Monday the 19th of September: a state funeral for the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who reigned for 70 years, 214 days. A congregation of 2,000 gathered in Westminster Abbey for the state service which began just before 11a.m and publicly finished at Winsdor Castle at 5 p.m. A private, intimate burial took place this evening at the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor.
The Day’s Events
Before the State Service
The day began at 6:30 a.m as the last public visit to the Queen’s coffin, lying in state at Westminster Hall, happened. Since her journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, the Queen’s coffin has been open to the public. Most people have queued to pay their respects for over 15 hours. The Hall was open all hours of the day and yet still visitors had to be turned away due to numbers.
Westminster Abbey opened ahead of the 11 a.m service start for the congregation to arrive. Amongst the congregation were Heads of State from all over the world, especially the commonwealth, and 200 people from the Queen’s Birthday Honours list recognized for their work such as in the community or within charities.
The Queen’s coffin was carried from Westminster hall to Westminster Abbey on the State Gun Carriage just before 11 a.m.
Westminster Abbey State Service
On arrival at the Abbey, 8 coffin bearers carried the Queen. The soldiers were from the Queen’s Company and were chosen to lift the coffin during the service at Westminster Abbey and later at Windsor.
Senior members of the royal family, inlcuding King Charles III, the two future heirs to the throne Princes William and son George and the Queen’s daugher Princess Royal Anne all followed the coffin in procession.
The service began at 11.am with the Queen’s coffin being carried into Westminster Abbey through the nave, past the choir, and up to the high altar. The service was conducted by David Hoyle, the Dean of Westminster. New Prime Minister Liz Truss read a lesson.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby led the sermon which was rooted within traditional Christian morals.. He said, “the pattern for many leaders is to be exalted in life and forgotten after death. The pattern for all who serve God… is that death is the door to glory”. He finished his sermon with a powerful and moving statement “we will meet again.”
At 11:55 the Last Post, a short military fanfare, sounded and a 2-minute national silence followed. Following this, the National Anthem was sung to end the service just after midday.
Westminster to Windsor
The Queen’s coffin was drawn in a walking procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch. Thousands of people lined the streets to catch a glimpse and say farewell to the longest reigning monarch. The King led the procession. The coffin was then lowered into a Jaguar finished in Royal Claret color before being driven to Windsor Castle.
At Windsor, a committal service took place within St George’s Palace. This was a smaller service and the congregation included many of the Royal Household the Queen’s personal staff. David Conner, the Dean of Windsor took the service.
After this, public coverage was over. An intimate, private burial took place at the King George VI Memorial Chapel. The Queen will be buried with her late husband Prince Philip who died in 2021.
“His Majesty the King and the Royal Family wish to send their sincere gratitude for the messages of condolence recieved from around the world. The Royal Family has been deeply moved by the global response and affection shown for The Queen as people join them in mourning the loss of Her Majesty.”
A Royal Statement on the State Funeral.
Facts and Statistics from the Day
- The Queen’s funeral is the first State funeral since Winston Churchill’s
- The State service had 2,000 people in the congregation at Westminster Abbey- made up of the Royal Family, world leaders, and 200 named individuals in the Queen’s honors list from June.
- 800 people made up the congregation in the committal service
- The Queen’s coffin was topped with the Royal Standard as well as the Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre and a flower/ foliage wreath picked by King Charles III himself.
- The Coffin had a note on top reading “In Loving and Devoted Memory, Charles R”
- Two of the Queen’s corgis were waiting at Windsor for her arrival
- The Queen’s personal horse/pony Emma stood on the right of the procession away from the crowd to pay its respects to its former rider.
11 days after Her Majesty The Queen Passes Away, the Royal Family accompanied by the eyes of the nation get the chance to lay to rest Queen Elizabeth II. Mother, Grandmother and Monarch to us all.
