Look: Queen Elizabeth's coffin reaches Windsor, her final resting place

Thousands poured into London's streets today to witness the procession and funeral in a fitting tribute to Britain's longest-serving monarch

By Reuters

Published: Mon 19 Sep 2022, 6:51 PM

Last updated: Mon 19 Sep 2022, 10:43 PM

Queen Elizabeth's coffin arrived at Windsor Castle, her final resting place, on Monday after a day of pageantry that drew world leaders, along wih hundreds of thousands of well-wishers, to her funeral – all wanting to say farewell to the revered monarch.

People lined the route her hearse took from London, throwing flowers, cheering and clapping as it passed from the city to England's countryside that she so loved through her life.

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Thousands more had crammed into the capital to witness the procession and funeral, in a fitting tribute to Britain's longest-serving monarch who won global respect during her 70 years on the throne.

Inside the majestic Westminster Abbey where the funeral was held, approximately 500 presidents, prime ministers, foreign royal families and dignitaries – including President Joe Biden of the United States – were among the 2,000 congregation.

Music that played at the queen's wedding in 1947, and her coronation six years later, rang out once again. The coffin entered to lines of scripture set to a score used at every state funeral since the early 18th century.

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, told those present that the grief felt by so many across Britain and the wider world reflected the late monarch's "abundant life and loving service".

"Her late majesty famously declared on her 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the nation and Commonwealth," he said.

"Rarely has such a promise been so well kept. Few leaders receive the outpouring of love that we have seen."

After the funeral, her flag-draped casket was pulled by sailors through London's streets on a gun carriage, in one of the largest military processions seen in Britain involving thousands of members of the armed forces dressed in ceremonial finery.

They walked in step to funeral music from marching bands, while in the background the city's famous Big Ben tolled each minute. King Charles and other senior royals followed on foot.

The casket was taken from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch and transferred to a hearse to travel to Windsor, where more big crowds waited patiently. There, the queen was to be laid to rest alongside her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip.

Millions more watched on television at home on a public holiday declared for the occasion – the first time the funeral of a British monarch has been televised.

'Invincible'

Elizabeth died on September 8 at Balmoral Castle, her summer home in the Scottish highlands.

Her health had been in decline, and for months the monarch – who had carried out hundreds of official engagements well into her 90s – had withdrawn from public life.

However, in line with her sense of duty, she was photographed just two days before she died, looking frail but smiling and holding a walking stick as she appointed Liz Truss as her 15th and final prime minister.

Her own family found her passing a shock; "we all thought she was invincible," Prince William had told well-wishers.

The 40th sovereign in a line that traces its lineage back to 1066, Elizabeth came to the throne in 1952, becoming Britain's first post-imperial monarch.

Despite being reputedly 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall, she dominated rooms with her presence and became a towering global figure, praised in death from Paris and Washington to Moscow and Beijing. National mourning was observed in Brazil, Jordan and Cuba, countries with which she had little direct link.

In addition to dignitaries, the congregation included those awarded Britain's highest military and civilian medals for gallantry, representatives from charities supported by the queen and those who made "extraordinary contributions" to dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Towards the end of the service, the church and much of the nation fell silent for two minutes. Trumpets rang out before the congregation sang "God Save the King". Outside, crowds joined in and broke into applause when the anthem was over.

The queen's piper brought the service to an end with a lament that faded to silence.

Afterwards, the coffin made its way through central London, past the queen's Buckingham Palace home to the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner, with the monarch and the royal family following on foot during the 1.5 mile (2.4 km) procession.

From there, it was placed on a hearse to Windsor Castle, west of London, for a service at St. George's Chapel. This will conclude with the crown, orb and sceptre – symbols of the monarch's power and governance – being removed from the coffin and placed on the altar.

The Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the royal household, will break his 'Wand of Office', signifying the end of his service to the sovereign, and place it on the casket.

It will then be lowered into the royal vault.

Later in the evening, in a private family service, the coffin of Elizabeth and her husband of more than seven decades, Prince Philip – who died last year aged 99 – will be buried together at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, where her parents and sister, Princess Margaret, also rest.

"We're so happy you're back with Grandpa. Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters, and we're so very proud of you," grandchildren Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie said.

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