One last goodbye. Then she was laid to rest next to her beloved Philip...
It was the perfect final farewell for a family – and a nation.
After ten days of mourning, four days of lying- in- state and a service at Westminster Abbey, Her Majesty was laid to rest at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle yesterday.
Despite the eyes of the world watching, the day ended as a simple family affair as the late monarch was buried in a private ceremony alongside her beloved Prince Philip, her parents and sister Princess Margaret at the King George VI Memorial Chapel.
But before the private burial, millions around Britain and the world said their last goodbyes to Queen Elizabeth II.
At 1pm, over 800 attendees started taking their seats in St George’s Chapel for the committal service, which was conducted by the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend David Conner. the details of the majestic yet intimate service were discussed with the Queen ‘over a number of years’, Buckingham Palace said.
Much of the music was written or arranged by Sir William Harris, who was responsible for Her Majesty’s keen interest in music and taught her the piano as a little girl.
the hair-raising melodies of the choir, made up of 11 men, one woman and 13 boys, ricocheted throughout the 494year-old Chapel.
Among the hand-picked songs was the Russian Contakion of the Departed, which was also sung at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral last year.
As the sun poured through the stain glass windows, the Dean of Windsor read Revelation 21, verses
1-7, which was also recited at the funerals of the Queen’s grandparents – King George V in 1936 and Queen Mary in 1953 – and her father King George VI in 1952.
the procession into Windsor Castle from London began at 3:30pm as streams of guards on foot and horseback guided Her Majesty’s coffin up the Long Walk.
In a touching tribute, two of the Queen’s corgis were waiting obediently to greet her one last time as the hearse approached the entrance of the Chapel.
Despite the solemnity of yesterday, the Chapel was the scene of many happy memories for the Queen and her family. It was where the Duke of Sussex was baptised and married, and the Prince of Wales was confirmed.
Shortly after 4pm, the coffin was brought through the Chapel doors and down the central aisle which was lined with rows of mourners.
Waiting for her was an 800-strong congregation including tony Blair and his wife Cherie, who had rushed from the London service alongside former prime minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, and current PM Liz truss. But many of the guests were not famous faces or world leaders but former employees of Her Majesty.
their inclusion in the historic ceremony spoke volumes about how much the late monarch respected and cherished those who dedicated their careers to serving her.
Carried by the same eight soldiers who had accompanied Her Majesty throughout this week’s historic processions, her coffin was placed on the Catafalque, which was adorned in a regal purple velvet.
the Queen’s relatives then took their seats at the front of the Chapel in the Quire.
the dimly lit lamps lining the wooden benches brought back memories of the heart-wrenching scenes of Her Majesty sitting alone at Prince Philip’s funeral last year.
But yesterday, for the first time, it was not the Queen we saw sitting in the first seat of the middle row but her son, who was accompanied by the Queen Consort.
When taking their seats, the Prince and Princess of Wales stood to one side to allow the Duke and Duchess of Sussex into the first row.
the choir sang in the deep tones of the Russian Contakion of the Departed and the service was then opened by the Dean who read the Bidding. Perfectly summarising her 70-year reign, the Dean said: ‘In the midst of our rapidly changing and frequently troubled world, her calm and dignified presence has given us confidence to face the future, as she did, with courage and with hope.’
the choir descended into beautiful song again before a series of prayers were recited by the Rector of Sandringham, the Dean, and the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park.
the moving moment when the Queen’s crown, orb and sceptre were removed from the Queen’s coffin symbolised that Her Majesty’s reign was over. this was followed by the final hymn, Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation, which was chosen by King Charles.
the Queen’s casket was then slowly lowered into the Royal Vault, where her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren later gathered for a small family burial. As the coffin descended out of sight, the Dean read out Psalm 103: ‘Go forth upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul.’
the sound of fading bagpipes was followed by the national anthem.
In the private service, Her Majesty and Prince Philip will be taken out of the Royal Vault and put into the memorial chapel with her parents and sister. the family burial site was commissioned by Her Majesty in 1962 for her father King George VI, who was joined by Princess Margaret and the late Queen Mother in 2002.
‘Go forth upon thy journey from this world’