Young royals take their place at the royal family’s side
Prince George and Princess Charlotte attend the State Funeral alongside 2,000 other mourners
Future King Prince George and his sister Princess Charlotte joined fellow members of the Royal Family and 2,000 other mourners for the Queen’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey.
The nine-year-old future king and his seven-year-old sister walked through the gothic church with the royal family, in procession behind the Queen’s coffin as it was carried by the military bearer party.
Their grandfather, the King, processed immediately behind the coffin with the Queen Consort, followed by the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, then the Duke of York, followed by the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and then the Prince and Princess of Wales.
George and Charlotte, who called the Queen “Gan Gan”, were together, behind their parents, walking side-by-side in formation, followed by their uncle and aunt the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and other members of the royal family.
Before the service, the tenor bell was tolled every minute for 96 minutes, reflecting the years of the Queen’s life.
The sermon was given by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
He described the Queen as having touched “a multitude of lives” and being a “joyful” figure for many, in his sermon at her state funeral.
With the grieving royal family sitting nearby and thousands of mourners filling
London’s streets, Justin Welby said the outpouring of emotion “arises from her abundant life and loving service, now gone from us”.
Mr Welby echoed the Queen’s reassuring words from her lockdown address to the nation, when he told the Westminster Abbey congregation that all who follow her example, and her faith in God, “can with her say: ‘We will meet again’.”
Mr Welby, standing in the church where kings and queens have been crowned since 1066, said: “People of loving service are rare in any walk of life.
“Leaders of loving service are still rarer.
“But in all cases those who serve will be loved and remembered when those who cling to power and privileges are forgotten. The grief of this day – felt not only by the late Queen’s family but all round the nation, Commonwealth and world – arises from her abundant life and loving service, now gone from us.
“She was joyful, present to so many, touching a multitude of lives.”
The Archbishop ended his sermon by telling the congregation: “We will all face the merciful judgement of God: we can all share the Queen’s hope which in life and death inspired her servant leadership.
“Service in life, hope in death. All who follow the Queen’s example, and inspiration of trust and faith in God, can with her say: “We will meet again.”