Home to her family
HER coffin brightly lit as evening fell, the Queen arrived home at Buckingham Palace for the final time last night.
the iron gates swung open after the poignant journey to her London residence, where she was met by her family as respectful crowds thronged outside.
Mourners had lined the 17-mile route from RaF Northolt as the late monarch’s oak coffin – draped in her historic Royal Standard and topped with white flowers – made its last journey to the capital in the state hearse. waiting for her, out of view of the cameras, were the king and Queen Consort, the Duke of york and the Earl of wessex, as well as the new Prince and Princess of wales.
the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Edward’s wife Sophie and their
children Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn were also there, as were Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and their husbands. The late monarch’s adored niece and nephew, Lady Sarah Chatto and Lord Snowdon, Princess Margaret’s children, were also present.
It was the final chance for her family to spend time with their much-loved matriarch privately ‘before handing Her Majesty over to the nation’, a senior royal aide said. Along the route from RAF Northolt, some in the crowds wiped tears from their eyes and laid down umbrellas as a mark of respect, while others cheered a rousing ‘hip hip hooray’ as they caught a glimpse of the royal claret-trimmed vehicle, bearing the Queen’s Royal Cypher.
As the hearse finally made its way through central London, the lights of the capital sparkling in the rain, the mood was sombre but somehow celebratory of a life well lived.
Earlier William and Kate – the latter wearing, as if in honour of the Queen, a necklace and earrings of the late monarch’s favourite pearls – could be seen arriving by car at the palace.
They were driven separately from Windsor to Harry and Meghan, who are currently staying in Frogmore Cottage.
Guardsmen of the Household Division marched into the front gates of Buckingham Palace as the hearse swung past the Queen Victoria Memorial, slowing down as it entered.
Understandably, as so much of the national period of mourning is in public, the cameras were switched off as the hearse travelled into the historic quadrangle.
In the quadrangle was a guard of honour formed from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, who gave the royal salute as the hearse came to a stop.
The coffin was then carried up through the Grand Entrance, where the Queen’s immediate family were waiting for what has been described as a ‘small private family gathering the evening before the coffin is effectively handed to the nation for the lying in state’.Standing at the Grand Entrance were King Charles and
Camilla, surrounded by the late monarch’s children and grandchildren and their partners, including William and Kate, and Harry and Meghan.
Today the Queen’s coffin will be carried in a horse-drawn gun carriage to Westminster Hall, where it will lie in state for four days ahead of Monday’s state funeral.
The scenes yesterday came as Princess Anne, who has barely left her mother’s side since her death last Thursday at Balmoral, issued a moving statement in which she spoke of how fortunate she felt to have been able to share her ‘dearest mother’s’ last hours.
She also described it as ‘an honour and a privilege’ to accompany the Queen on her final journeys as she travelled with the monarch’s coffin, firstly from Balmoral to Edinburgh, then to London.
She said: ‘I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest
Kate wore the Queen’s favourite pearls
mother’s life. It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys.
‘Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting. We will all share unique memories. I offer my thanks to each and every one who share our sense of loss. We may have been reminded how much of her presence and contribution to our national identity we took for granted.
‘I am also so grateful for the support and understanding offered to my dear brother Charles as he accepts the added responsibilities of the monarch.’ The poignant scenes came as:
n From 5pm today hundreds of thousands of mourners will bid farewell to the monarch as she lies in state at Westminster Hall.
n But there were fears that