmother, whom he called “Grannie.” Camilla, the Queen Consort, stated in a BBC interview published on Sunday that her royal mother-in-law had gorgeous blue eyes and a smile she will never forget.