Royal Family’s faces at Queen’s majestic funeral mirrored the sorrow felt across mourning nation
THE Royal Family united a nation in mourning yesterday at a majestic funeral service befitting the Queen’s unrivalled 70-year reign.
Their faces mirrored the sorrow felt across the country and globe at the passing of Britain’s longest-serving monarch.
King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla, the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex all struggled to keep their emotions in check at Westminster Abbey — where Her Majesty had previously been married and crowned.
Mourners, many adorned with medals, were joined by scores of world leaders all clutching their orders of service.
The Abbey’s choir fell silent and a hush descended over the 2,000-strong congregation as the Queen’s coffin began its short procession from Westminster Hall on the State Gun Carriage, hauled by Royal Navy sailors.
The sound of 200 pipers and drummers accompanying the cortège got closer and the last of 96 tolls from the Abbey’s Tenor Bell — each one marking a year of her life — sounded as the English oak coffin reached the west entrance.
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As it was carried inside the historic building, the Queen Consort curtseyed and the coffin was then followed by the family.
Sitting on top of the coffin, the Imperial State Crown reflected the abbey’s candlelights and glittered bright purple, red and green.
The pallbearers carried the casket to its catafalque in blue adorned with gold tassels — last used for the Queen Mother.
King Charles III took his place in a red chair — so often occupied in the past by the Queen — with the Queen Consort to his left.
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The Princess Royal and her husband Sir Tim Laurence shared the front row with the Duke of York — not allowed to wear his military uniform after being stripped of his titles by his mother — and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
Prince Harry, also not in military uniform, and wife Meghan — dressed in a black cape dress and wearing a wide-brimmed hat — were placed directly behind the new King and Queen Consort.
It was a far cry from the status the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were handed when they were relegated to back-seat royals at the Queen’s thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral three months ago.
Across the aisle, the new Prince and Princess of Wales shared the front row with their children George, nine, Charlotte, seven, the Queen’s eldest grandson Peter Phillips, 44, his sister Zara and her rugby hero husband Mike Tindall.
Present to so many
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, who missed the funeral of Prince Philip 17 months ago, sat in the second row.
Sources close to the King say the seating plan was agreed by age order and attempts were made not to split up family groups.
Witnessing the grand state funeral were leaders from across Her Majesty’s beloved Commonwealth, along with US president Joe Biden, France’s president Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, New Zealand’s PM Jacinda Ardern and Anthony Albanese of Australia.
Foreign royals, politicians, NHS heroes and holders of the George and Victoria Cross joined them in the 13th-century church.
Former Prime Ministers who served the Queen sat in the Quire to pay their respects.
The funeral service made special mentions to the Queen’s love and loyalty to her realms and Commonwealth. Baroness Scotland, the Commonwealth’s Secretary-General, was granted a reading along with new PM Liz Truss.
As emotions ran high, the Queen’s youngest son Prince Edward was handed a tissue by wife Sophie to wipe away a tear.
The King at times looked like he was struggling to contain his grief but remained steadfast and focused throughout.
The hour-long funeral adhered to the Queen’s strongly held Christian beliefs and, in a gentle nod to her dear late husband Prince Philip, the congregation sang The Lord Is My Shepherd, which was featured at their wedding in 1947.
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said: “Her Late Majesty famously declared in a 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated to serving Nation and Commonwealth. Rarely has such a promise been so well kept. Few leaders receive the outpouring of love we have seen.”
He added: "The grief of this day — felt not only by the late Queen’s family but all around the nation, Commonwealth and world — arises from her abundant life and loving service, now gone from us. She was joyful, present to so many, touching a multitude of lives.”
Her Late Majesty famously declared in a 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated to serving Nation and Commonwealth. Rarely has such a promise been so well kept.
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury,
The Archbishop referred fondly to the Queen’s Covid-19 address when she told a locked-down nation: “We will meet again.” He said: “We can all share the Queen’s hope which in life and death inspired her servant leadership.
“Service in life, hope in death. All those who follow the Queen’s example, and inspiration of trust and faith in God, can with her say, ‘We will meet again.’ ”
In his bidding, The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster, said of the Queen: “With gratitude we remember her unswerving commitment to a high calling over so many years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth.
“With admiration we recall her lifelong sense of duty and dedication to her people.
“With thanksgiving we praise God for her constant example of Christian faith and devotion. With affection we recall her love for her family and her commitment to the causes she held dear.”
The procession took its slow, sombre walk
Among the mourners were those close to the Queen including Lady Susan Hussey and Dame Mary Morrison, two of her Ladies-in-Waiting, and her closest confidante Angela Kelly.
Some of the Queen’s godchildren were also there including Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer.
Global royalty that travelled to the UK for the state funeral including the Danes, Dutch, Spanish and Japanese.
Around 100 heads of state were in the Abbey — thought to be one of the biggest gatherings of leaders in years.
President Biden and First Lady Jill sat in the 14th row in the north transept. Emmanuel Macron sat with his wife Brigitte.
A two-minute silence was honoured by an awestruck congregation inside the Abbey as it was around the country.
Everyone stood to belt out a rousing rendition of the first two verses of God Save The King.
A lone piper played a lament before the organ struck up once more to accompany the sorrowful King as he led his family in procession behind the casket to the exit.
As the procession took its slow, sombre walk into The Sanctuary outside the sun briefly emerged — in contrast to the grey skies when the coffin entered an hour earlier.
While waiting for the cars to take the family back to Windsor Castle for the Committal service, and the Princess of Wales consoled her daughter.
The Abbey’s bells were rung fully muffled — as is the tradition following a royal funeral — as the procession left on its way to Wellington Arch on the next stage of Her Majesty’s final journey.
Thousands lined the streets as the procession continued past Buckingham Palace and loyal Royal Household staff.
The pallbearers who carried the Queen’s coffin for a total of 34 minutes throughout the day were hailed as the unsung heroes for their composed efforts.
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The eight soldiers handpicked from the elite Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, won the nation’s praise by not putting a foot wrong.
Their longest lift was ten minutes spent bringing it into Westminster Abbey and another ten minutes returning it to the gun carriage.
