Pictures of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral captured this September 19, 2022, leave evidence of how the first State Funeral of the 21st century unfolded.
The funeral procession began its journey from Parliament in Westminster Hall and made its way to Westminster Abbey where Her Majesty’s funeral was held.
Pictures from the Queen’s Funeral
The coffin of the late Queen left in a gun carriage drawn by 142 Royal Navy sailors. The procession began with a three-service Guard of Honor in Parliament Square, accompanied by a band of Royal Marines.
Scottish and Irish bagpipes accompanied the Queen’s coffin as the crowd cheered the royal cortege on a sad and emotional day for the royal family.
King Charles III, emotionally accompanied his mother’s last walk to Westminster Abbey. The end of the ceremony was marked by two minutes of national silence.
The procession then made its way to Windsor Castle. During the procession, guns were fired in Hyde Park and Big Ben sounded once every minute throughout the procession.
It should be noted that the procession consisted of several groups, five at the front of the carriage: the bearers’ group, the pallbearers, the Knights-at-Arms, the Yeomen of the Guard and the Archers.
It is said that more than two million citizens were on the streets of the capital to say goodbye, for the last time, to Queen Elizabeth II.
When Elizabeth II’s coffin arrived at Wellington Arch, her body was removed from the gun carriage and placed in a hearse to travel the final 25 miles to Windsor Castle.
Before the eyes of Charles III, Queen Camilla, the King’s siblings, and grandchildren of Elizabeth II, the 142 sailors who carried the carriage during the funeral procession retired.
Meghan Markle could not hold her emotions and was seen crying, she was accompanied by Queen Camilla, Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, who was with her two older children George and Charlotte.
Queen Elizabeth II’s children accompanied their mother’s coffin on its way to Windsor Castle.
An image that caused one of the most unexpected anecdotes of the day, was the moment when Prince Andrew greeted the corgis dogs of Queen Elizabeth II, on his arrival at Windsor Castle, out of protocol.
The hearse carrying the Queen’s coffin was escorted along ‘The Long Walk’ by thousands of citizens who were in the vicinity of Windsor Castle.
The Royal Guard was in charge of moving the mortal remains of Queen Elizabeth II to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for a private ceremony with only 800 guests.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla presided at the funeral mass for Queen Elizabeth II. At her side were Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George and Princess Charlotte who on her arrival at St. George’s Chapel wept. Some people claim that the princess was crying, while others say she was rubbing her eyes from exhaustion.
The Duchess of Sussex, cried again at Windsor Castle, while the funeral mass in honor of Elizabeth II was taking place.
Then the symbols of Elizabeth II’s reign were removed from her coffin: the scepter, the crown and the orb. The Dean of Windsor, David Coney, was in charge of officiating the mass in St. George’s Chapel.
The official piper of Queen Elizabeth II played a hymn in honor of the Queen during the Mass. Specifically, a piece from 1947, chosen by the monarch herself before her death.
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The coffin of Elizabeth II was adorned with different flowers, among them lavender and rosemary leaves from the gardens of Balmoral and Windsor castles. Lavender represents freshness, silence and purity. While rosemary is considered a plant that evokes sincerity, fidelity and happiness.
The unforgettable Queen Elizabeth II is buried next to her husband, Philip of Edinburgh, in the chapel of King George VI. The same enclave where her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and her sister, Princess Margaret, are buried.
Buckingham Palace described the funeral as a “deeply personal family occasion”. It was therefore held in the strictest privacy.
It is estimated that the audience of the funeral of Elizabeth II could have surpassed the final of the 1966 World Cup and the funeral farewell of Princess Diana in 1997.
