Queen Elizabeth's State Funeral Held at Westminster Abbey in London
Britain's Queen Elizabeth's coffin is carried as Britain's King Charles III, Camilla, the Queen Consort and Princess Anne follow, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, at Westminster Abbey, in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
A state funeral has been held at London’s Westminster Abbey for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II — a somber ceremony filled with pageantry and steeped in tradition and ritual.
Presidents, prime ministers, royals and other dignitaries gathered Monday to say a final goodbye to Britain's longest-serving monarch. They included U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden. Elizabeth reigned for 70 years and died in Scotland September 8. Elizabeth’s death at the age of 96 comes months after Britain celebrated her Platinum Jubilee.
In Photos: Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
1/37King Charles II, left, watches as The Lord Chamberlain Baron Parker breaks his Wand of Office, marking the end of his service to the sovereign, during the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in Windsor, Sept. 19, 2022.
2/37King Charles III places the Queen's Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin at the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II, held at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, Sept. 19, 2022.
3/37The Imperial State Crown is removed from the coffin during the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth at St. George's Chapel, at Windsor Castle, Sept. 19, 2022.
4/37The Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II is held in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, Sept. 19, 2022.
5/37Pall bearers carry the coffin of Queen Elizabeth with the Imperial State Crown resting on top into St. George's Chapel, in Windsor, Sept. 19, 2022, for the Committal Service for her.
6/37The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried into St. George's Chapel for her funeral at Windsor Castle, Sept. 19, 2022.
7/37Emma, the monarch's fell pony, watches the Ceremonial Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service at St. George's Chapel, Sept. 19, 2022.
8/37The Ceremonial Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth travels down the Long Walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service at St. George's Chapel, Sept. 19, 2022.
9/37The hears transporting the coffin of Queen Elizabeth drives along Albert Road in Windsor, Sept. 19, 2022.
10/37The royal corgis Sandy and Mick await the cortege on the day of the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, Sept. 19, 2022.
11/37Carole Middleton, right, and Michael Middleton (second right) look at floral wreaths ahead of the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II in St. George's Chapel inside Windsor Castle, Sept.19, 2022.
12/37Members of the British royal family and members of the military stand as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried to a hearse to be taken from Wellington Arch in London to Windsor Castle on the day of her state funeral and burial, Sept. 19, 2022.
13/37The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is transported in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
14/37A member of the crowd on The Mall wipes her tears during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
15/37Front from left: Beatrix of the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands; second row center from left: Queen Silvia of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden; and, in the third row, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark depart, after the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, at West Westminster Abbey, in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
16/37People observe the minute of silence on the day of the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth, in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
17/37Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Forfar, wipes away her tears as she is driven away from the Queen's funeral service this afternoon in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
18/37The coffin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth is carried out of Westminster Abbey after a service on the day of her state funeral and burial, in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
19/37Back to front: Britain's King Charles III, front left, Camilla, Queen Consort, Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince William, Prince George Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex walk behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as they leave Westminster Abbey in central London, Sept. 19, 2022.
20/37A piper plays during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
21/37The funeral service of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in central London, Sept. 19, 2022.
22/37The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, is placed in Westminster Abbey in central London, for the funeral service, Sept. 19, 2022.
23/37The coffin is placed near the altar at the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth, held at Westminster Abbey in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
24/37King Charles, the Queen Consort and senior royal family members are seen in front of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth during her State Funeral at Westminster Abbey in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
25/37World leaders pay their respects as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth is being carried into Westminster Abbey for her funeral in central London, Sept. 19, 2022.
26/37The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is carried into Westminster Abbey ahead of her State Funeral, in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
27/37The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is carried into the Westminster Abbey during her funeral in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
28/37Spain's King Felipe VI, front right, and Queen Letizia, front left, walk with Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde following during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in central London, Sept. 19, 2022.
29/37U.S. President Joe Biden, center, and First Lady Jill Biden arrive for the funeral service of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in central London, Sept. 19, 2022.
30/37Members of the royal family (left to right, from front) Arthur Chatto and Daniel Chatto, Mike Tindall and Zara Tindall, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn arriving at the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth, held at Westminster Abbey, London, Sept. 19, 2022.
31/37Members of the armed forces march during the funeral procession for Queen Elizabeth II in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
32/37Kate, Princess of Wales, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive at the Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth, in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
33/37The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is carried into Westminster Abbey for her funeral in central London, Sept. 19, 2022.
34/37The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is brought to Westminster Abbey for her funeral in central London, Sept. 19, 2022.
35/37Britain's King Charles, Britain's Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Prince Harry and Peter Phillips attend the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, at Parliament Square in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
36/37Buckingham Palace household staff pay their respects during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth, Sept. 19, 2022 in London.
37/37The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is loaded on to a gun carriage pulled by Royal Navy soldiers to go from Westminster Hall for her funeral service in Westminster Abbey in central London, Sept. 19, 2022.
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Ahead of Monday’s hour-long service, a gun carriage of the Royal Navy transported Elizabeth’s coffin the short distance from Westminster Hall, where she had been lying in state since last week and where thousands had paid their respects after standing for hours in lines that stretched for several kilometers. On Monday, people lined the streets outside the abbey to witness the historic occasion.
Some members of her family walked in the procession toward Westminster Abbey, including new King Charles III, his three siblings and two sons, William, Prince of Wales, and Harry, Duke of Sussex. They joined other family members inside for the service.
Adorning the coffin were the royal standard, the bejeweled Imperial State Crown atop a purple velvet cushion, a gold orb and scepter and a large floral arrangement.
“Few leaders receive the outpouring of love that we have seen,” Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said about the affection that so many people have shown for Queen Elizabeth. In his sermon Monday, the archbishop recalled the queen’s decades of service to Britain, the Commonwealth and the world. He said the queen’s service to so many people had its foundation in God himself.
The dean of Westminster, David Hoyle, presided over the funeral. He too recalled the queen’s decades of service, noting her “unswerving commitment to a high calling over so many years as queen and head of the Commonwealth.” He also noted Westminster Abbey was the site of Elizabeth’s wedding to Prince Philip in 1947 and her coronation in 1953.
Prime Minister Liz Truss, who was appointed to her office by the queen just two days before the monarch died, read a lesson during the service that was attended by about two thousand people, including some public servants.
Two of the queen’s great-grandchildren, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were allowed to attend the funeral. They are two of the three children of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales. George is now second in line to the throne.
Two minutes of silence followed the funeral. Later, as Big Ben tolled, King Charles III and other members of the British royal family accompanied Elizabeth’s coffin to Wellington Arch, Elizabeth’s last stop before her committal service in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
During that service, the scepter, orb and crown were removed from the top of the coffin and set on separate purple cushions. Toward the end of the ceremony, a “wand of office” was broken by the Lord Chamberlain, a member of the royal household, and placed atop the coffin. The symbolic breaking of the stick means his service to the queen is over. Before the coffin was lowered into the royal vault, Charles placed a small flag, known as the Queen's Company Camp Color, on it. Separately, the sound of a bagpipe filled the air as the queen’s piper, standing alone, played a lament.
King Charles appeared emotional as congregants sang the national anthem.
The committal service took place ahead of a private ceremony Monday evening.
Britain’s last state funeral was held almost 60 years ago for Winston Churchill, the prime minister who led the nation to a World War II victory.
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