It was an emotional day for the UK, Realms, Commonwealth, and many more around the Globe. The Late Queen, Elizabeth II’s Coffin was handed over to the state by The Royal Family in a glorious procession from Buckingham Palace to The Palace of Westminster, where Her Late Majesty will be lying-in State Until Monday morning.
The Royal Family received the Coffin of their late head of the family privately last night at Buckingham Palace when it traveled from Scotland via RAF Aircraft. The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral Castle on September 08, 2022. Since then we have been living the days that would be written down in British History.
We all have also been witnessing the family members’ very public grieving. The newly proclaimed King Charles did not get the time to sit back and reflect on the loss of his biggest champion while his siblings, sons, and relatives have been out supporting him and the nation while grieving. Princess Anne has always been one of the strongest members of the family and she proved it once again. She had remained a constant and last companion of her mother since her death and traveled with her from Balmoral to Edinburgh to London on her final journey.
Last night was the Family’s only chance to spend some time with The Queen before passing her on to the state today hence the receiving of the coffin was a private moment away from public and media eyes. The members of the family also spent some time together in the grief and it was reported that they had dinner together.
At precisely 2.22 pm, The Royal Family formed a procession behind the late Monarch’s Coffin borne on a Gun Carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and departed Buckingham Palace. The procession traveled down the Mall to Horse Guards Road, across Horse Guards Parade, and onto Whitehall to Parliament Square and to The Palace of Westminster.
The King, The Princess Royal, The Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Sussex, Mr. Peter Phillips, The Earl of Snowdon, The Duke of Gloucester, and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence processed behind the coffin during the 45-minutes journey from The Queen’s official residence to her Parliament where she had been a regular visitors in the last 70 years. Joining the Royals in the small and personal procession were The Queen’s closest personal staff and the new King’s household.
The Late Queen’s coffin was draped with the Royal Standard.
And the Imperial State Crown was placed on a velvet cushion and a Wreath of Flowers, which included White Roses, Spray White Roses, White Dahlias, A selection of foliage (including pine from the gardens at Balmoral and pittosporum, lavender and rosemary from the gardens at Windsor).
The Bearer Party was founded by The Queen’s Company 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
The Ten Pall Bearers were Service Equerries to The Queen, both serving and former. The procession coincided with Minute Guns fired from Hyde Park by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and Big Ben tolled at one-minute intervals.
While the day was one of the saddest days of National history, it was also the day of glorious pomp and pageantry bidding adieu to the beloved Queen.
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The Queen Consort, The Princess of Wales, The Countess of Wessex, and other Royal members traveled to Westminster Palace separately.
At the Palace of Westminster, The Archbishop of Canterbury conducted a short service assisted by The Very Reverend Dr. David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster. It was a very emotional moment. London fell silent during the procession and service.
The service was attended by the Extended Royal Family. The Queen’s youngest Grandchildren were extremely close to her and used to spend the most time with her these days.
Rodrigo on Twitter has a very detailed thread about the family members who attended the service.
🧵 | The King’s Family today at Westminster Hall.
1st row: Mr Mike Tindall, Mrs Zara Tindall, Princess Eugenie, Mr Jack Brooksbank, Mr Edo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Beatrice, James Viscount Severn and The Lady Louise Windsor.
2nd row: Miss Zenouska Mowatt, Mr Alexander Ogilvy, pic.twitter.com/EnmXAge7Mo
— Rodrigo (@The_QVDS) September 14, 2022
Exclusive: Lady Gabriella Kingston (neé Windsor) was present today at Westminster Hall, but didn’t appear in my thread today because she hadn’t been photographed during the service, just leaving. The reason: Lady Ella was very emotional, and cried a lot during the service. ⬇️
— Rodrigo (@The_QVDS) September 14, 2022
After a 20-minute-long service, The Royal family departed and the preparations for public respect were started.
The lying-in State will last until Monday morning. During the Lying-in-State, members of the public will have the opportunity to visit Westminster Hall to pay their respects to The Queen. On the morning of Monday 19th September, the Lying-in-State will end and the Coffin will be taken in Procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, where the State Funeral Service will take place. The Government released the details of State lying-in
Once inside the Palace of Westminster, people will be able to walk past the Coffin which will be raised on a catafalque and draped in the Royal Standard, with the Orb and Sceptre placed on top. It will be guarded around the clock by a vigil of units from the Sovereign’s Bodyguard, the Household Division or Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London.The BBC’s red button service will provide a live feed from Westminster Hall and ITV and Sky will be running extensive coverage. An online book of condolence is available for people to add personal messages.The Lying-in-State opens to the public at 5pm on Wednesday, 14 September. It will be open 24 hours a day until it closes at 6.30am on Monday, 19 September. The queue will close early to ensure as many visitors as possible can enter the Palace before the Lying-in-State period comes to an end, and any decision to close the queue will be communicated widely via government social media channels.
The Vigils will be mounted by officers of the Household Division, the King’s Body Guards of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, The King’s Bodyguard for Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers, and The King’s Bodyguard The Yeomen of the Guard during the lying-in State. The King and his siblings will also mount the vigil before the funeral.
I understand this is not the time and day to talk about style and fashion but a note on the lovely tribute paid by The Princess of Wales. Princess Catherine was wearing a black Catherine Walker coat with Jane Taylor Pillbox Halo Coat that she teamed up with The Queen’s Diamond and Pearl Leaf Brooch and Princess Diana’s Collingwood Pearl and Diamond Earrings and Gianvito Rossi’s ‘Gianvito 105’ Black pumps.
