Tuesday 20 September 2022 01:56 AM Striking images seen by billions capture the pitch-perfect farewell we gave to ... trends now
Shedding a tear for himself and the nation, King Charles III performed a final act of honour for his mother last night.
He placed the banner of the Queen’s Company of the Grenadier Guards on her oak coffin before it was lowered into the royal vault.
As the Queen sank gently into the depths of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, giving millions of watching mourners a lump in their throats, it brought to a close a mesmerising 11 days of public mourning.
Queen Elizabeth II is now reunited with her ‘strength and stay’ – her beloved husband Prince Philip – and with her parents and her sister Princess Margaret in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor after her coffin was interred overnight in an intimate private ceremony.
Her crown, orb and sceptre were earlier removed from her coffin so she could descend into her grave in the royal crypt as a ‘simple Christian soul’.
An estimated 4.1billion people worldwide watched yesterday morning as kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers joined millions of mourners in London for her historic State Funeral at Westminster Abbey.
More than 4,000 servicemen and women along with some of the Queen’s most loyal subjects put on a display of pomp and majesty like never seen before as her coffin was borne through London.
Pall bearers have been praised for their efforts as they carry the Queen's coffin up the steep steps of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle
Charles was holding back the tears as he walked solemnly behind his mother's coffin draped in its Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown on top
Westminster Abbey played a pivotal role in the Queen's life. It was where she had her coronation and married Prince Philip before world leaders congregated for her funeral there yesterday
The Queen's coffin was taken along The Mall in a procession during what was one of the largest international events ever seen
Shedding a tear, King Charles placed the banner of the Queen’s Company of the Grenadier Guards on her oak coffin before it was lowered into the royal vault
King Charles placed the banner on the Queen's coffin while Prince William and Prince George watch on from one side while the Wessexes watch on from the other
The Queen's coffin is carried in by pall bearers past the choir boys before it is lowered into the ground and seen by the public for the final time
The emotional King looks towards his mother's coffin, surrounded by his sister the Princess Royal and his two brothers Prince Andrew and the Earl of Wessex
The Queen's coffin draped in the Royal Standard and adorned with the Imperial State Crown and sovereign's orb and sceptre
Liz Truss was seen with her husband Hugh O'Leary as well as Kwasi Kwarteng and Therese Coffey who were stood behind former Prime Minister's and their wives including David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, John Major and Boris Johnson
Mourners who lined the route from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch and then on to Windsor 25 miles away covered the state hearse in flowers as it passed.
In historic scenes in a separate ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Queen Elizabeth II’s incredible 70-year reign came to an end with the symbolic ‘breaking of the wand’, a moving ceremony in which the Lord Chamberlain – her highest ranking official – took apart his wand of office. It will also be buried with her.
After nearly two tumultuous weeks of high emotion, a mournful King Charles, 73, looked exhausted as he led the nation and the world’s farewell to his ‘Mama’.
The Royal Family stood at the end of the short committal service as the Queen was slowly lowered while the Dean of Windsor said: ‘Go forth upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul.’
St George’s Chapel then sang God Save the King.
The striking moment that the coffin of the Queen was lowered into the Royal Vault at St George's Chapel, Windsor
The Bearer Party of The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards carried the Queen's coffin in Westminster Abbey as the emotional Royal Family watch on
As the solemn King departed London's iconic Wellington Arch following his mother's funeral he wound down his window and saluted
The Queen's coffin is followed by the King and Queen Consort with other members of the Royal Family behind them as the congregation stands
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby gave a reading during the Queen's State Funeral at Westminster Abbey
The ceremonial procession of the Queen's coffin on its way from London to Windsor where members of the public of all ages flocked to watch the scenes
The Prince of Wales and his brother Prince Harry can be seen in the background of the Royal Navy carrying their grandmother's coffin to Westminster Abbey
The Royal Family look on as the Queen's coffin arrives at the iconic Wellington Arch where thousands gathered to watch the procession
The Queen's pets played a pivotal role on the day with her fell pony, Emma, standing along the ceremonial precision on the Long Walk
The Queen's corgis, Muick and Sandy, were also brought out by royal aides to see the Queen's coffin arrive in Windsor
On an extraordinary day of ceremony and emotion:
The Queen’s great-grandchildren, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte made a surprise appearance at her funeral; The Duchess of Sussex appeared to wipe away a tear as the coffin was taken from Westminster Abbey; More than a million people were thought to have travelled to central London to be part of the commemorations for the Queen; Scotland Yard’s new commissioner, Sir Mark
