After the Queen's funeral service at Westminster Abbey the Queen's coffin was taken by procession to Windsor castle. There a more intimate service was held and several special parts of the funeral ceremony took place. Many of the same people who attended the prior service also attended the one at St George's Chapel, Windsor.
The Queen's coffin on the way to St George's Chapel Windsor for the Committal Ceremony.
King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima & Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie.
Margareta Custodian of the Romanian crown and her husband Prince Radu
Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire
Prime Minister of the UK Liz Truss and her husband Hugh O'Leary
Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark. Theodora is the daughter of King Constantin and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece and is a goddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II. She did not attend the Westminster Abbey service.
James Ogilvy, son of the Queen's cousin Princess Alexandra. James is with his wife Julia and behind them are their children Flora and Alexander and Flora's husband Timothy Vesterberg.
The grandchildren of Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth's sister. In the front are the Earl of Snowdon's children Charles Armstrong-Jones Viscount Linley and Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones and behind them Lady Sarah Chatto's children Arthur and Samuel Chatto.
Zara Tindall the Queen's eldest granddaughter and the daughter of Princess Anne arrives with her husband Mike Tindall. Accompanying them are the daughters of Zara's brother Peter, Savannah and Isla Phillips and Zara and Mike's elder daughter Mia Tindall. The Queen's great grandchildren were not at the earlier service in Westminster.
Lady Davina Lewis with her daughter Senna and behind them Lady Rose Gilman, her husband George and her daughter Lyla.
Alexander Windsor Earl of Ulster with his wife, Clare Countess of Ulster, and children Xan Lord Culloden and Lady Cosima.
The youngest grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II, James Viscount Severn and Lady Louise arrive alongside the grandchildren of Princess Alexandra Honourable Lady Ogilvy (the Queen's first cousin) Zenouska and Christian Mowatt (children of the Princess' daughter Marina)
The Queen's last two Corgis also made an appearance. They were given as presents to the Queen by Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice. The Queen accepted them on the condition that when she passed away (she knew the dogs would outlive her) Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice would look after them. In the weeks leading up to the Queen's death they could be seen walking the dogs regularly so they would get used to their new owners.
King Charles III awaiting the arrival of his mother's coffin.
Princess Anne and Prince William walking behind the coffin at Windsor
Carrying the Queen's coffin into St George's Chapel Windsor
Walking behind the Queen's coffin in the procession to St George's Chapel Windsor; The Queen's children King Charles III, Princess Anne the Princess Royal, Prince Andrew Duke of York and Prince Edward Earl of Wessex. The Queen's three oldest grandsons William Prince of Wales, Prince Harry Duke of Sussex and Peter Phillips. The Queen's nephew, son of her sister Princess Margaret, David Armstrong-Jones Earl of Snowdon, the Queen's first cousin Prince Richard Duke of Gloucester and the Queen's son-in-law Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
Walking behind the coffin in St George's chapel King Charles III and Camilla Queen Consort
Sir Timothy Laurence and Prince Andrew Duke of York
Queen Elizabeth's niece Lady Sarah Chatto (daughter of the Queen's sister Princess Margaret) and her husband Daniel Chatto.
Cassius, Eloise and Estella Taylor, grandchildren of Prince Edward Duke of Kent via his daughter Lady Helen Taylor.
Diana Princess of Wales' brother Charles Earl Spencer and his wife Karen Countess Spencer. The Earl is of course the uncle of Prince William and Prince Harry.
Prince Harry Duke of Sussex and Meghan Duchess of Sussex
William Prince of Wales with his wife Catherine Princess of Wales and their two elder children Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
A bit blurry, but Crown Princess Marie-Chantal and Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece with Queen Anne Marie of Greece
As mentioned above not only is the service at St George's Chapel more intimate it also includes several important parts. One of those includes the removal of the orb,, crown and sceptre from the top of the Queen's coffin. This symbolises the end of her reign and the separation of the Queen from the crown.
Removing the sceptre
Removing the orb
Removing the Crown
The next time we will see these items will be at the ascension ceremony of King Charles III, which will be at some point in 2023.
After the removal of the above objects is the 'Breaking of the Wand' ceremony. In this section the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Andrew Parker breaks what is known as the 'Wand of Office.' The Lord Chamberlain is the most senior position in the royal household. The breaking of the wand symbolises the end of the Lord Chamberlain's service. Eventually King Charles III will appoint his own Lord Chamberlain. The wand will later be buried with the Queen.
The coffin is then lowered into the royal vault where she was buried in a private ceremony with just her family. The Queen is buried alongside her family whom she was so close, her parents King George VI, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and of course her beloved husband Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh.
That concluded the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
I just want to say a big thank you to everyone for following my coverage and sticking with me through the many, many posts. xoxo
