Committal service in castle chapel before late monarch laid to rest

THE Royal Family gathered at Windsor Castle for the Queen’s committal service after the nation said farewell to the late monarch.

The Queen’s long journey to her final resting place – and to be reunited with the Duke of Edinburgh – began in Balmoral on the day of her death and ended with her interment at the castle’s St George’s Chapel.

As the hearse, with flowers strewn across its roof and windscreen, arrived at the outskirts of Windsor, a procession was formed featuring soldiers on foot from the Household Cavalry’s Blues and Royals and Life Guards with mounted members of the Household Cavalry regiment.

In a touching gesture, the late Queen’s two faithful friends, her corgis Muick and Sandy, made an appearance as the coffin arrived at the castle. The Long Walk in the grounds was filled with mourners eager to pay their respects to their Queen, who was a staple of Windsor and was in turn loved and respected by the town.

As a piper played, many in the crowd became tearful. Among them was Dianne Turner, who had travelled from Somerset.

She said: “I’m here because she was such an incredible woman, and I think I got so emotional because my mum loved the Queen and this would have meant a lot to her.”

Lecturer Michael Ashworth, 24, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, said: “It’s amazing one person brings so many people together.”

Among those invited to the committal service were prime ministers from countries where the Queen was head of state, and former British prime ministers Sir John Major and Sir Tony Blair, who are Garter Knights, and the current premier Liz Truss.

As at Westminster Abbey, the coffin bore the simple note from the King: “In loving and devoted memory.”

A large number of the Queen’s staff who worked closely with the late monarch were also invited to the service.

During the service, the crown jewels were taken from the coffin and a ceremonial wand of office broken and put in their place.

The service ended with the Queen’s coffin being lowered into the royal vault, after which a piper played a moving lament. Later, members of the Queen’s family attended a private burial service.

The Queen was laid to rest in the George VI Memorial Chapel with her husband, the late Duke of Edinburgh. She will be next to her father, mother and sister.