POIGNANT PASS

Queen’s coffin passes Buckingham Palace in moving farewell on final journey before being laid to rest

THE Queen's coffin today poignantly passed Buckingham Palace on its final journey through streets lined with thousands of mourners. 

Her Majesty was then laid to rest at the end of the emotional day that saw her son King Charles lead a touching service at Westminster Abbey in front of 2,000 mourners.

An emotional-looking King views his mother's coffin at Westminster AbbeyCredit: Reuters
The Band of the Royal Marines passes by Buckingham Palace in the sombre processionCredit: Getty
The royals moments before saluting the coffin outside the abbeyCredit: Reuters

The Queen, who passed away peacefully at 96, was reunited with her husband Prince Philip after a committal service at St George's Chapel.

But the day began this morning when huge crowds of well-wishers gathered outside Westminster Abbey for the Queen's state funeral.


It comes as...


In moving scenes, her coffin was taken into the abbey in a procession led by Charles and his siblings Andrew, Edward and Anne.

The march also saw Princes William and Harry put aside their differences after months of rumoured feuds - with the brothers standing side-by-side as they followed their grandmother.

William, who is now next in line to the throne, comforted his wife Kate and two eldest children, Prince George, nine, and Charlotte, seven.

The kids wore black as they joined the Royal Family and leaders from across the globe to pay their respects to the Queen - who they sweetly knew as "Gan Gan".

Outside, thousands of mourners waited to be a part of the historic event that saw the monarch holding back tears.

Many caught a last glimpse of the Queen's coffin as it was carried to Wellington Arch via a procession of seven groups, each with a military band, past Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, The Mall, Buckingham Palace and Constitution Hill.

Most read in The Sun

CHRISTMAS HORROR
Dad killed in his own home on Christmas Day named as women, 33, arrested
STAR DIES
Welsh rugby legend dies aged 73 after battle with Motor Neurone disease
HORROR INJURY
West Ham keeper Fabianski stretchered off in worrying scenes
CHRISTMAS CRASH
Woman killed in horror Xmas Day crash with major road forced to close

One thousand armed forces from the UK and Commonwealth lined the mile-long route, British Legion standard bearers flanked the Cenotaph and King’s Life Guards turned out on Horse Guards Parade.

As the casket was taken along the route in front of her old home Buckingham Palace, well-wishers spontaneously erupted into rounds of applause and shouts of "hip, hip hooray".

Once the Royal Family arrived at Wellington Arch, the bearer party lifted the coffin from the State Gun Carriage into the glass-backed State Hearse, which Her Majesty helped design.

Bands of the Scots and Grenadier Guards played a medley of the Queen’s favourites, including Jerusalem and I Vow To Thee My Country.

As the hearse left the monument for Windsor, the parade gave a Royal Salute, led by the King, and National Anthem played out.

Prince William and the King preparing to enter the church for the Queen's funeralCredit: Reuters
Members of the Royal Family and military salute as the hearse drove off to Windsor from Wellington ArchCredit: Reuters
Members of the Royal Family follow the Queen's coffin on its final journey to the church
Royal Navy sailors take the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II to Westminster AbbeyCredit: AFP
The Queen's four children say goodbye to by their mother at Westminster AbbeyCredit: AFP
A sombre procession as Her Majesty's coffin is taken on its final journey along the MallCredit: AP
The Duke of Sussex, Queen Consort Camilla, Princess of Wales, Prince George and Charlotte at WestminsterCredit: Reuters

The King, the Queen Consort, the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with other Royal Family members, made their way to Windsor car, on the M4.

Thousands of mourners packed all available space along the A4, A30 and A308 to see the State Hearse make the 25-mile journey.

The coffin then arrived at Windsor Great Park where tens of thousands of people said their final farewells.

At the head of the procession, the hearse travelled up the Long Walk, through Cambridge Gate and George IV Gate to the Quadrangle.

It was then taken to St George's Chapel, where a televised committal service was aired from 4pm.

Some 800 mourners filed into the gothic chapel - where the Queen stood little more than a year ago to bury her husband.

The service was conducted by the Dean of Windsor, with prayers said by the Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park.

Following the penultimate hymn, the imperial state crown, the orb and the sceptre were moved from the Queen's coffin to the altar.

The King then draped the Queen's Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin before the Lord Chamberlain broke his Wand of Office, marking the end of his service to the sovereign.

As the service finished, the royals filed out, with Her Majesty to be privately buried tonight.

The funeral procession marches down The Mall following the service at Westminster AbbeyCredit: Reuters
Emotional members of the royal family follow Her Majesty's coffin at Westminster AbbeyCredit: PA
The coffin is carried by the Bearer Party into the churchCredit: Getty
An emotional looking Prince Harry with his eyes closed as the world pays homage to his grandmotherCredit: AP
Sophie Wessex dabs her eyes
The King, Queen Consort, Princess Anne and her husband as a hymn is sung
An aerial view of the Abbey
Meghan Markle arrives at the service, accompanied by Prince Harry
Mourners watch as the Queen is carried through Westminster Abbey
King Charles and his siblings at the funeral of the QueenCredit: Reuters
Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a reading during the state funeralCredit: Getty
Princes William and Harry following a gun carriage carrying the coffin of their grandmotherCredit: AP
The King and Queen Consort Camilla arrive to take their seatsCredit: AFP
The coffin, draped in the Royal Standard, with the Imperial State Crown resting on topCredit: Getty
The Duke of Sussex standing with his family as they salute during the funeralCredit: Reuters
Mourners gathered inside Westminster Abbey for the Queen's state funeralCredit: Getty
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive at Westminster AbbeyCredit: PA
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron walking into the AbbeyCredit: AFP
A previously unseen portrait of the Queen released the day before the funeral, taken in MayCredit: PA
Queues of people form along The Mall ahead of the state funeralCredit: Getty
Members of the public queue through the night to see Her Majesty lying in stateCredit: PA

All you need to know after Queen Elizabeth II dies aged 96

THE nation is in mourning after beloved Queen Elizabeth dies aged 96 - here is all you need to know about Her Majesty's glorious life and what's next.

Topics
You might like
machibet777.com