The World And Britain Bid Farewell To Queen Elizabeth II

At a State Funeral attended by world leaders on Monday, Britain bid goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II before a historically significant final ceremonial procession through somber Londoners.

Massive crowds gathered in almost complete stillness to witness the painstaking transfer of the queen’s flag-draped coffin from Westminster Hall, where it had been lying in state since Wednesday, to a gun carriage.

The gun carriage, which has been used at every state funeral since Queen Victoria’s in 1901, was then dragged to Westminster Abbey by 142 junior enlisted sailors in the Royal Navy to the accompaniment of pipes and drums.

One minute before the 11:00 a.m. service started, the church’s tenor bell tolled 96 times at one-minute intervals, one for each year of her life (1000 GMT).

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby hailed the queen’s life of duty and service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in his eulogy.

In any field, loving service providers are uncommon. Leaders of loving service are still harder to find, he told the 2,000 attendees, who included Japan’s reclusive Emperor Naruhito and US Vice President Joe Biden.

The Anglican leader said, “But in all situations, those who serve will be cherished and remembered,” before leading another procession carrying the body to Windsor Castle, west of London, where she would be laid to rest.

After a year of deteriorating health, the longest-reigning monarch in British history passed away on September 8 at Balmoral, her Scottish Highland home.

Along with his three siblings, her eldest son and heir apparent, King Charles III, accompanied the solemn processions while clothed in ceremonial military garb.

She was my Boss

They were accompanied by Prince William, the eldest son of Charles, Prince Harry, and other senior royals.

Next in line to the throne and William’s two eldest children, George and Charlotte, followed the coffin inside the abbey.

Charles, 73, and Camilla, the Queen Consort, said late Sunday that they had been “very touched” by the outpouring of support from the public.

I just wanted to take this time to say thank you, he remarked, as they prepared to say their final goodbyes.

In order to honor the only monarch that the majority of her citizens have ever known, Britain, a nation that has undergone significant change since the queen was crowned in the same monastery in 1953, has dug deep into centuries of history.

Student Naomi Thompson, 22, camped out amid the throngs at London’s Hyde Park, said, “It’s once in a lifetime.”

It’s a historical moment… She’s everyone’s grandmother, Alice Garret, a 28-year-old engineer, continued.

Since it is a State Funeral others who couldn’t attend the event in London gathered in theaters and churches throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to see it on giant screens.

Jamie Page, an auto engineer and former soldier, 41, stood on Whitehall to watch the funeral procession while displaying his Iraq War service medals.

I made an oath of allegiance to the queen when I was sixteen years old. She served as my boss. She was like a gift from God; she meant everything,” he remarked.

Two minutes Silence

Page, however, said, “Who knows, time will tell” regarding Charles, who is the oldest person yet to succeed to the British throne. The Last Post was played by a bugler to mark the end of the funeral, which was followed by two minutes of silence and the national song with new lyrics, “God Save the King.” The ceremony lasted slightly under an hour.

The coffin was to be driven west to Windsor Castle after an hour-long procession that would pass Buckingham Palace; crowds had been lining the road since early in the morning.

Read Also: Who Was and Was Not Invited to Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral?

Approximately 6,000 military soldiers have been called up to participate in what the highest ranking military official in the United Kingdom has referred to as “our last duty for Her Majesty the Queen.”

The queen will be buried beside her mother, queen Elizabeth, father, and sister, princess Margaret, bringing the “us four” family back together in death.

She will be laid to rest next to her late husband, Prince Philip, who passed away last year at the age of 99.

When Philip’s funeral takes place at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor in April 2021, Elizabeth’s funeral could not be more dissimilar.

Only 30 mourners could attend due to coronavirus restrictions, including the queen, who stood alone in mourning black and a matching facemask.

On Monday, the difference was striking, with the abbey filled with dignitaries and some common British citizens who had received awards for their military or volunteer work, particularly during the Covid pandemic.

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